c1958 Selmer TV12 Amplifier owned by Simon Spicer.
The Selmer
catalogues from 1957 and 1958 advertises guitar amplification, rather as a minor
accessory to the Hofner electric guitars which seem to dominate the catalogues.
These amps were now of a standardized appearance, and finished in dark maroon
and grey. The "Truvoice" logo was predominant, rather than Selmer's
own name, and the names given to the amplifiers are still simple letters and
numbers based on the "TV" format used by Truvoice prior to this
period. (See - "The First of the
Many - 1930s to 1958" )
It
is interesting to see that this range of "new" amps was advertised as
having "built-in isolating transformers, making the amplifier virtually
shockproof", a significant improvement on the basic mains rectification of earlier
RSA/Truvoice amps. Nick Adams'
VIDEO ON YOU-TUBE is
strongly advised viewing for owners of the very early Selmer Truvoice amps.
THE MAROON/GREY PERIOD (1956 - 1958):
SELMER-TRUVOICE MODEL TV6 (Introduced in
December 1957 and later called THE POPULAR in the next series of amps)
A later addition to range, as it does not feature even in the 1958 catalogue, but
is obviously a fore-runner to the TV6 Popular amp in the later Red/Cream
period. Interestingly, the TV6
Schematic Drawing is dated October 1957, so perhaps it just missed the
publication of the 1958 catalogue. It featured a 7" elliptical loudspeaker and provided 5 watts
output using 1 x EF86, 1 x EZ80 rectifier, & 1 x EL84.
Two
inputs, each with there own volume control, and a shared tone control. The
amp was stated to have an 8 watt output with 10watts at peak, fed into a
10" loudspeaker. Dimensions: 16" x 16�" x 8�".
Price in 1958 - 30gns.
Again
two inputs, but with a separate volume and tone control for each input. A
12" speaker was fitted for the amps 18 watt (20 watt at peak) output,
which was produced by two KT55 valves. Dimensions: 20" x 19" x 9�". Price in 1958 - 47gns.
A 14 watt amp that
seems to have been influenced by the US amps both with regard to the
speakers fitted and the valves used. It had two channels with two inputs, a volume
and a tone control for each. However, unlike the other amps in the range,
this amp had a tremolo circuit with speed and depth controls. Four 8"
speakers were fitted "in line with current American practice".
(!) Valves fitted were: 2 x 6V6, 1 x 5Y3 rectifier, 3 x EF86, 1
x 12AX7. Dimensions: 20�" x 22�" x 9�". Price in
1958 - 47gns.
Cover
of Selmer Electronics 1958 Catalogue, courtesy of Terry Eaton.
Amps
