Bell & Howell projector Amp project info or anything else

[pfflam]

I recently spent way too much money on an old Bell and Howell 179 Tube Filmosound projector and speaker cabinet.

I haven't opened it up in order to see the innards yet, but based on the MINT condition and the obsessive way this thing was cared for -still has replacement bulb and fuses strapped on the door etc- I assume the tubes are in good condition . . . also, the speaker cabinet is a true beauty!! nary a scratch or smudge

Anyway, I heard rumor that these things have been converted into guitar amps:
anyone have information on this?

or pictures?
or stories?
Ideas?

[TwinandTwang]

Colin Cripps ( Kathleen Edwards) has one done long ago.
I heard him with it before he added the vintage AC30 next to it onstage and it did sound great. Then again he is a really good player.

[ES350]

6v6 PP, 12AX7 preamp, 5Y3 rectifier, cathode bias, '18 watts' printed on the chassis, looks like early 60's...I don't know if mine is 18 watts, but with a C10Q in a ported Kodak cab c. 1940's, it kicks butt as a guitar or harp amp and if you want to hear it, listen to the James Cotton tracks on Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith latest album. Not much you really have to do to them unless you want to pad down the mic input or change the output jack to standard 1/4...

[krash]

I have a couple of B&H theater amps (6550s) and the only problem is that the transformer output impedance is 64 ohms. Not a lot of guitar speakers like that. I guess you could wire up a 4x12 with 16 ohm speakers in series and make it work but it'd be hardly worth it. The iron is not that great anyway in my amps so I just figure I'll let them collect dust until I happen on some old alnico 64 ohm speakers to go with them.

[drbob1]

I've got an Ampex projector amp (actually a satellite speaker kind of deal) that sounds great. Modded to take a 1/4" input and that's all... It expects a pretty quiet input, so your guitar shouldn't have any trouble overdriving it.

[Bonedance]

Originally Posted by drbob1

I've got an Ampex projector amp (actually a satellite speaker kind of deal) that sounds great. Modded to take a 1/4" input and that's all... It expects a pretty quiet input, so your guitar shouldn't have any trouble overdriving it.

Is that the Ampex 620 model? I just came across two pristine examples of Ampex 620's for $100 each last weekend. I believe they were designed to amplify Ampex reel to reels. The 6V6 tube complement piqued my interest in believing it could be made into a mini deluxe type amp. I passed on them, but I'm sure they will be there if it sounds like a good idea.

Also came across a pristine olf progector/speaker deal with with EL84's for $75. Wondering the same about that.

[drbob1]

Grab the Ampex amps, there's a lot of goodness packed into that little box (not sure about how the amp would do for cooling with so little airflow, but at maybe 20w those 6L6s are sincerely understressed). It should already have a 1/4" output for running into a bigger speaker cab, but you'd probably need to add a 1/4" input. Stereo Ampex for your wet/dry/wet rig, what a thought! I just wish I had a replacement for the handle (in that luggage style finish it's hard to carry without one).

[TwinandTwang]

Colin's has EL 84 's. Some are 6v6.

[tedzepplin]

I have a Bell and Howell speaker cab I use with my Lovepedal 1/2 watt amp and Aphex guitar exciter pedal. Sounds really good. The speaker isn't very efficient, so it is quiet - just right for the bedroom.

[Macaroni]

I believe some guy in Canada made one or two of them, and they were called the, "Bernie". Steve Webster, creator of the V-Stack pedals and amps, made a one off pedal modeled after a Bernie. I have it.

[Scottone]

Originally Posted by Macaroni

I believe some guy in Canada made one or two of them, and they were called the, "Bernie". Steve Webster, creator of the V-Stack pedals and amps, made a one off pedal modeled after a Bernie. I have it.

I think it's Bernie Raustig, but my spelling of the last name may be a bit off. Here is a link to one that's mounted in a 1x12 combo cab.

http://www.capsulemusic.com/retail/detail.asp?ID=2550

[Bonedance]

Originally Posted by drbob1

Grab the Ampex amps, there's a lot of goodness packed into that little box (not sure about how the amp would do for cooling with so little airflow, but at maybe 20w those 6L6s are sincerely understressed). It should already have a 1/4" output for running into a bigger speaker cab, but you'd probably need to add a 1/4" input. Stereo Ampex for your wet/dry/wet rig, what a thought! I just wish I had a replacement for the handle (in that luggage style finish it's hard to carry without one).

Thanks for the info. Yes, it did have the 1/4" out for the speaker, but what looked like an RCA fro the input. no biggie to do that though. While I did not look inside the amp, the tag indicated they ran 6V6's. Is that correct or are they 6L6's? What are the speakers used in these?

Both were in exceptional shape and one looked like it had never been used.

Yeah, it would be cool to have both and use them as a stereo rig!

[pfflam]

I wonder how hard it is to separate the amp from the projector . . . I would want to keep it so that i could re-assembled if I wanted without much fussing.

Its as if its never been used. I'm still unpacking from my move to PDX so I haven't even been able to try it out . . .

Sure is purdy though . .

[e-z]

Originally Posted by tedzepplin

I have a Bell and Howell speaker cab I use with my Lovepedal 1/2 watt amp and Aphex guitar exciter pedal. Sounds really good. The speaker isn't very efficient, so it is quiet - just right for the bedroom.

Beautiful.

[filmosound]

Originally Posted by Scottone

I think it's Bernie Raustig, but my spelling of the last name may be a bit off.

Bernie Raunig. I don't know the exact # of Filmosound projectors that he converted into guitar amps, but I think it was more in the 15 to 30 range rather than 1 or 2. I have one myself... I believe the last one he put together in 1998. Colin Cripps has the first one (and possibly the best one) Bernie made in the early/mid 90's. Some had 6V6's and some had EL84's as someone else already mentioned.