Supro Model 50 Tube Amplifier, made by National-Dobro (1940)
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Item # 10599
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Supro Model 50 Model Tube Amplifier, made by National-Dobro (1940), made in Chicago, serial # C-3992, grey-green tweed finish.
This little pre-war Supro Model 50 amplifier was made by National-Dobro before the company re-organized into Valco during WWII. At a list price of $50 in 1940-41, this little amp was the least expensive amplifier in the National/Dobro line-up, but still a very high quality unit. National-Dobro made many of the best engineered amplifiers of the era, and even this smallest one is no exception.
It features two inputs, a single volume control and a dual-6V6 power section, putting out around 10 watts into a single 10" field coil speaker. "This powerful five tube amplifier affords splendid amplification for any electrical string instrument", the catalog reads, going on to enumerate such exciting features as the fuse holder, a spare fuse holder and an on-off switch (!) The circuit is virtually identical to the Valco-produced "Supreme" amps of the late '40s and early '50s, before the post-war evolution in amplification really kicked in. Aesthetically the later amps still very much look like their pre-war predecessors except for the speaker grille cutouts, circular in these earlier amps as opposed to the later squared-off appearance.
Height is 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm.), 15 in. (38.1 cm.) width, and 7 in. (17.8 cm.) deep.
The amp is overall impressively well-preserved. The rather fragile and thin covering shows minimal signs of wear; a couple very small scuffs here and there, but overall it's one of the cleanest amps of this era we've had the pleasure of featuring. The steel chassis is clean and shows no notable signs of corrosion, and both the model tag and volume control plate are present and in good shape. The handle is an old replacement made of very nice and sturdy leather and we think it aesthetically compliments the amp quite nicely!
Electrically, the amp is nicely original. The National-Dobro-branded field-coil speaker is in great shape and sports the original cone, which still sounds terriffic. Both the power and output transformers are original to the amp and we even left in the original wax coupling caps, as they're still working beautifully. Otherise, the amp has seen our typical maintenance and service, including a 3-prong grounded power cord, replacement of all electrolytic filter caps, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and power tubes biased to spec.
This fabulous specimen of a fairly rare and early pre-war amp has a sweet, but surprisingly loud roar at high volumes. Excellent Condition.
This little pre-war Supro Model 50 amplifier was made by National-Dobro before the company re-organized into Valco during WWII. At a list price of $50 in 1940-41, this little amp was the least expensive amplifier in the National/Dobro line-up, but still a very high quality unit. National-Dobro made many of the best engineered amplifiers of the era, and even this smallest one is no exception.
It features two inputs, a single volume control and a dual-6V6 power section, putting out around 10 watts into a single 10" field coil speaker. "This powerful five tube amplifier affords splendid amplification for any electrical string instrument", the catalog reads, going on to enumerate such exciting features as the fuse holder, a spare fuse holder and an on-off switch (!) The circuit is virtually identical to the Valco-produced "Supreme" amps of the late '40s and early '50s, before the post-war evolution in amplification really kicked in. Aesthetically the later amps still very much look like their pre-war predecessors except for the speaker grille cutouts, circular in these earlier amps as opposed to the later squared-off appearance.
Height is 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm.), 15 in. (38.1 cm.) width, and 7 in. (17.8 cm.) deep.
The amp is overall impressively well-preserved. The rather fragile and thin covering shows minimal signs of wear; a couple very small scuffs here and there, but overall it's one of the cleanest amps of this era we've had the pleasure of featuring. The steel chassis is clean and shows no notable signs of corrosion, and both the model tag and volume control plate are present and in good shape. The handle is an old replacement made of very nice and sturdy leather and we think it aesthetically compliments the amp quite nicely!
Electrically, the amp is nicely original. The National-Dobro-branded field-coil speaker is in great shape and sports the original cone, which still sounds terriffic. Both the power and output transformers are original to the amp and we even left in the original wax coupling caps, as they're still working beautifully. Otherise, the amp has seen our typical maintenance and service, including a 3-prong grounded power cord, replacement of all electrolytic filter caps, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and power tubes biased to spec.
This fabulous specimen of a fairly rare and early pre-war amp has a sweet, but surprisingly loud roar at high volumes. Excellent Condition.