I took this in trade for an amp. I am like a deer in the headlights and can't bring myself to take it apart. It consists of a 6V6 PA and 12 sections of tone generators. The tone generators are a bunch of 12AU7's and one 12AV6. One of the trannies must be a 12.6 supply. There is lacquered cloth wire, bumble bee caps, green 400v tropicaps. carbon comp resistors - some with long leads, the phenolic boards, who knows what else.
Should I just get down to it and start stripping it? I have no hope it will every be functional for its original purpose. I think I need someone to give me a kick in the butt.
Oh, and I've got the Jensen P10Q that came with it in a box! It is almost mint!
Thanks.
Phil
Lowry Organo -for parts?
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Lowry Organo -for parts?
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
If the filament supply is intact, you could use it as a space heater. 
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
Dye the tubes different colors and run a chase program on it for next christmas
I tore an organ apart very similiar to that. I didn't find it that hard to start snipping and unscrewing every thing.
I tore an organ apart very similiar to that. I didn't find it that hard to start snipping and unscrewing every thing.
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
Ooh, that's a tough call.
1) Cave in to nostalgia and respect for days gone by leaving it alone and hoping a Lowrey enthusiast picks it up and restores it? Chances are slim and will probably require umpteen repeated listings.
2) Gut the SOB and don't look back. Use what you want and sell the rest.
A couple of years ago, I wound up selling off a bunch of gorgeous vintage integrated amps that I simply didn't have the heart to tamper with. You know the kind - Deco styling, original circuit and tubes. Hell, the buyers prolly just modded them into crappy guitar amps. My conscience was cleared, but I'm sure I could have saved/made more money by modding or gutting them. I'm way too sentimental.
In reality, it would take a very special buyer to turn a pretty penny on that beast. Have you checked into any forums geared towards vintage organ stuff? Your amp doesn't have a fancy enclosure, so interest would prolly be limited.
Even if you decide to reuse some of that stuff, you already know what a PIA it is to clean sockets and other parts. But...as a "donor" piece, I'll bet that thing will eventually pay for itself. Reusing sockets and resistors aint so bad when you only use a couple of pieces once in a while.
FWIW, I have about a dozen amps laying around that I keep only for parts donations. I swear that only two hours ago I pulled some off of a shelf to rob a few CC resistors.
1) Cave in to nostalgia and respect for days gone by leaving it alone and hoping a Lowrey enthusiast picks it up and restores it? Chances are slim and will probably require umpteen repeated listings.
2) Gut the SOB and don't look back. Use what you want and sell the rest.
A couple of years ago, I wound up selling off a bunch of gorgeous vintage integrated amps that I simply didn't have the heart to tamper with. You know the kind - Deco styling, original circuit and tubes. Hell, the buyers prolly just modded them into crappy guitar amps. My conscience was cleared, but I'm sure I could have saved/made more money by modding or gutting them. I'm way too sentimental.
In reality, it would take a very special buyer to turn a pretty penny on that beast. Have you checked into any forums geared towards vintage organ stuff? Your amp doesn't have a fancy enclosure, so interest would prolly be limited.
Even if you decide to reuse some of that stuff, you already know what a PIA it is to clean sockets and other parts. But...as a "donor" piece, I'll bet that thing will eventually pay for itself. Reusing sockets and resistors aint so bad when you only use a couple of pieces once in a while.
FWIW, I have about a dozen amps laying around that I keep only for parts donations. I swear that only two hours ago I pulled some off of a shelf to rob a few CC resistors.
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
It would cost a small fortune to re-tube and cap that thing....
Before you tear into it; you may want to just (just out of respect) give a shout to the guys on The Organ Forum and see if anybody is needing one of those. You never know. And if not, you can go to your grave with a clear concience....
Good Luck
http://www.organforum.com/forums/forum.php
Before you tear into it; you may want to just (just out of respect) give a shout to the guys on The Organ Forum and see if anybody is needing one of those. You never know. And if not, you can go to your grave with a clear concience....
Good Luck
http://www.organforum.com/forums/forum.php
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
Rip it apart...as a veteran of almost 5 organ massacres I can tell you some of those parts are good and some are crap.
I have built some great sounding amps and pedals with reclaimed organ parts...although you must measure them to be sure.
Most of the non-standard tubes aren't worth much so I end up selling the whole lot of them for cheap on the 'bay or somewhere else.
BTW...I have a nice Milwaukee brand Sawz-All that really comes in handy. That and a good set of wire clippers.
Rich
I have built some great sounding amps and pedals with reclaimed organ parts...although you must measure them to be sure.
Most of the non-standard tubes aren't worth much so I end up selling the whole lot of them for cheap on the 'bay or somewhere else.
BTW...I have a nice Milwaukee brand Sawz-All that really comes in handy. That and a good set of wire clippers.
