PS dot com reader Frank B sent in these pics of his SpectraSonics console. This 6×2 board was custom built for NBC Television in the late 60s or 70s. Here’s Frank’s description of it:
“..its one of a kind…6 preamps and two 610 limiters plus some high pass filters. It was built for nbc-tv. Im guessing this is the only one in existence….The wiring for the patchbay is unique and crazy. “
Interestingly the comp controls are located on the rear of the unit and the compressors have their own points on the bay. Frank, I am curious what that other board you have to the right of it is!
Any of yall got a custom mini-console by a big maker like this? Let us know!
(L to R) Sheraton Shook (ADM GM at the time); Brian Phelan (cabinet shop foreman, later Shop Foremen); G. Frudd; Robert Bloom (owner)
G. Frudd worked at ADM technology from 1976 – 1989. He sent us the photos above and below. These document some of his work at ADM during that period. Frudd started at ADM as the “console fitter,” previously having worked as a tool & die maker.
Frudd went on to run all of the mechanical shops- machine, cabinet, engraving, and fitting, eventually becoming the Mechanical Engineering Manager. Frudd was directly involved in the design of all consoles and rack products during that period.
An ADM 1600 built for NAB 1981
G. Frudd: “In my time at ADM we transitioned the product from wood cabinet based to metal and extrusion based structures. It was a great and exciting place to work. After ADM’s demise I went on to be a mechanical designer and product line manager at several companies in the lighting and automation industries.”
The two images above are burn-in racks for console modules.
An extender-board test fixture An ADM 1600 console circa 1976 An AD-800 console built for NAB 1981 An ADM 2400 console circa 1980 An ADM-800 circa 1978
An ADM Stereo radio console undergoes testing, 1978
Cabinet fabrication for an
ADM-3200
Thanks for sending in these great images GF!
For previous ADM coverage on P/S dot com, check out these links:
When State House New Haven asked me last month if i’d be interested in opening the first-ever New Haven appearance of Anika, i think I said YES halfway thru the “…ka.” Her 2010 Stones Throw LP, produced by the legendary Geoff Barrow, he one of my all-time greatest musical influences, is one of my 5 or 10 favorite albums of the past decade.
Nyasha Chiundiza is a tremendous singer+songwriter whom I have been working with the past coupla years and we’ve put together a set of all-new material especially for this show: a six-song suite based on ancient Russian folktales titled ‘Russian Folklore Variation #127.’ It is something else. We are super-excited to premiere it for you. Get tix here.
Several years ago I received a telephone call from a man named Johan VanLeer. VanLeer designed reverb systems for Hammond many many decades ago, and later developed a very rare spring system for Quad Eight. He sent me some interesting information regard the Quad Eight system; click here to read that earlier post. VanLeer is still developing new spring reverb approaches to-this-day. Here is a bit of of info on his latest project.
“Still tinkering with spring (4) reverberation systems, I thought updating you. Due to the 17″ rack width dimensions, the DELAY TIME is limited to the spring length, which has to be less than about 13”.
To double the DELAY TIME I constructed a few systems by using and updating the 1964 US Patent No: 3,159,713 by W.C. (Bill) Laube, Jr., like me, a Hammond Organ Co. Engineer. In the so called “single ended system” both the receive- and send transducer are on the same side and the other side has the spring-ends firmly anchored. So, the send-signal bounces back doubling the delay time before it reaches the receiving transducer. To avoid cross-talk from the sender (1 coil), the 2 coils of the receiving transducer are connected out-off-phase.
I am thrilled to announce that “Minding The Gap” has been nominated for this years Doc Feature Oscar. Nathan Halpern and I scored this debut film by director Bing Liu’s debut film in late 2017 and it has been a wonderful experience seeing how “Minding the Gap” has touched so many ppl and won so many awards over the past twelve months. The film is available to stream now at Hulu and Amazon.
As this new piece in WIRED explains, 2018 was an incredibly strong year for documentary film, and it is truly an honor to have been a part of a film that is leading this new vanguard in storytelling.
This month’s Preservation Sound Radio show has aired but you can stream the whole thing from this link. Hope you dig, this is a special show of my all-time Rock favorites – all broadcast from the original vinyl LPs.
Setlist:
“Electricity” Captain Befheart
“Yesterday’s folks” US69
“Ramblin Gamblin Man” Bob Seger System
“Street Corner Preacher” Endle St Cloud
“Don’t Look Back” The remains (SET BREAK)
“Go Back” Crabby Apppleton
“Speak Now…” Terry Reid
“Baby Its You” Smith
“God Gave Me You” Frijid Pink
“I’m the Light” Blue Cheer (SET BREAK
“Mongoose” Elephants Memory
“I’mLosing You” Rod Stewart
“Tin Soldier” The Small Faces
“Stranger In a Strange Land” Leon Russell
“Recollections….” Redeye (SET BREAK)
“I don’t know what I want” Raspberries
“Do Ya” The Move
“Charriot Choogle” T-Rex
“You Can’t Have Me” Big Star
“Looking for the Magic” Dwight Twilley (SET BREAK)
“Them Kinda Monkees…” Slade
“The Rocker” Thin Lizzy
“Mindless Child…” The Kinks
“O Lucky Man” Alan Price
“The Only Reason” Fluff (SET BREAK)
“The bible” DR Hooker
“California Here I Come” Shocking Blue
“Playing with Fire” Joe McDonald
“Going to Canada” Mike Wilhelm
“Whiskey Woman” Flamin Groovies (SET BREAK)
“Another Time Another Day” Parrish and Gurvitz
“Right or Wrong” Stealers Wheel
“For Melanie” Matthews Souther Comfort
“You Shouldn’t have took more than you gave” Dave Mason
THIS WEEKEND: We will be having our annual TAG SALE at 1069 Connecticut Ave, Bridgeport CT, on the 3rd floor.
I will there with a massive array of vintage Hi-Fi and sound equipment for sale – amps, turntables, speakers, mics, synths, effects, guitars, several hundred great records starting at $3, and much much more. TONS of vintage clothes too.
I’ll be there 10AM – 5PM on Saturday the 11th, and 2PM until 6PM on Sunday. This is a Tag Sale -Cash and Carry – everything is sold as-is, final sale. It’s a really fun event – there’s a ton to see in the building.
Featuring: a beautiful century-old brick factory building with 3 floors of artist studios to explore; live music; food trucks; a raffle; food + coat drive; pull-your-own letterpress printing, and much to explore.
JUST ANOTHER FEELING, the new single from Ula Ruth, is available now on all major platforms. Recorded and produced by yours truly at Gold Coast Recorders, mixed by Greg Giorgio. Artwork by Aashna Shah. Check it out – one of my all-time faves I had worked on with these guys.
Very excited for the world to hear the new full-length from ULA RUTH. Recorded and produced by your truly at our studio Gold Coast Recorders and mixed by Greg Giorgio at Tarquin Studios, the first single THIS IS A DRUM is available to hear now on the usual channels:
