CTS, Stancor, Chicago Standard Transformer model P-8164 info

[Toppscore]

Anyone familiar with 1940s/1950s Chicago Standard Transformer
and/or Stancor power transformers?

I have a P-8164 Chicago Standard Transformer.

Doing some 1940s/1950s research . . . .
is it correct that CTS is not Chicago Standard Transformer?
or is/were CTS and Chicago Standard Transformer the same company?

Also, did Stancor or Chicago Standard Transformer make OEM trannys for each other?

Can anyone share information regarding the P-8164 pictured tranny from
the early 1950s? It states P-8164, but my research usually includes
Stancor part numbers. I believe Stancor bought/merged with
Chicago Standard Transformer during the early 1960s

Any information regarding the below pictured P-8164 power tranny
would be appreciated. Thank you.

[martin manning]

is it correct that CTS is not Chicago Standard Transformer?

CTS is Chicago Telephone Supply. http://www.ctscorp.com/about/beginnings.htm

Chicago Standard and Stancor Catalogs here: http://www.bunkerofdoom.com/xfm/index.html

[Toppscore]

is it correct that CTS is not Chicago Standard Transformer?

CTS is Chicago Telephone Supply. http://www.ctscorp.com/about/beginnings.htm

Chicago Standard and Stancor Catalogs here: http://www.bunkerofdoom.com/xfm/index.html

Thanks, Martin. I do see CTS was in the consumer radio,
music and television industries with a "137-EIA" industry code.

Potentiometer Source Codes:
106 = Allen-Bradley
134 = CentraLab
137 = CTS (Chicago Telephone Supply, pots and speakers)
140 = Clarostat
304 = Stackpole
381 = Bourns Networks
615 = IRC (International Resistive Company) - see

Do you know if CTS manufactured, distributed,
or redistributed/renamed another OEM power supply transformer?

Thanks. Toppscore

[martin manning]

CTS vas a very popular supplier of pots. You have some old Fenders, right? take a look in those and you'll likely find some.

[Toppscore]

CTS vas a very popular supplier of pots. You have some old Fenders, right? take a look in those and you'll likely find some.

Yes on the potentiometers and speakers. Pots with CTS are everywhere.
Below, my 1964 Super Amp has an original 4x10 CTS Speaker Configuration. Real cool.

But, was CTS involved with distributing or manufacturing power transformers? PLMK. Thanks.

[martin manning]

Early Stancor and Chicago Standard catalogs both list Addison St. addresses, and eventually a Stancor catalog appeared with both Stancor and Chicago Standard logos. These may have previously been two divisions of the same company created either by merger, or for some other reason- Chicago seems to have made many sealed and specialized parts for military use. On a 1961 Stancor catalog the company name is listed as "Stancor Electronics, Inc., formerly Chicago Standard Transformer Corp."

I don't think CTS has anything in common with them, and I've never heard of a CTS transformer.

[Toppscore]

Thanks again. Back to my original question:

Do you or anyone know about the Chicago Standard Transformer model P-8164 from the 1950s???
Stancor continued to make the P-8164 with their own Stancor name on it after Stancor took over Chicago in the 1960s.
Must have been a good power supply for vintage guitar amplifiers.


Thank you

[Phil_S]

I don't know this particular model, but I have used several Stancor transformers, power and output. From what I gather, Stancor iron was highly regarded in its day and is still much coveted. Stancor transformers can sometimes be bought on eBait, often at a premium. Sometime they go cheap because the seller doesn't know what he has or it is hidden in the auction as part of an assembled junker. I once got the much coveted A-3801 as part of a junker for a very low price and some moron had bent two of the feet over the edge of the chassis.

If you don't want the hunk of junk, send it to me and I'll make sure it is disposed of properly. At 225mA on the HT secondary, I will probably dispose of it the 18W variant known as the 36W (4x EL84 or 4x 6V6), which I will happily sell back to you for a less than fair price.

IMO, you have a premium quality PT. An equivalent Edcor or Magnetic Components might run ~$80.

[M Fowler]

That transformer would work great for a TW Express or Standel 25L15.

[Prairie Dawg]

Stancor, along with Thordarson, Merit and Triad, were big suppliers to the consumer electronics replacement trade. These were made to go in the back of a television and work for thirty years with no ventilation down there among the cat hair and spiderwebs. They had to be good to stand this kind of service. Triad was mostly a west coast outfit.