Rich
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
Some of those old organs were bought, sat in the corner, and never played. They still collected dust, and wound up smelling old, but the parts are worth scavenging. I do it all the time. Hammond even used Mullards in some of them. Testing the tubes will give you an idea of how often the organ was played. I just pulled a bunch of RCA cleartops out of an old Conn that tested almost new.
"It Happens"
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
Just caught the pics after I posted. The codes on those transformers should be 606 for Woodward-Schumaker. One is a 12v volt filament transformer. The other should have a 12 volt filament. a 6.3 volt filament driving two 6au4gt rectifiers and around 780 volts secondary at slightly over 400ma according to the chart in my other post. It should be full of 6SN7's a 6SL7 or two and a pair of 6L6G B or C 's. Nice haul and a ton of nice vintage cloth wire to boot. You'll build a couple of amps out of that. I am using a PT like that in a Komet 60 build right now.
Oops , my bad, you got 6V6's. Are most of the tubes at least RCA black plates?
Oops , my bad, you got 6V6's. Are most of the tubes at least RCA black plates?
"It Happens"
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
Passfan,
I think you are pretty close on the tube inventory. IIRC 99% of the tubes are GE and bear the telltale mystery GE dot patterns. Huge pile of 12AU7's in the tone generates (48), dozen 12AV6, I think you got the PA tube inventory right -- maybe another 12AU7 or 2.
I'm very impressed you could find the transformer info. It seems shame to drive a pair of 6V6 with 780v/400mA available. Maybe this is a PT that ought to be put to good use elsewhere? Am I dreaming thinking it could have eBay value north of $50? I don't really have an interest in building an 80-100W monster amp.
You can do the math on the 12V transformer -- it must have around 10A. What the heck can you do with that? Run it through a voltage multiplier until you get something useful for a guitar amp? Power an enormous door bell?
Everyone, thanks for the encouragement!
Phil
I think you are pretty close on the tube inventory. IIRC 99% of the tubes are GE and bear the telltale mystery GE dot patterns. Huge pile of 12AU7's in the tone generates (48), dozen 12AV6, I think you got the PA tube inventory right -- maybe another 12AU7 or 2.
I'm very impressed you could find the transformer info. It seems shame to drive a pair of 6V6 with 780v/400mA available. Maybe this is a PT that ought to be put to good use elsewhere? Am I dreaming thinking it could have eBay value north of $50? I don't really have an interest in building an 80-100W monster amp.
You can do the math on the 12V transformer -- it must have around 10A. What the heck can you do with that? Run it through a voltage multiplier until you get something useful for a guitar amp? Power an enormous door bell?
Everyone, thanks for the encouragement!
Phil
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
A friend of mine bough some of these for a couple bucks at a flea market. I used to go over to his place and rob the shielded cable out of them.I liked the old style they used.
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
I picked up one of these off ebay last year. I have the exact same trannies for sale in the for sale section. Woodward doesn't have any info on them any more but powering it up gave me the voltages. The 6AU4 has a 6.3 volt rectifier and this article http://www.diytube.com/phpBB2/viewtopic ... 65&start=7 allowed me to calculate the current . The 6au4 is a half wave rectifier which is why there are two of them and the secondary winding is split between them. I just keep the stuff in my head when I want to. I haven't found a use for the filament transformer yet either. If it's the same pt. Mine weighs about 10 lbs and is 2 7/8ths inches worth of laminations and 5 inches from bell tip to bell tip.Phil_S wrote: I'm very impressed you could find the transformer info. It seems shame to drive a pair of 6V6 with 780v/400mA available. Maybe this is a PT that ought to be put to good use elsewhere? Am I dreaming thinking it could have eBay value north of $50? I don't really have an interest in building an 80-100W monster amp.
Everyone, thanks for the encouragement!
Phil
"It Happens"
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
I think it would make a nice baffle for recording sessions-throw it between the drums and guitar. Just look at that diffusive surface! Looks cool in the studio, plus you can pluck components for reuse as needed, like cherries off a tree.
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
For better or worse, I got started with it. I pulled all the tubes, and then I striped out the wiring harness. It sure is a lot of wire. I tried to leave the PA intact, but managed to snip 3 wires by mistake. No worries, though, I have plenty of spare wire. 
What does one do with 50 GE 12AU7A tubes all with the same date code? LOL, I could build a 100W triode amp. Same tube type for preamp and power. LOL.
What does one do with 50 GE 12AU7A tubes all with the same date code? LOL, I could build a 100W triode amp. Same tube type for preamp and power. LOL.
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
Hi, I have a Schumacher PT from a Lowery organ also. I built a KT66 Rocket with it and used a vvr to get the B+ down. The 12v filament supply was for the preamp. I did not use the OT though. Do you have any information on it? Thanks.
Re: Lowry Organo -for parts?
Test 'em and offer them for sale. Used as driver tubes and PI tubes in a many amps. Also the best thing in the world to use as the reverb driver in blackface Fenders (unless you're trying to sound like Dick Dale).Phil_S wrote:What does one do with 50 GE 12AU7A tubes all with the same date code?