Categories: Technical

AWA (Amalgamated Wireless Australasia) Broadcast Equipment

Download a 24pp pdf with schematics and technical information regarding all AWA-brand vacuum-tube broadcast audio amplifiers circa 1967:

DOWNLOAD: ABCstudioEquipment

Big thanks to PS dot com reader E. Lorden. E. lives in Australia and has provided us with extensive schematics and technical data on AWA broadcast-audio equipment. AWA was the ‘RCA’ of Australia throughout much of the 20th century: they made and marketed both consumer and professional electronics equipment as well as engaging in actual broadcasting. Due to a very protective import-taxation scheme in place in Australia until the early 1970s (as well as the high cost of shipping imported goods to that country), AWA was highly incentivized to develop its own unique line of broadcast audio equipment for the Australian market. I have personally never seen any of these items myself, and many of the circuits are different than any US broadcast audio components that I am aware of; perhaps there is more of a Telefunken heritage to this kit. Or perhaps it’s genuinely just unique. Anyhow, plenty to dig into… limiters, mic preamps, power amps, etc… Although the document is dated 1967, the circuits covered extend well back to the 1940s, judging by the types of ‘valves’ employed.

All photos in this post credited to E. Lorden

chris

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Bafflegab says:

02/06/2012 at 7:20 pm

Patrick Turner of Canberra is a prolific Usenet poster on rec.audio.tubes and has a Web site of his own. He often makes idiosyncratic comments that after reading these documents make a lot more sense and his web site IS useful, certainly to anyone wanting to understand the situation in Australia.

The Australian market was extremely protected and as a result Australian radios, TV sets, appliances and pro equipment evolved in unusual ways, just as its wildlife did. Unfortunately most of their consumer equipment was poor, by comparison to American gear. There as here, if you wanted really impressive audio you bought McIntosh or Marantz. You just paid more.