Amps
FIRST OF THE MANY - SELMER/RSA TRUVOICE AMPLIFIERS 1930's TO 1958
Photo courtesy of Julian Marsh, Nottinghamshire, England
Amps
Photo courtesy of Julian Marsh, Nottinghamshire, England
As an aside, an interesting piece of evidence which demonstrates the roots of Selmer's electronics part of the business existed in the catalogues up to the late 1960's. This was a Contact Microphone, which still had the name RSA Truvoice on its casing right up to that time. Presumably, Selmer didn't want to go to the expense of changing the case mould.
IMPORTANT - During this early period, Selmer Truvoice did not fit mains
transformers to their amps, resulting in an inherent safety problem if one's amp
has not been modified to prevent possible electrocution. It is strongly
recommended that any owner of one of these amps checks out this
YOU TUBE VIDEO
produced by Nick Adams which very effectively
describes the problem in detail and advises on the best way of isolating oneself
from the mains current when using such an amp.
Selmer Advertisement from March1952.
A small amp measuring 12" x 15" x 4", and fitted with an 9" speaker. Valves: 1 x KT33C, 1 x U31, 1 x KTZ63 rectifier.
Probably a 10 watt combo, and fitted with a 12" speaker. A
single volume control and tone control located in a recess on top of the amp.
Five unknown valves were fitted to this amp which seems to have been introduced
by Selmer just a few months after the Universal 8 at the end of 1947.
The replacement for the earlier Universal 8 model. Fitted with a 10" speaker located lower down in a better ventilated cabinet, and with the chassis at the top of the cabinet. Control panel with single volume and tone controls and one input socket at rear of cabinet. Suitable for both AC and DC use.
A mid-range model that was based on a 10" speaker. Two input sockets for high and low impedance, each with their own volume control, and a shared tone control. A rather prominent voltage selector which also serves as the on-off switch for the amp! Valves: 1 x ECC83; 1 x 12AX7; 2 x EL84 (?) giving a rated output of 8 watts (peak 10 watts).
Three inputs (two high and one low impedance), with a
volume control for each input and a single shared tone control. The same type of
voltage selector/on-off switch as for the TV10 above. Curious strip-type art
deco speaker grill. The valves originally fitted to these amps were 3 x 12AX7; 2
x PL82; 1 x PY82 rectifier, although it can be seen from some of the examples
below that these have often been changed over the years. Output of 13 watts
through a
12" Goodmans Audiom 60.
A PA system that was designed for portability. The amplifier section was stored inside the two speaker cabinets, which themselves clipped together to make one compact unit for transportation. Designed to run on either AC and DC. These RSA-made amps were also marketed by the Dallas company under the Ridgmount trade-name.
A PA outfit that really did stand the test of time. It was introduced soon after the end of World War 2 by its manufacturer R. S. Amplifiers, and continued in production after RSA had been taken over by Selmer London right through to 1958, the time when the guitar groups were beginning to take off in the UK.
This model is thought to have been used by the Beatles in their very early Quarryman days. It was still in the Selmer catalogue in 1958. The amplifier section was carried inside the two speaker cabinets, which clipped together for easy portability. Output 12 watts (later 15watts). A microphone was also included in the package.
Over the years there seems to have been a two input version ( Valves - 3 x KTZ63; 2 x KT33C; 2 x U31) and a three input version ( Valves - 3 x 12AX7; 2 x PL82; 1 x PY82 rectifier). Versions of this amp included AC, AC/DC, and 12volt DC battery powered.
Truvoice TV8 (Serial No 100401) together with Selmer Lap Steel guitar, purchased new as a pair in 1949 by Billy Smith of County Down, Northern Island. Billy still owns this beautiful old outfit.
