Req: Amp Help, Please...

[jterrasi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Joe Terrasi)]

(Before the flamestorm begins, let me just say that I KNOW this isn't
"AMP-L," but I also know that there is GREAT amp knowledge on this list -
especially as it relates to amps for harp playing.)

Unless you think your answers will be of interest to the rest of the list,
please send me email directly.

I have a couple questions about dating my Fender Tremolux. (OK, I'd
*rather* date women, but I take what I can get....)

"The Tube Amp Book" (4th ed.) talks about dating the amp by the production
date code on the speaker.  The book claims that the speaker is stamped with
a 6 digit number that works like this:


      2    2    0      9        2     2
     |___________|    |_|      |_______|
           |           |           |
      Manufacturer     |           |
         Code          |           |
                       |         week of
                       |        the year
                       |
                  Last number
                  of the year
                   produced
                 (ie '59 here)

So in the above example, the speaker is a Jensen (code 220) produced in the
22nd week of 1959.

The stamp on MINE (a Jensen alnico 5 concert series "blue cap") says: 22087

Question #1: Does this mean the speaker was produced in week 7 of '58? Does
it HAVE to be a six-digit number?


Also, the "letter code" on the tube chart says (according again to the Tube
Amp Book) that the amp itself was manufactured in August of 1960.  (I don't
remember the exact letters.... "HJ" I think!) Problem is, according to the
book, Fender only produced the tweed Tremolux through 1959.

Question #2: Did Fender continue to produce the tweeds longer than the book
says?

The Tube Amp book also states that it was rare for Fender to let speakers
sit around for more than a couple months before installing them. According
to the dates on my stuff, I think the speaker is more than two years older
than the amp.

Question #3: Is that possible or likely?

Question #4: Given that the tweed is in relatively bad shape, how would
this amp be appraised?  (Don't get me wrong - I'm not selling it!)

Any additional info about this amp or speaker is appreciated. Regardless of
the age of the thing, it has a KILLER sound for harp.  I'm just curious
about its origins.


Thanks for your help!

Joe

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                    Joe Terrasi
              jterrasi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx