Quest continues for 'historic' info...
 

Thought I'd raise this here in case someone can help.

I've continued to do background research on the history of Armstrong Audio
/ Wireless in particular, but also other UK makes, etc in general. Since
the start of 2016 I've mainly been trawling pre-1960 issues of magazines,
back to the 1930 and collating what I'm finding.

However there are two things from the 1970s which I haven't been able to
find.

One is that - so far - I haven't been able to find a detailed magazine
review of the Armstrong 602 loudspeaker. This speaker design was only only
sale for a brief period. I've found a 'system' review that included it, but
it was clearly a weirdly mismatched collection of items and lacks any real
detail of the 602. I'm sure there must have been at least one 602 review,
but not yet found any.

I have Hi Fi News for the relevant years and am sure they didn't do one.
But it is possible that another mag like Hi Fi Choice did. So does anyone
have the copies of Hi Fi Choice or other mags from the period and can tell
me where such a review may be, please? I do have a few issues of Hi Fi
Choice from the 1970s, but not enough to exclude this. And I have almost no
issues of many other mags like the old Hi Fi Sound, etc, during the period.

Similarly, in the late 1970s I recall being told about a review of the
Armstrong 600 tuner (or receiver) which criticised the tuner for having an
early roll off in the HF and a 'dull' sound. In fact the tuner they'd been
sent had the USA de-emphasis by mistake. Again I'd love to find this review
now, but I've not yet located it. As above I guess it was in Hi Fi Choice
or some other magazine (not Hi Fi News).

More generally, can anyone suggest a book/magazine dealer I could get such
old issues of magazines from? One who has a real UK postal address and will
work via email and cheque-by-post, *not* ebay or amazon? This type of
secondhand dealer seems to have been killed off, alas.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Quest continues for 'historic' info...
 

I have never heard of that speaker, and wonder if it was a rebadged
something else, which would explain its short life and no reviews.
Just a thought.
Funny you should say about the de emphasis, as I had a Rotel that sounded
very leaden, and though I had many conversations with the company and some
'experts' nobody could really say why except that it might be a phase shift
issue with the filters somewhere. Now I thought all filters involved phase
shifts and cancellations, so I took it with a pinch of salt and folgged it
to a cloth eared persona and bought a Pioneer instead.
My Armstrong 500 series tuner having died due to transistor encapsulation
short out death. A Mullard issue of that vintage I'm told.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...
Thought I'd raise this here in case someone can help.

I've continued to do background research on the history of Armstrong Audio
/ Wireless in particular, but also other UK makes, etc in general. Since
the start of 2016 I've mainly been trawling pre-1960 issues of magazines,
back to the 1930 and collating what I'm finding.

However there are two things from the 1970s which I haven't been able to
find.

One is that - so far - I haven't been able to find a detailed magazine
review of the Armstrong 602 loudspeaker. This speaker design was only only
sale for a brief period. I've found a 'system' review that included it,
but
it was clearly a weirdly mismatched collection of items and lacks any real
detail of the 602. I'm sure there must have been at least one 602 review,
but not yet found any.

I have Hi Fi News for the relevant years and am sure they didn't do one.
But it is possible that another mag like Hi Fi Choice did. So does anyone
have the copies of Hi Fi Choice or other mags from the period and can tell
me where such a review may be, please? I do have a few issues of Hi Fi
Choice from the 1970s, but not enough to exclude this. And I have almost
no
issues of many other mags like the old Hi Fi Sound, etc, during the
period.

Similarly, in the late 1970s I recall being told about a review of the
Armstrong 600 tuner (or receiver) which criticised the tuner for having an
early roll off in the HF and a 'dull' sound. In fact the tuner they'd been
sent had the USA de-emphasis by mistake. Again I'd love to find this
review
now, but I've not yet located it. As above I guess it was in Hi Fi Choice
or some other magazine (not Hi Fi News).

More generally, can anyone suggest a book/magazine dealer I could get such
old issues of magazines from? One who has a real UK postal address and
will
work via email and cheque-by-post, *not* ebay or amazon? This type of
secondhand dealer seems to have been killed off, alas.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics
http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Quest continues for 'historic' info...
 

In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:
I have never heard of that speaker, and wonder if it was a rebadged
something else,

Nope. Bill Purkis designed it whilst working for Armstrong at Warlters Rd.
I knew him and worked there at the same time. FWIW I still have a pair of
the prototype 602 units (lwhich lack veneer of their fronts) with spare /
alternative crossover boards. The sound is pretty similar to the good KEF
speakers of the period. But Bill had previously worked for Goodmans, not
KEF.

which would explain its short life and no reviews.