In addition there were numerous other companies like Freed, Electrical Windings and others that had the capability of cooking up whatever you like in the transformer line and they'd be happy to run off what you wanted. But Stancor, Merit and Thordarson were widely distributed to the repair trade. I am not aware that they were ever used as an OEM but it wouldn't surprise me if they were, perhaps under their own name, perhaps under another, particularly if the products were being built in the Chicagoland area, which was the epicenter of consumer electronics manufacturing.

[Diablo1]

I have an old Capitol amp that I believe was made in 1961 in the Chicago area. It has transformers labeled Tranco, with manufacturing dates in 1961. I'm assuming that Tranco was also located near Chicago, but I can't find any information on them on the web. I believe that Lectrolab also used Tranco transformers. So, anyone have information on them or a link to a product specification brochure?

[Toppscore]

I don't know this particular model, but I have used several Stancor transformers, power and output. From what I gather, Stancor iron was highly regarded in its day and is still much coveted. Stancor transformers can sometimes be bought on eBait, often at a premium. Sometime they go cheap because the seller doesn't know what he has or it is hidden in the auction as part of an assembled junker. I once got the much coveted A-3801 as part of a junker for a very low price and some moron had bent two of the feet over the edge of the chassis. If you don't want the hunk of junk, send it to me and I'll make sure it is disposed of properly. At 225mA on the HT secondary, I will probably dispose of it the 18W variant known as the 36W (4x EL84 or 4x 6V6), which I will happily sell back to you for a less than fair price.
IMO, you have a premium quality PT. An equivalent Edcor or Magnetic Components might run ~$80.

Thanks, Phil. The P-8164 is currently running a vintage amp since the 1950s.
I heard/read that Trainwrecks did/can use the P-8164, which apparently
matches specs of for Trainwrecks needs. My purpose is to better understand
if Fender could have used Chicago or Stancor power trannys during the 1940s or 1950s
(as well as other PTs from other vendors than Triad) as substitute replacement
for Triad, if Triad ever was short on supply or inventory.

My thought is that a manufacturer experimenting on a brand new line of amplifiers
with completly new design/schematics/components, would test-out or beta-test
a variety of vendor/supplier components to compare against Fender's current suppliers.

If that Fender could have used the P-8164 in a beta run or a trial run before
finalizing their first choice suppliers, I'd like to know. Logically, they would not
put "all of their eggs" into one supplier, would they?

What's really possible (from your own experiences) when an amplifier
manufacturer begins a new product design that's not related to their
current amplifiers nor related to other amps on the market?

Wouldn't most ALL amp manufacture try to experiment with and test a variety of tubes,
capacitors, reisitors, power & output trannys, wiring, potentiometers, speakers, chokes, etc???
If even simply for test/review of sound/tone, comonenet quality and raw costs???

IMHO, first production run of most any new amp may have components
that second run or fifth production run amps would not have . . . .
especially if the first three production runs of 100 each were not sold to the public.

What do you think?

[selloutrr]

For the sake of preventing rumors and false information from spreading the Stancor P-8164 was never used in a TW OEM build. As for fender again it's not a stock OEM transformer. They were already using Schumacher by the time that circuit was designed. The stancor is a nice reliable PT but it's not Stock. The good news if you have the correct voltage for a circuit the PT does not directly effect the sound like the OT would. With that said that PT will get your amp up and running its close but it's not 100% correct voltage for either amp. Sorry just thought you would like to know.

[Toppscore]

For the sake of preventing rumors and false information from spreading the Stancor P-8164 was never used in a TW OEM build. As for fender again it's not a stock OEM transformer. They were already using Schumacher by the time that circuit was designed. The stancor is a nice reliable PT but it's not Stock. The good news if you have the correct voltage for a circuit the PT does not directly effect the sound like the OT would. With that said that PT will get your amp up and running its close but it's not 100% correct voltage for either amp. Sorry just thought you would like to know.

Thanks, Sellout.
I read that the Chicago Standard P-8164 was a good "substitute"
or replacement for a Tranwreck. Not sure which model, but Express
seems to ring a bell.
Your info is much appreciated.

[martin manning]

Selloutrr, which Stancor part numbers were used in TW's?