HSR 286 Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 I'm sure Burns were making transistor amps pre 64... but very established for the time. Never Heard of B.E.L. but from a an 'out of the blocks' start looks impressive! Slightly off topic, I remember an amplifier, looked very similar to a AC30 in size and weight, had what I can only describe as a small oscilloscope next to the volume, treble etc, can't remember the manufacturer, first letter possibility C, and sure it was British. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eastwellian 4 Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 Yes. I think the small boxes are the amps and the box on the left is the speaker cabinet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
manorcom 8 Posted August 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 HSR, I think you are refering to the Selmer Thunderbird amp with the green "Magic Eye" on the front: 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Will2017 34 Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 The first band in which I played performed, along with other bands, at the then Sherwood Rooms. All bands used BEL amps. My own amp. was a Vox. Regards, Will2017 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HSR 286 Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 Belonged to my friends dad, was very tatty, definitely not badged..I was sure that 'eye' was on top, but a very long time ago! The shape, style of the knobs and layout ring major bells! Thanks Manorcom..youv'e solved what was for me... a forty three year old mystery! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Struggles 0 Posted February 22, 2020 Report Share Posted February 22, 2020 I had a second hand bendix amp in the early 70's. It was 20 watts with 2 10" speakers. Design was similar to others seen on this forum. It was much lighter than my AC30 and I gigged it for about two years. It was never a great sound but it was light and reliable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mess 616 Posted February 22, 2020 Report Share Posted February 22, 2020 Hi manorcom, I've just been reading this thread with great interest. In the mid 60s I played in a band with a lad called Charles aka Tony Dickens who lived on Gawthorne St. Tony joined Bendix in 1966 and had a Cavern Deluxe which sounded great. He worked with an electronics engineer called Joe Green who helped our band out a lot with his knowledge. Tony knows quite a bit about the Bel amps. He's posted on here as tony1 in the past but is also on FB as Charles Dickens. I've got an email address for him too which I can send as a PM if you'd like Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mess 616 Posted February 23, 2020 Report Share Posted February 23, 2020 If you're interested in old valve amps you should checkout http://www.chambonino.com/ John is Nottingham based and I came across his site when I was researching Linear amps. Linear were cheap and cheerful valve amps from the early 60s which lots of lads bought when they started out on electric guitar. They were definitely “no frills” but they've become sought after over the years and command decent money now if you can find one. John's website is full of information and pictures of those pioneering valve amps such as Selmer, Vox, Bird, Watkins etc. A great read if you were in a band in the 60s. BTW our band’s rhythm guitarist had a Selmer 30 watt all transistor amp back in 1965. The amp was just a small rectangular box perched on the top of a 2 x12” speaker cabinet. It looked punny after the big heavy valve tops but it was much lighter and bleddy loud. Like all solid state electronics it came on instantly without the warm up delay. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moysten 0 Posted April 6, 2020 Report Share Posted April 6, 2020 Used to have one in 1967/8 - 60w 4x10 speakers - Hugely noisy ran whole band & pa through it. We called it the dancing machine because it shook its way round the floor of our rehearsal hall - see pics Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Philip gratton 0 Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 Hi I worked for Bendix as a service engineer from 1966 through the name changes a move to bulwell 1987 Worked on all the type of amp's always wanted a 4 60 fixed many got none Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,507 Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 I remember you Phil Gratton! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
manorcom 8 Posted April 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 Phillip Gratton. Do you have an photographs of the factory or amps or gear or anything you can share? Regards...Keith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
manorcom 8 Posted April 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 On 2/22/2020 at 11:14 PM, Mess said: Hi manorcom, I've just been reading this thread with great interest. In the mid 60s I played in a band with a lad called Charles aka Tony Dickens who lived on Gawthorne St. Tony joined Bendix in 1966 and had a Cavern Deluxe which sounded great. He worked with an electronics engineer called Joe Green who helped our band out a lot with his knowledge. Tony knows quite a bit about the Bel amps. He's posted on here as tony1 in the past but is also on FB as Charles Dickens. I've got an email address for him too which I can send as a PM if you'd like Only just spotted your reply sorry Mess. Yes please. Regards...Keith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
austinrocket 0 Posted March 8, 2021 Report Share Posted March 8, 2021 On 8/4/2019 at 7:47 PM, manorcom said: Hi there, I am researching BEL guitar amplifiers which were made at the Bendix factory in around 1964/5. Very little is known about them. I am looking to find people who worked on them, any pictures that you may have. Anything would be helpful. Even contacts you may know who are not on the web. Thanks for looking Keith Keith, I just bought a 4/60 recently and am trying to find out what I can about them so if you can share anything you've picked up that would be great? I messaged you on here last week but unsure if you've seen it or not? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ube 38 Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 On 4/21/2020 at 9:46 PM, Philip gratton said: Hi I worked for Bendix as a service engineer from 1966 through the name changes a move to bulwell 1987 Worked on all the type of amp's always wanted a 4 60 fixed many got none I did my apprenticeship at thorn automation... Later thorn emi..... Later jasmin.... Later redundancy..... I was the welder there.... When we moved to sellars Wood bulwell there was only a handful of us moved that bloody factory... Me.... Don Waltham... John Osborne.... Brian Appleby.... and a truck driver from outside called Sid Eastham..... I loved working there until pee poor management let us down Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,507 Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 I worked in the New Basford factory from 1967 til 1975 and left before the company moved to Blenheim Ind Estate but I did pop in there to see old work colleagues just once. I remember a lot of names but only Don Waltham of those you mention. I worked for 2 Chief Engineers (Don Joyce then Noel Scott) and then Wally Biggs (Personnel Manager ...... HR these days of course). Wonder if I knew you? I really enjoyed working there, lots of fun and banter and all decent people. Being the only girl in the Engineering Department on the top floor was great, loved it and have really great memories. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paradiddle 145 Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 Here's a picture of a real, live BEL amp. This was taken in 1967 (courtesy of Socram), full picture and the story behind it coming soon on 'Gedling School & Beyond..........' Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paradiddle 145 Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 I think the BEL was a transistorised amp and so was fairly lightweight compared with the Selmer, Vox etc. The sound was also very clean/clinical in comparison. On the photo, sitting on top of the BEL is most likely a WEM (Watkins Electical Music) Copycat echo unit which used a tape loop. A far cry from todays digital sound effects. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ube 38 Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 5 hours ago, LizzieM said: I really enjoyed working there, lots of fun and banter and all decent people. The Christmas do's were summut else.... Being a young apprentice among all the those shop floor girls....who needed mistletoe ????!!!. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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