As I write this, I am listenting to these amps -- they sound really nice, it's getting late, and I don't want to turn them off :) (be sure to view the test video below). I have had these for many years for for that reason -- very unique and enjoyable from the scarce 1940s period, with all big base all octal tubes -- they have a special sound, that so many 1930s era amps do. Once you get the fussy input set right (it's tricky), these amps feature exceptional detail. Being classic 6L6 amps, from this era -- they have quality potted output transformers, with nice tap selections. They also have notable slam and the good dynamics when pushed -- that most of us love. Both amps are presently working (be sure to watch the brief test video below) , though neither are perfect yet. It appears, at present, the PP 6L6G are in TRIODE mode, which is likely the best way to enjoy (you can use a 6L6 in Triode or Pentode mode with simple stapping changes)
Prospective buyers should be aware, these are super cool amps -- they are a bit complicated, and we have no schematic -- so not the best amps if you are a total beginner starting out. If you are not afraid of the impressive layout, making tweaks, repairs and improving them will be a fun and fulfilling winter / spring project for many audiophiles and DiY inclined collectors. Allot of the time consuming setup work like the bakelite RCA input jacks and binding posts has been already done!endp
Amongst the very last of RCA's (Camden, NJ, USA) 1930s lower power prewar builds -- these were still in production postwar for a while. Both appear to have been assembled early in 1950 to fulfill a final contract. A fairly sizable pair of amps, both are model MI-1356 -- sold along other 1940s/50s PhotoPhone systems -- though not documented any place I could find. They are presently setup just how many would want for home hifi/monoblock use and only used a few hours over the past 20 years. Of course, being from the 1940s - were never sold as matched pairs. About 25 years ago, we stumbled on a set at a collector's estate that appeard to have gotten these two at the same time. They're even marked with a final assembly date of Febuary, 1950(see photo exhibit and tags) They're serial #'s have a spread 775 & 1838, otherwise they seem to be a remarkable near perfect match. endp
Power and Output Transformers guaranteed GOOD, NO DOA. After 10 years of storage -- I brought each up up on a variac to 100V -- both sounded nice and ran cool -- very little or no preamp signal level is needed and must be carefully adjusted to prevent overloading all the gain stages, and depends on your output impedance selection -- I had good results with the 8ohm out. They sounded great -- I noticed both still have a mild hum-floor (from the many gain stages still active) which is often normal and can be tweaked out at your discretion with minimal effort..
Amps present well, and are not at all perfect. Cosmetics fair, they present very nicely, very stately and old. Just what you'd expect to see of mostly original amps of the 1930s/40s era. The heavy black crinkle paint has numerous age related flaws -- scuffs, worn areas, a few hole covers, and a few errant screw holes here or there from the many years of cinema life. See exhibit A thru J. In any case, these will be fulfilling amps to own, maintain and upgrade should you desire -- and a good invenstment, because for years, these RCA PG-200 / MI 1356 have been known in the overseas market, making them less of a sleeper and a bit more pricey these days.
The RCA MI 1356 was built in house by RCA. The unique single chassis amp was designed for semi-portable cinema sound system use. Sold by RCA under contract for smaller venue 16mm projection setups and auditorums, it was part of the Photophone PG 200 Projection equipment group. Many of these were produced during wartime, when these amps found broad use as the main amplification for large gathering areas, where films were shown to soldiers, and other groups well into the 1950s -- thanks to the fairly powerful PP 6L6 circuit . The MI 1356 was also used a service, testing and backup amplifer for larger cinemas at times.
The amps featured integrated PEC (photocell) gain stages, and a very mild adjustable tone circuit. Speaker output impedance selections are very hifi friendly , with 4, 8, 16 and 32 ohm taps.
They have the stark, and large appearance of amps designed and built in the prewar era -- the long oversized chassis, heavy black crinkle finish and all octal pins. The MI 1356 was designed by RCA in the 1930s -- it was produced throughout WWII by RCA for the Signal Corps, and then into the late 1940's after the war.
These were some of these last amps to leave the RCA plant, as they bear markings from the late 1940s and both were assembled led a few years later in the early 1950s. Later designs by RCA for this use would use more modern 8 pin tubes, and smaller, higher powered pentodes, and regulated supplies vs these more majestic 6L6G large bottles.
Both amps working with nice sound (be sure to watch the brief test video below) , though as said above neither are perfected yet. It appears, at present, the PP 6L6G are in TRIODE mode, which is likely the best way to enjoy (you can use a 6L6 in Triode or Pentode mode with simple stapping changes). Both received a very mild restoration several years ago, including some fresh USA Sprague caps. All original transformers most all of the cloth wires were preserved. The massive input, (orig for PEC soundheads) front end of course has a bit too much gain that can be a little touchy. The work was uniform on both amps, included some new bias resistors, caps, small added filter chokes, RCA input jacks, and both amps received matching bakelite plates with NOS military grade binding posts, for speaker outputs. Matching bottoms made from period correct Masonite and rubber feet were added. The work was done only to make ready the amps --with minimal disturbance for an audtition -- so all of the gain stages are still active -- there is at times too much gain, so you if you use a preamp, you need to use very little signal. And, they are not at all perfect -- As is normal from amps of this era -- they of course are not totally quite at all times -- there is a small hum floor on both amps. You can enjoy them now as-is and later you can do upgrades or additional service to make them quiter if you wish (much of the noise floor is from all of the input gain stages (6J7, 6F5, and 6N7) before the final stage of Push-Pull 6L6G which can be operated as Pentode or Triode.
Input sections are massive with multiple gain stages not needed for line level input. We had a tech do a minimal restoration to get them on the road, line cords. At some point these were set up 6L6PP — but the 6L6’s are currently running in triodes mode — a rarely done — and good sounding thing to do.
Will be carefully double-boxed, in tri-wall cardboard with lots of cushion -- best, safest packing on eBay or anywhere else.
.. Your chance to buy these now with out a bidder's war....if under (2) feedbacks, please email FIRST before buying to confirm payment method/ability.
Very seldom to you see a nice pair like this,in reasonably nice shape -- and can take years match them up. If you desire old RCA, like it was in the early to mid 1940s . You won't see a set this nice around for a long while -- so seriously consider buying it now -- they will sell very quickly.
FAST OVERSEAS or DOMESTIC SHIPPING after payment.
All happy customers, please see 100% feedback on all vintage audio items.
Default Overseas shipping provided by the Global Shipping Program.
OVERSEAS OK, via USPS EMS Express Mail (or for Canada & select countries, Intl. USPS Priority) Please email me for invoice or to adjust the listing before purchase.
As I write this, I am listenting to these amps -- they sound really nice, it's getting late, and I don't want to turn them off :) (be sure to view the test video below). I have had these for many years for for that reason -- very unique and enjoyable from the scarce 1940s period, with all big base all octal tubes -- they have a special sound, that so many 1930s era amps do. Once you get the fussy input set right (it's tricky), these amps feature exceptional detail. Being classic 6L6 amps, from this era -- they have quality potted output transformers, with nice tap selections. They also have notable slam and the good dynamics when pushed -- that most of us love. Both amps are presently working (be sure to watch the brief test video below) , though neither are perfect yet. It appears, at present, the PP 6L6G are in TRIODE mode, which is likely the best way to enjoy (you can use a 6L6 in Triode or Pentode mode with simple stapping changes)
Prospective buyers should be aware, these are super cool amps -- they are a bit complicated, and we have no schematic -- so not the best amps if you are a total beginner starting out. If you are not afraid of the impressive layout, making tweaks, repairs and improving them will be a fun and fulfilling winter / spring project for many audiophiles and DiY inclined collectors. Allot of the time consuming setup work like the bakelite RCA input jacks and binding posts has been already done!endp
Amongst the very last of RCA's (Camden, NJ, USA) 1930s lower power prewar builds -- these were still in production postwar for a while. Both appear to have been assembled early in 1950 to fulfill a final contract. A fairly sizable pair of amps, both are model MI-1356 -- sold along other 1940s/50s PhotoPhone systems -- though not documented any place I could find. They are presently setup just how many would want for home hifi/monoblock use and only used a few hours over the past 20 years. Of course, being from the 1940s - were never sold as matched pairs. About 25 years ago, we stumbled on a set at a collector's estate that appeard to have gotten these two at the same time. They're even marked with a final assembly date of Febuary, 1950(see photo exhibit and tags) They're serial #'s have a spread 775 & 1838, otherwise they seem to be a remarkable near perfect match. endp
Power and Output Transformers guaranteed GOOD, NO DOA. After 10 years of storage -- I brought each up up on a variac to 100V -- both sounded nice and ran cool -- very little or no preamp signal level is needed and must be carefully adjusted to prevent overloading all the gain stages, and depends on your output impedance selection -- I had good results with the 8ohm out. They sounded great -- I noticed both still have a mild hum-floor (from the many gain stages still active) which is often normal and can be tweaked out at your discretion with minimal effort..