I suspect there *was* a review. But the speaker was released at a time when
the company was facing losing its factory, etc. So the 602 probably wasn't
on sale for very long.

Problem for me is that in those days there were a number of competing hi fi
magazines, and I don't have copies of many issues.

Alas, the internet seems to have killed off being able to find
old-fashioned specialist secondhand book/mag dealers who will talk to you
and accept payment via "cheque in the post". So since I can't get to
audiojumbles, fairs, etc, I find it hard to get issues of the old
magazines.

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Quest continues for 'historic' info...
 

Yes back in the day when I could see, I used to have a lot of hi fi sound,
but like I suspect many other people whty went down the recyclers when I
cleared out the shed and loft. I still have some old mags, but now of course
cannot bloody read them!



Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...
In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:
I have never heard of that speaker, and wonder if it was a rebadged
something else,

Nope. Bill Purkis designed it whilst working for Armstrong at Warlters Rd.
I knew him and worked there at the same time. FWIW I still have a pair of
the prototype 602 units (lwhich lack veneer of their fronts) with spare /
alternative crossover boards. The sound is pretty similar to the good KEF
speakers of the period. But Bill had previously worked for Goodmans, not
KEF.

which would explain its short life and no reviews.

I suspect there *was* a review. But the speaker was released at a time
when
the company was facing losing its factory, etc. So the 602 probably wasn't
on sale for very long.

Problem for me is that in those days there were a number of competing hi
fi
magazines, and I don't have copies of many issues.

Alas, the internet seems to have killed off being able to find
old-fashioned specialist secondhand book/mag dealers who will talk to you
and accept payment via "cheque in the post". So since I can't get to
audiojumbles, fairs, etc, I find it hard to get issues of the old
magazines.

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics
http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Quest continues for 'historic' info...
 

In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:

Alas, the internet seems to have killed off being able to find
old-fashioned specialist secondhand book/mag dealers who will talk to you
and accept payment via "cheque in the post". So since I can't get to
audiojumbles, fairs, etc, I find it hard to get issues of the old
magazines.

I'm afraid all this sort of thing has gone to Ebay these days. Something
my brother won't accept either. ;-)

--
*Eat well, stay fit, die anyway

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Quest continues for 'historic' info...
 

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
wrote:
In article , Jim Lesurf
wrote:

Alas, the internet seems to have killed off being able to find
old-fashioned specialist secondhand book/mag dealers who will talk to
you and accept payment via "cheque in the post". So since I can't get
to audiojumbles, fairs, etc, I find it hard to get issues of the old
magazines.

I'm afraid all this sort of thing has gone to Ebay these days. Something
my brother won't accept either. ;-)

I can understand why professional second-hand book dealers use the net,
ebay, etc. But what seems strange is that they now neglect simply enabling
the *added* custom which they could still get simply by making their
contact info available for people who want to buy/sell by other means.

As your comment confirms, I'm not the only person who'd buy that way if
they could be bothered to realise it.

Similarly, their attending fairs, jumbles, etc, make sense. But it seems
odd for them to then fail to allow potential customers to buy from them via
post, and advertising their contact details, etc, on their websites. Again
I can see why the organisers of *fairs* don't want the dealers to bypass
them, but why don't the dealers make their contact details available by
other means? Having your own website is cheap and easy enough these days.

Is it just lazyness, or a lack of thought, I wonder? Or do they find it
easier to dodge tax this way, maybe?

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Quest continues for 'historic' info...
 

In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:
I'm afraid all this sort of thing has gone to Ebay these days.
Something my brother won't accept either. ;-)

I can understand why professional second-hand book dealers use the net,
ebay, etc. But what seems strange is that they now neglect simply
enabling the *added* custom which they could still get simply by making
their contact info available for people who want to buy/sell by other
means.

As your comment confirms, I'm not the only person who'd buy that way if
they could be bothered to realise it.

Similarly, their attending fairs, jumbles, etc, make sense. But it seems
odd for them to then fail to allow potential customers to buy from them
via post, and advertising their contact details, etc, on their websites.
Again I can see why the organisers of *fairs* don't want the dealers to
bypass them, but why don't the dealers make their contact details
available by other means? Having your own website is cheap and easy
enough these days.

My brother's passion is models. Things like Dinky toys, etc. The model
club he belongs to has just held their last fair. Despite advertising it
in the local press etc, not enough attended it to cover the costs - a
trend which has been happening over the last few years.

Is it just lazyness, or a lack of thought, I wonder? Or do they find it
easier to dodge tax this way, maybe?

