VINTAGE HIFI BLOG

An interview with Michael Fountain, son of Guy R Fountain

11/2/2022

A bit of a break from the normal product spotlight videos, this one is an informal chat with Michael Fountain, son of Tannoy Founder Guy Fountain.

He tackles Tannoy's place in the military, public places and of course, studio and home applications.

It's a great insight in to Michael's life, including being the Grandson of AC cars co-founder John Portwine, his successful business of importing perfumes along with many other interesting topics.

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Quad II mono valve amp and acoustical QC2/ 22 preamp

10/1/2022

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This pair were nice to have in, fully working and great sounding Quad ii with Accoustical badged Quad QCII mono pre.

Only minor marks, which is amazing considering they are nearly 70 years old, with assumed original valve line-up. Superb examples, one for the collector.

The paper work inlcuded a 50's brochure, schematics for the II, and 22, we are aware that the pre isn't a 22, but these are the papers that came with it, so he may well of purchased another pre/power at a later date, hence why he has these slightly later manuals/papers.

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Quarter earth cycling challenge

11/1/2021

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Our good friend Ted Gomm, Audiophile of the highest level... and cycling machine (i went on a ride with him once, and nearly ended up in A&E) is taking on a massive cycling challenge this year by cycling 4500 miles in 2021 for Pancreatic Cancer Action...
That's over 12 miles a DAY for a YEAR!!!

Please help him by donating to his Just Giving page, the link is above.

Ted has always been very supporting of the Hifi Hangar, being there right from the start, also attending every Build Along with Bob evening... Ted can often be found helping Bob out in the workshop, a true gentleman.
go for it Ted!!!!!

Ted and Sarah after completing the Farnham bike ride.

Ted helping out at a a build along event

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Stanley Kubrick Exibition - London Design Centre

4/6/2019

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So when we heard that the Design Centre in London was putting an exhibition of Standly Kubrick's work and that the Transcriptors Reference turntable that was featured in 'A Clockwork Orange' was to be on display, we just had to set off to London and check it out!

It's a great exhibition, we recommend it to everyone who has the slightest interest in film or design, it's a must see.

The first thing you see when you walk in to the entrance of the building is one of only 3 Adam's Probe 16 sports cars ever made (or the Durango 95, as it was referred to in the film.) This car is a show stopper and a truly beautiful machine.

Adam's Probe 16, known as the Durnago 95, in 'A Clockwork Orange'

The first room contains all manner of items that Kurick used, such as clapper boards, various original scrips, hand written directing notes and his personal Steenbeck 6 plate 35 MM editing station.

Then the exhibition show cases each of his films, starting at his early works, such as Dr Stranglove, The Killing and Lolita, then on to Sparticus & Full Metal Jacket, which showed large projections of noted scenes.

A Clockwork Orange has quite a large area dedicated to it, with many of the iconic works, including the large 'Rocking Cock' designed by Herman Makkink, the Milk bar manikins and of course the already mentioned Transcriptor's Hydraulic Reference turntable.

The memorable scene when a pair of huge speakers and a Transcriptor based system in wheeled up to Alex's Hospital bed, is shown in an adjacent room.

The original turntable used in the film 'A Clockwork Orange'

Conceptual drawing of Alex's room, featuring a Transcriptors reference based system.

The 'Eyes wide shut' section features a number of the original masks used in the film, and also Tom Cruise's costume, which reminds you how small he is!

One oddly chilling exhibit, was the little girl's dresses and the apollo 11 jumper from 'the Shining' (Cue the conspiracy theorists!) also the model of the maze used in the film.

2001 was also very well represented, with many original models and props used in the film, including the Star Child, one of the gorilla suits, and of course, HAL

Go along, you will love it!!

Open until the 17th of september 2019, The Design Centre, London - Only £16 entry

The twins dresses and Apollo 11 jumper used in 'The Shining'

Mask props used in Eyes Wide Shut

Set of Hilton Space station used in 2001 A Space Odyssey

The original Star Child, used in 2001

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Fun with NAIM DBL SPEAKERS

21/5/2019

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Recently, we had a pair of the truly monstrous NAIM DBL speakers in. They came with the SNAXO crossover, but were in need of some TLC.

The drivers, which were ATC units, needed a re-foam and the cabinets needed a little effort, to bring them back to their former glory.

So we set about filling the spike holes in the bottom of the cabs with car body filler, while we waited for the correct foams to arrive from America.

