pre-Black Flag Transitional 100W

[roef]

Hello Roef, I knew that you were an expert on vintage models, but hadn’t seen you here on MF. I really enjoyed your posts on the Metro forums when it was active.

I’ve learned a lot from your work and I hope you don’t mind me posting your 100W history here. I would have asked and credited you if I knew how to get in touch. It’s a fantastic resource and I’m glad it’s still out there in the ether.

sure, repost if you want.

 

[roef]

Good to see you here Roe. I migrated a few years ago after PP died and Metro went quiet.

Good to see you too, Neil! I tend to hang out on ampgarage (which is good for technical stuff) or thegearpage myself. I've been building mostly ac30/50/100s lately and another wreck express

 

[TAZIN]

Tazin, good to see you here too. Do you care to elaborate on this unknown PT (not the big RS PT with 350/425v secondaries, right)?

Hi Roe. The unknown Drake PT seems to share the same electrical specs as the 1204-43, and the lamination stack also appears about the same. As you can see in the photo, the construction of the unknown Drake is quite different from the 1204-43. Additionally, this unknown Drake features a three option primary; Orange(240-250), Red(220-230), Brown(200-210), and no 105-115 tap.

 

[roef]

Hi Roe. The unknown Drake PT seems to share the same electrical specs as the 1204-43, and the lamination stack also appears about the same. As you can see in the photo, the construction of the unknown Drake is quite different from the 1204-43. Additionally, this unknown Drake features a three option primary; Orange(240-250), Red(220-230), Brown(200-210), and no 105-115 tap.

could be a variant of the 1204-43 possibly? Perhaps they tried to reduce the secondary voltage after el34s were introduced? (reports about plate voltage vary quite a bit, but not all are as high as 560v)

 

[Ned B]

Weren't the first Drake PTs introduced after the RSs without a voltage selector on the back panel of the amp?

 

[TAZIN]

could be a variant of the 1204-43 possibly? Perhaps they tried to reduce the secondary voltage after el34s were introduced? (reports about plate voltage vary quite a bit, but not all are as high as 560v)

It does not appear to be a simple variant such as 1204-43-A. With a simple variant or revision, you wouldn't expect to see wire color changes (e.g. 1204-43 the 240-250Vac tap is yellow; Unknown Drake 240-250Vac tap is orange). There clearly seems to be enough differences to warrant its own model number, but all the ones I've seen have no marking on the end bells.

 

[TAZIN]

Weren't the first Drake PTs introduced after the RSs without a voltage selector on the back panel of the amp?

Yes. Once again, the stack size seems the same as the 1204-43, but the construction differs from both the 1204-43 & the other unknown Drake.