First Post, Lots Of Questions! Viking? T Eaton.co?

[Largen]

Hello Everyone,
So here is the story. I LOVE audio, and im pretty good with it, although only from my Generation (21 Years old) and i have picked up an older (from what i can tell mid 50's?) Viking Record Cabinet, now im looking to re-build it and breath some life into it again.

Now, a few people here im sure will be opposed to this aspect of it, but im looking to replace the current speakers in the unit to something that's not going to be so muddy. this is where my questions begin.

The amplifier i have (according to the sticker on the rear of the chassis)
States this information:

Viking
117 Volts 60 Cycle 120 V.A.
The T. Eaton Co. Limited
Licensed By Canadian Radio Patents LTD.
Serial No 2292

It is a Mono Amp, with Two speakers in the Cabinet. And i have no idea if they were originally wired in Parallel or in Series, as the wiring has been mucked with, but the "Tweeters" appeared to be original and in Parallel.

What i want to know is
A: Anything you guys know about the Amp if anything

B: What i can use for Replacement Drivers (Put a multimeter to one of them got 7.2 OHM's and yes i know its not a true impedance reading, but a better ballpark then guessing)

C: Best cleaning methods for the tuning and volume components (cuts in and out and is erratic, should only be a cleanliness issue i think )

Thanks So much for any information you guys will be able to give me in advance! its VERY hard to find information on these kinds of things apparently, people like to just throw em out i guess...

[M Fowler]

Look like any of these units? https://www.google.com/search?q=viking+ ... 40&bih=809

Use Caig De-oxit to clean the pots available at Radio Shack.

Yeah likely 8 ohm speakers then, get some replacements from Radio Shack or PartsExpress.com for good but cheap priced speakers.

Usually there is a sticker on top of the amp chassis near a turret strip noting the speaker ohms on some of the old consoles.

[Phil_S]

Hello and welcome. I'm not quite sure if you realize this is a guitar amp forum and that makes it different from the typical audio forum. In the audio (hi-fi) world, folks are seeking sonic reproduction with perfection. In guitar amps, we are looking to add or subtract from what the instrument itself produces. In a sense, it's two different applications of the same technology. I suggest you may get more/better replies at an audio forum. I expect others will make suggestions.

I'm not prepared to address much of what you raise. However, I can't see the problem of upgrading from crappy speakers to good speakers. Before you do that, just be sure that speakers are really the problem and not the audio circuit! (And, yes, 7.2 ohms on the meter indicates an 8 ohm speaker.)

Before you do any work, be sure the amp is safe. If it is one of those All American 5 designs without a power transformer, the first order of business is to install an isolation transformer with a 3-prong cord. With something this old, one must crawl before walking or running.

[Largen]

@ M Fowler: Similar, i did run a google search to see if i could track it down, turns out these stray away from the internet ha ha and thanks on the cleaner recommendation!

@Phil_S: Well now i look like a Knob ha ha, i was recommended here by a guy in town ha ha explains why when i was bumming around i could not find anything like what i have in the forums.
Thank you very much for the safety recommendations, these are... not like modern electronics that im used to working on...
I really appreciate the info though, and i will ask one more thing because it was brought to my attention. will a modern speaker work well with these? as i have heard that the sensitivity is supposedly very poor nowadays VS the older drivers? if you know anything that would be sweet, if not thanks anywho! and i will be looking for a HiFi forum ha ha

[Phil_S]

I didn't mean to discourage, just set some expectations. Post a few pictures of the insides. What is the tube line up? There are many curious minds here. Maybe you will get a push this way or that. I can't imagine anyone objecting to the topic. It's about amps -- old amps. We love the old stuff most of the time.

[davent]

Hello and welcome, Endlessly good guitar amp info and people here... For the audio/hifi kind of stuff i've found these two forums useful so you might want to cast the net further afield and see what they can offer up.

http://www.diyaudio.com/
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php

dave

[Largen]

@ Phil_S: No worries at all, I will post some pics up anywho. Also got it up and running again, it sounds... really rough. Has alot of distortion, and its VERY Bright, even if i drop the Treble right off, tired several different speakers too, wondering if its maybe needing some Tubes? or I hear the capacitors in the Chasis are prone to failure..

@Davent: Awesome! thanks, i will hit those up too here

Here are some pics of the unit and the Project anywho for anyone interrested.

[IMG768]http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae31 ... EBBBC1.jpg[/img]

[IMG768]http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae31 ... DB1011.jpg[/img]

[IMG768]http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae31 ... D558E6.jpg[/img]

This is the updated Cabinet (it was in ROUGH shape, Wife said she wanted a blue piece of furniture in the living room so i made it for her)
[IMG768]http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae31 ... 742EB1.jpg[/img]

[IMG768]http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae31 ... 878ED1.jpg[/img]

[M Fowler]

http://www.pacifictv.ca/radioschematics.htm#viking