The surrounds fitted like a dream, and were installed back into the cabs, we found that they did not use Gaskets, but instead, there was a thin piping of silicone around the edge of the drivers, so my previous life as a chef came into it's own and with the use of an icing bag and silicon sealant, I neatly recreate the original 'seal'

Although, I feel, this is not as good as a proper gasket, but we always restore gear in the manner it was originally created.

After some paint re-touching, they looked rather good....
They are now residing in Brighton, in the home of an avid Naim collector.

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This weeks pick of the best - Michaelson, Copland CDA266, Rose RV23, Rogers Cadet, The Source, Odyssey RP1, Acos rega planet, Tripletone, Sony TC-377, Sugden P51 & C51

22/3/2019

Here are a few of the items we have had in over the last week.
It's been a week for interesting valve gear, including a number of high-end valve preamps.

Michaelson Odysseus amplifier

Copland CDA266 cd player

Michaelson Odysseus amplifer

This very cool EL34 stereo integrated, is an interesting one, as you can probably see from it's style and blue writing that is bears a striking resemblance to Musical Fidelity gear.

You'd be right, as Michealson (and Austin) later turned into Musical Fidelity. In our option, the Most notable product from M&A is the stunning sounding and great looking TVA10 stereo power amp made in the mid 80's.

Copland CDA266 cd player

Lovely CD player from style and sound Legends Copland, we think that there are few companies that have a design signature quite like Copland..

All of their products form the off have the same style and look, which is bang on and is still current and relevant today.
From their (relatively) affordable transistor gear to their exotic Valve based designs, they have maintained a strong sound signature too, always great sounding kit, and among our favorite brands.

Rose RV23 pre-amplifier

Rogers cadet III valve amplifier

Rose RV23 pre-amplifier

A very rare, lovely sounding and beautifully made, early 90's British built valve pre-amplifier with a really good valve phono stage. Not much information can be found on these. They were very well reviewed but the brand disappeared without a trace.

Rogers cadet III valve amplifier

One of the most widely vintage valve amplifier, probably Rogers best selling amplifier,

Was available in 2 different versions, one with an integrated chassis and one with separate pre and power sections that could be removed from the case, this version is more sought after by collectors.

The Source Turntable

Odyssey RP1 xp Export gold

The Source Turntable

A very elegant hand built turntable, which features a sub-chassis based on a floating spring principle, switchable two speed, belt driven, with separate power supply in a wood box. Comes with a very heavy solid brass platter which really gives it a bling appearance.

Odyssey RP1 xp xport gold tonearm

This RP1 Export Gold is about as fancy as vintage tonearms get... built to compliment the 'source' Turntable, there was even a version that featured real diamonds in the head-shell!

Acos Rega Planet turntable

Tripletone pre & power valve amplifier

Acos Rega Planet turntable

This is the original Rega Planet 3 suspension turntable from the early 1970s. It was marketed by Acos and fitted with an Acos / Lustre manufactured tonearm... Only 200 were made.

Sugden P51 & C51

Sugden P51 & C51 Pre & power

Arguably the rarest Sugden pre and power amplifier, affectionately know as the welder (as it looks like one). For every 10 A21 you get, you only get one of these! these came can both with original boxes and manuals which was nice.

Epos ES14 speakers

The classic Epos ES14 speakers on original stands, designed by speaker legend Robin Marshall.
The bigger version of the first epos speakers, the ES11
Very well made speakers, that really hold there own in todays speaker market...

Tripletone pre & power valve amplifier

Tripletone were unusual in the fact that they named themselves after their main selling point which was the use three tone controls, treble, mid and bass.

Mid range controls are a very unusually feature on hifi amplifiers (even today).

Sony T-377 reel to reel

Sony TC-377 reel to reel

The classic Sony T-377 reel to reel, amazing to have this one in original box and all manuals in pristine condition.
Fully serviced by Steve Bennet @ Retrotech.co.uk

Concordant excelsior preamp

Concordant Excelsior

Concordant made their name modifying the classic Quad II amplifiers and added a few preamps to compliment them.
This is the middle one in the range.
They are great sounding valve based pres, that are becoming a real collectors item now.

Retro Workshop, Audio Repair Services, Southampton

7/3/2019

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Today we had a very pleasant visit from Peter Carr of Southampton based audio repairs company "The Retro Workshop"

Peter specialises in repairing vintage gear from the 1930's to 1980.

He's happy to work on Dansette style record players, valve radios, radiograms, and everything in-between.

