National-Dobro Tube Amplifier, c. 1935
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Item # 11197
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National-Dobro Tube Amplifier, c. 1935, made in Chicago, black fabric covering finish.
This amp dates to the mid-1930s, a well-preserved example of the earliest creations in vacuum tube instrument amplification. This little pre-war amplifier was made by National-Dobro before the company re-organized into Valco during WWII. National-Dobro made many of the best engineered amplifiers of the era, and even this small gem is no exception. National-Dobro Corp. was amidst the several different subcontractors, including Rickenbacker and Regal, who provided for companies like Bronson, who would pair this very amplifier model with an early Hawaiian guitar as part of their "Singing Lap Steel" set.
The amplifier features a single input, a single volume control and a dual-6V6 power section, putting out around 10 watts into a single 10" field coil speaker. The cabinet is covered in a thin black leatherette covering, and features a textured black metal resonator-like grille cover for the speaker, with a groovy patterned cloth underneath. The latched rear lid reveals the speaker, tubes and the control panel, as well as a spare fuse holder on the left interior wall. For nearly another decade, amplifiers made by National-Dobro would aesthetically still very much resemble these pre-war predecessors, save for the speaker grille cutouts; circular in these earlier amps as opposed to the later squared-off appearance.
Height is 11 in. (27.9 cm.), 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm.) width, and 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm.) deep.
Overall this 75 or so year old amp is very well-preserved. The rather fragile and thin covering shows minimal signs of wear; a couple very small scuffs here and there, mostly on the corners of the cabinet, 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, this little 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. 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 higher volumes. Overall Excellent Condition.
This amp dates to the mid-1930s, a well-preserved example of the earliest creations in vacuum tube instrument amplification. This little pre-war amplifier was made by National-Dobro before the company re-organized into Valco during WWII. National-Dobro made many of the best engineered amplifiers of the era, and even this small gem is no exception. National-Dobro Corp. was amidst the several different subcontractors, including Rickenbacker and Regal, who provided for companies like Bronson, who would pair this very amplifier model with an early Hawaiian guitar as part of their "Singing Lap Steel" set.
The amplifier features a single input, a single volume control and a dual-6V6 power section, putting out around 10 watts into a single 10" field coil speaker. The cabinet is covered in a thin black leatherette covering, and features a textured black metal resonator-like grille cover for the speaker, with a groovy patterned cloth underneath. The latched rear lid reveals the speaker, tubes and the control panel, as well as a spare fuse holder on the left interior wall. For nearly another decade, amplifiers made by National-Dobro would aesthetically still very much resemble these pre-war predecessors, save for the speaker grille cutouts; circular in these earlier amps as opposed to the later squared-off appearance.
Height is 11 in. (27.9 cm.), 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm.) width, and 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm.) deep.
Overall this 75 or so year old amp is very well-preserved. The rather fragile and thin covering shows minimal signs of wear; a couple very small scuffs here and there, mostly on the corners of the cabinet, 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, this little 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. 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 higher volumes. Overall Excellent Condition.