I dunno. You'd have to see some figures of Ebay sales versus the rest.
Ebay is simply such a convenient way to buy and sell these days.

--
*War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Quest continues for 'historic' info...
 

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
wrote:

Is it just lazyness, or a lack of thought, I wonder? Or do they find
it easier to dodge tax this way, maybe?

I dunno. You'd have to see some figures of Ebay sales versus the rest.
Ebay is simply such a convenient way to buy and sell these days.

I can see how it will *appear* so to sellers. But it then tends to lead to
them not being aware of how many customers they may *miss* if they fail to
provide and offer alternatives. If you are selling for a living you also
depend on being able to maximise how many people can buy from you, and
compete for what you offer. Relying on *just* one method - and one where
other (big tax-dodging ex-UK companies) take a cut and some control over
your market access and cashflow - seems unwise. Recipy for reducing your
income.

But of course, if they stay stuck in that box, they can't even hear when
someone says any of the above.

FWIW for some other companies who apparently only work via website and
'card' interface I *have* found they will also function happily via cheque,
emails, etc. The problem is the traders who provide no way to even talk to
them, or find out where/who they are.

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Quest continues for 'historic' info...
 

Sites like wherehshallwego and streetlife seem to get lots of adverts for
craft or collectors fairs etc in them, and I often wonder if people dogo to
these.
One of the problems with having physical fairs these days is the escalating
costs of hiring the venue and the tables and if power is needed it costs an
arm and a leg, health and saftety, places to park etc.
This seems to be many of the issues.
I mean, I had a chat with thelocal librarylast week and they told me that
the council holls joined to many libraries had been takenaway from them for
free use and now they have to pay the going rate from their budget. This has
resulted in many free events put on, say book fairs where the library had a
free stand and the room was discounted, has just stopped happening.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:
I'm afraid all this sort of thing has gone to Ebay these days.
Something my brother won't accept either. ;-)

I can understand why professional second-hand book dealers use the net,
ebay, etc. But what seems strange is that they now neglect simply
enabling the *added* custom which they could still get simply by making
their contact info available for people who want to buy/sell by other
means.

As your comment confirms, I'm not the only person who'd buy that way if
they could be bothered to realise it.

Similarly, their attending fairs, jumbles, etc, make sense. But it seems
odd for them to then fail to allow potential customers to buy from them
via post, and advertising their contact details, etc, on their websites.
Again I can see why the organisers of *fairs* don't want the dealers to
bypass them, but why don't the dealers make their contact details
available by other means? Having your own website is cheap and easy
enough these days.

My brother's passion is models. Things like Dinky toys, etc. The model
club he belongs to has just held their last fair. Despite advertising it
in the local press etc, not enough attended it to cover the costs - a
trend which has been happening over the last few years.

Is it just lazyness, or a lack of thought, I wonder? Or do they find it
easier to dodge tax this way, maybe?

I dunno. You'd have to see some figures of Ebay sales versus the rest.
Ebay is simply such a convenient way to buy and sell these days.

--
*War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Quest continues for 'historic' info...
 

On 25/03/2016 09:20, Jim Lesurf wrote:
In article , Dave Plowman (News)
wrote:

Is it just lazyness, or a lack of thought, I wonder? Or do they find
it easier to dodge tax this way, maybe?

I dunno. You'd have to see some figures of Ebay sales versus the rest.
Ebay is simply such a convenient way to buy and sell these days.

I can see how it will *appear* so to sellers. But it then tends to lead to
them not being aware of how many customers they may *miss* if they fail to
provide and offer alternatives. If you are selling for a living you also
depend on being able to maximise how many people can buy from you, and
compete for what you offer. Relying on *just* one method - and one where
other (big tax-dodging ex-UK companies) take a cut and some control over
your market access and cashflow - seems unwise. Recipy for reducing your
income.

But of course, if they stay stuck in that box, they can't even hear when
someone says any of the above.

FWIW for some other companies who apparently only work via website and
'card' interface I *have* found they will also function happily via cheque,
emails, etc. The problem is the traders who provide no way to even talk to
them, or find out where/who they are.


It is a shame - I wish there was more opportunity for communication, and
it can be disconcerting.

But the ebay traders and the like can simply take the hit - some have
upwards of a million transactions with feedback - so probably many more
than that. To build in the capacity to deal with cheques, written
correspondence, technical assistance and a phone help line for example
would cut slender margins further.

There are many other downsides, but cost and ease of use seem to rule
the day. Maybe it'll start to slide back . . .


--
Cheers, Rob