He's a lovely chap, and we enjoyed drinking tea, chatting all things audio (and gardening) and listening to some good music in the demo rooms.

He brought over a set of his home made amps, and they sounded very good indeed!

We think it is very important to band together all like minded people in our business and would highly recommend his services for general vintage audio repairs and maintenance.

www.retroworkshop.co.uk

www.facebook.com/retroworkshops

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HiFi Hangar project night (aka build along with Bob)

24/1/2019

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Sorting out and earth hum on a Sony turntable

We have a number of electronic engineers that regularly help out, helping you breathing life in to many an interesting bit of kit.

We would like to thank Regulars like Ted, Ben, John and Kevin (and many others) for helping Bob and making these nights both fun and productive.

.... and a special thanks to John's wife for the lovely cakes!

Whether it's a home made amp at the 'Breadboard' stage or a dodgy turntable, we are here to help.

Full restorations or a quick fix, please feel free to pop along and get stuck in...

The 'Build Along with Bob' project nights are really taking off, the recent events have been very popular.

Ted checking over a prototype preamp design.

The nights are held every 3rd Wednesday of the month at our shop from 6.30pm, check out up and coming dates on our calendar

Local Goldring Lenco expert Ben, breathing life into a GL75 turntable

Lenco platter, machine polishing, before and after

Sorting out a jumpy cd player draw

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Christmas Soiree and 'Spin What Ya Bring' Event - 22nd Dec 2017

11/11/2017

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Well, its nearly that time of year again and to celebrate another year we are holding a Hifi Hangar Christmas soiree.,

It will be starting from around midday and going into the evening to merge with our 'Spin What Ya Bring' listening night.

During the day we will have minced pies and drinks and in the evening from 6.30pm onwards we will set up a vintage hifi system in one of our listening rooms. All our customers are welcome to come along and bring music to play during the evening.

There is a bit of a challenge that if you bring along any Christmas songs it should be something alternative that we would not normally have heard on Christmas.

So get your thinking caps on and start searching the archives for any interesting Christmas covers by unlikely artists or lesser known Christmas songs from other countries. So please no Mariah Carry or Cliff Richard!

Hope to see you here

Steve, Sarah & Bob

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Ed Greer from 2 Point 2 - 'Russian Doll'

9/11/2017

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Today we had visit from a lovely chap called Ed Greer.

He came in to chat about a vinyl based system to play his Treasured new wave pop collection... pride of the collection is his only copy of the 1984 single Russian Doll by 2 Point 2.

He was the singer/songwriter of the single and can be seen in the publicity shot, behind his friend and fellow band member. It was put out on the Rock City label which was home at the time to Gary Newman.

There were only 250 copies made and even though the single was played on capitol radio, the Label spent most of it's time promoting the ever popular Newman so unfortunately 2 Point 2 joined the many others who gave it their best shot, but sadly never made it to stardom.

He hadn't heard the song in ages, and was quite emotional when we played it to him on one of our shop systems.

It's a very catchy number, especially the A-Side Russian Doll.

Thanks again Ed for sharing the memories with us, and unlike most one-off singles, it is actually very good!

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Author - Steve Ansell

" This page, is to share what we feel may be of some interest to our fellow hifi junkies, It will cover articles and restoration projects from both us and our friends, please feel free to contact us, if you would like to contribute to this page.."

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An interview with Michael Fountain, son of Guy R Fountain

Quad II mono valve amp and acoustical QC2/ 22 preamp

Quarter earth cycling challenge

Stanley Kubrick Exibition - London Design Centre

Fun with NAIM DBL SPEAKERS

This weeks pick of the best - Michaelson, Copland CDA266, Rose RV23, Rogers Cadet, The Source, Odyssey RP1, Acos rega planet, Tripletone, Sony TC-377, Sugden P51 & C51

Michaelson Odysseus amplifier

Copland CDA266 cd player

Rose RV23 pre-amplifier

Rogers cadet III valve amplifier

The Source Turntable

Odyssey RP1 xp Export gold

Acos Rega Planet turntable

Tripletone pre & power valve amplifier

Sugden P51 & C51

Epos ES14 speakers

Sony T-377 reel to reel

Concordant excelsior preamp

Retro Workshop, Audio Repair Services, Southampton

HiFi Hangar project night (aka build along with Bob)

Christmas Soiree and 'Spin What Ya Bring' Event - 22nd Dec 2017

Ed Greer from 2 Point 2 - 'Russian Doll'

Author - Steve Ansell

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