amps of the 1940s

Features date this Gibson EH-150 to 1941. Currently 100% original, which explains why it doesn't work. ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/wildricechris/eh-150/IMG_0620.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/wildricechris/00%20inv/IMG_0633.jpg

This one is most likely a Premier (according to Andy Fuchs). Transformers are dated to 1948. The speaker and cab are new.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/wildricechris/Old%20Amp/1948_4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/wildricechris/Old%20Amp/1948_3.jpg

I always wondered what those early amps looked like. I just googled "Charlie Christian's gear" and it said that he used a Gibson EH-150. Only fifteen watts. Live music must have been a lot less loud back then. No wonder our parents were always telling us to "Turn it down"!

You have to factor in watt inflation. 15 watts in 1940 is equivalent to 180 watts today. Charlie was playing the Super Twin Reverb of his day!

I got meeself a 1947 Vega Commander and restored it with much help from the guys and gals in the Shock Bros and Amp Central forumz. It's a single-ended 6L6 amp with a 6SL7GT and 6C5 as preamp tubes. It has an early permanent magnet Jensen speaker, the same 10" used in the Fender V-front Dual Professional/Super. It's not very loud, and doesn't break up easily. One weird part is that the volume pots are before the grid of the first preamp tube, so is sort of redundant with the guitar's volume control. Enough blabbin', here are the pictures (front and back with panels off):

BigDaddyLH- Could you explain what you mean by "watt inflation"? Why was 15 watts then equivalent to 180 watts now? I'm Ignorant when it comes to electronics.

By the way, How much are these things worth? Is there much of a demand for them today?

BigDaddyLH- Could you explain what you mean by "watt inflation"? Why was 15 watts then equivalent to 180 watts now? I'm Ignorant when it comes to electronics.

I forgot to include these: :lol::lol::lol::lol:

:oops: oops.

I forgot to include these: :lol::lol::lol::lol:
BigDaddyLH You forgot to mention the conversion factor when watts went Metric in 2000..

BigDaddyLH You forgot to mention the conversion factor when watts went Metric in 2000..

Good point. Before the metric system, you had all these separate measures: guitar watts and light bulb watts...

Here's my Gibson, finally up and running!

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