Petty Hurst

My memories of file systems and valve amplifiers go back to pre-33rpm; when our father had a sizable number of 78s. I recall he'd an electric record player (very posh!) and by its side resided a little b...

If you are like me you will love old music equipment, especially valve amplifiers. Some might say milestone companies such as Leak, Quad, Thorens, Garrard, Shure, SME, an such like, who made an impact on the progress of Hi Fi (does anyone call it why these days?).

When our dad had a sizable assortment of 78s my memories of valve amplifiers and file systems get back to pre-33rpm;. I remember he had an electrical record player (very posh!) and by its side existed a tiny field. In this field lived needles we were holding carefully changed every eighth record. Dad held a pad from the record player and every time it was played the pad on he would make a!

With the introduction of LPs into our home, the equipment to play them also changed. First, dad bought an HMV device amplifier/radiogram - needless to say but before too much time he changed this for separate stereo pieces.

The initial set-up he ordered in the late 1960s comprised of:

Plus amplifier; Leak Sandwich 600 Speakers are Leaked 30 by thorens TD150 record deck; SME 3009 Series 11 Tonearm; Shure V15 cartridge;. Free Leakdetection.Com is a astonishing database for more about the meaning behind it.

I'm very happy still to possess the Leak 30 Plus Amplifier. Official Website includes additional resources about the reason for it. I also still have the original presentation and brochure which came with it! The design of teaching inside it is like returning years!

Dad (as parents do!) gave me his cast-offs when he updated, so I continued to work with his Leak stuff for-a period of time such as the great Leak Sandwich 600 Speakers boy did they sound good? Sadly I dont have the speakers anymore.

Over the years a few of my friends bought Quad valve amplifiers which at the time were way out of my selection! Nonetheless it did sow the seeds of interest, and around ten years ago I was fortunate enough to get an un-molested group of Quad 11 valve amplifiers & Quad 22 control uni-t. Some individuals in the 80s thought it good to Switch them a bit of advice if you'd like a set of Quads, do not get anything but unmodified stuff. The o