Restoration
60ies Klemt Echolette M40
This Klemt Echolette M40 from the early 1960s had spent the last 20 years in an old shed, unnoticed. The new owner asked us: "Do you think you can get this thing flying again?". Of course we can...
History
those were the days.
The Klemt Echolette M40 and the matching Echolette LE2 speakers were THE club PA of the 1960s in Germany. Equipped with 4 inputs that could process everything from microphones to guitars to high-level keyboard instruments and a 32W ultra-linear power amplifier with 4xEL84. With this device, the band or club was prepared for anything that might come.
So, the best of the best. Those were the days! History is that the Beatles also used it for their legendary performances in Hamburg's "Star Club".
The starting point
Oh oh!
Our customer rescued exactly such an Echolette Club PA from an old shed after more than 20 years of "resting" there and would like to use it again in the same way as in the 60ies. Namely as an amplifier system for vocals and instruments with lots of vintage charm.
A few first mobile phone photos of the owner did not suggest anything good.
Power supply electrolytic capacitors that had "vomited" their electrolyte. A power switch that was defective and was simply bypassed with twisted-pair cables. A defective fuse that was not replaced but simply bridged with aluminum foil.
Our clear recommendation
Don't turn this thing on! Bring directly to the Tube WorkShop for assessment.
After the Echolette M40 had arrived at the Tube WorkShop, we were reliefed.
Yes, the mains switch broke off internally... someone had bridged the fuse... the power supply electrolytic capacitors were dead... and the device contained the dust of the last 60 years...
But otherwise the amp was in really good condition!
The housing was still OK...
There was an original tube set with 5x Telefunken ECC83, 4x Siemens EL84 and EZ81's from Valvo and Siemens...
When measuring the windings, the transformers showed no short circuits or interruptions...
The circuit was in absolute original condition and had never seen a soldering iron since it left the factory...
The last one in particular is very helpful in a restoration, since defective components can be replaced based from factory condition and there is no need to first sift through and eliminate lengthy, well-intentioned tinkering attempts by soldering iron artists from the past.
First, the innards of the amp were freed from the dust of the decades using compressed air and a brush (tip: better do this outdoors). When the cloud of dust settled in the workshop, things looked very promising.