Amps present well, and are not at all perfect. Cosmetics fair, they present very nicely, very stately and old. Just what you'd expect to see of mostly original amps of the 1930s/40s era. The heavy black crinkle paint has numerous age related flaws -- scuffs, worn areas, a few hole covers, and a few errant screw holes here or there from the many years of cinema life. See exhibit A thru J. In any case, these will be fulfilling amps to own, maintain and upgrade should you desire -- and a good invenstment, because for years, these RCA PG-200 / MI 1356 have been known in the overseas market, making them less of a sleeper and a bit more pricey these days.
The RCA MI 1356 was built in house by RCA. The unique single chassis amp was designed for semi-portable cinema sound system use. Sold by RCA under contract for smaller venue 16mm projection setups and auditorums, it was part of the Photophone PG 200 Projection equipment group. Many of these were produced during wartime, when these amps found broad use as the main amplification for large gathering areas, where films were shown to soldiers, and other groups well into the 1950s -- thanks to the fairly powerful PP 6L6 circuit . The MI 1356 was also used a service, testing and backup amplifer for larger cinemas at times.
The amps featured integrated PEC (photocell) gain stages, and a very mild adjustable tone circuit. Speaker output impedance selections are very hifi friendly , with 4, 8, 16 and 32 ohm taps.
They have the stark, and large appearance of amps designed and built in the prewar era -- the long oversized chassis, heavy black crinkle finish and all octal pins. The MI 1356 was designed by RCA in the 1930s -- it was produced throughout WWII by RCA for the Signal Corps, and then into the late 1940's after the war.
These were some of these last amps to leave the RCA plant, as they bear markings from the late 1940s and both were assembled led a few years later in the early 1950s. Later designs by RCA for this use would use more modern 8 pin tubes, and smaller, higher powered pentodes, and regulated supplies vs these more majestic 6L6G large bottles.
Both amps working with nice sound (be sure to watch the brief test video below) , though as said above neither are perfected yet. It appears, at present, the PP 6L6G are in TRIODE mode, which is likely the best way to enjoy (you can use a 6L6 in Triode or Pentode mode with simple stapping changes). Both received a very mild restoration several years ago, including some fresh USA Sprague caps. All original transformers most all of the cloth wires were preserved. The massive input, (orig for PEC soundheads) front end of course has a bit too much gain that can be a little touchy. The work was uniform on both amps, included some new bias resistors, caps, small added filter chokes, RCA input jacks, and both amps received matching bakelite plates with NOS military grade binding posts, for speaker outputs. Matching bottoms made from period correct Masonite and rubber feet were added. The work was done only to make ready the amps --with minimal disturbance for an audtition -- so all of the gain stages are still active -- there is at times too much gain, so you if you use a preamp, you need to use very little signal. And, they are not at all perfect -- As is normal from amps of this era -- they of course are not totally quite at all times -- there is a small hum floor on both amps. You can enjoy them now as-is and later you can do upgrades or additional service to make them quiter if you wish (much of the noise floor is from all of the input gain stages (6J7, 6F5, and 6N7) before the final stage of Push-Pull 6L6G which can be operated as Pentode or Triode.
Input sections are massive with multiple gain stages not needed for line level input. We had a tech do a minimal restoration to get them on the road, line cords. At some point these were set up 6L6PP — but the 6L6’s are currently running in triodes mode — a rarely done — and good sounding thing to do.
Will be carefully double-boxed, in tri-wall cardboard with lots of cushion -- best, safest packing on eBay or anywhere else.
.. Your chance to buy these now with out a bidder's war....if under (2) feedbacks, please email FIRST before buying to confirm payment method/ability.
Very seldom to you see a nice pair like this,in reasonably nice shape -- and can take years match them up. If you desire old RCA, like it was in the early to mid 1940s . You won't see a set this nice around for a long while -- so seriously consider buying it now -- they will sell very quickly.
FAST OVERSEAS or DOMESTIC SHIPPING after payment.
All happy customers, please see 100% feedback on all vintage audio items.
Default Overseas shipping provided by the Global Shipping Program.
OVERSEAS OK, via USPS EMS Express Mail (or for Canada & select countries, Intl. USPS Priority) Please email me for invoice or to adjust the listing before purchase.
endp
endp