[Milsurplus] Intercom amp (AM-26/AIC)

[Kludge]

-----Original Message-----
From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Morrow
> It's helpful to any discussion if the equipment nomenclature is cited,
> but it's pretty obvious what is being addressed here.

With all due respect, Mike, but Larry probably didn't know the nomenclature.
He's pretty good about saying what he has when he knows but the AM-26s I've
seen all had decals for the ID tag and they're easily damaged or destroyed.

Larry said:
>>I picked it up out of the boneyard years ago and thought I might play
>>around with it, running a command receiver thru it.  

To which you replied:
> That's not what the USAAF/USAF did with it.  All WWII-vintage aircraft
> interphone amps (including your AM-26/AIC) that I recall do NOT amplify
> ANY of the receivers feeding into the system.  

True enough but so what?  The crews of the aircraft in which these were used
headphones and Larry's going to speaker output and may want/need the extra
gain.  This may not be the original use but it's his unit and is free to do
with it what he wants.  

I have an AM-26 hulk that is missing significant bits so it's better used to
restore another but in itself is good enough to use in a similar fashion.
It also is missing the decal from the front but I recognized it from Mike
Hanz's site AND from having had one years ago which I also used as a speaker
amp.  This time, I'll have several receivers feeding it through a passive
mixer and the output will go to an 8 ohm load.  The original output
transformer's one of the missing bits (along with the top cover) but I think
I have one that goes to an 8 ohm (or was it 16 ohm?) output that should work
and should fit given a large enough pry bar.  I can leave the tube types
alone since 24vdc isn't a problem but, while the receivers will be running
on around 44-48vdc B+, the amplifier will be getting something closer to
150-200vdc B+.  (Actually the heater voltage for everything will be reduced
as well to around 22volts.)  

I'd like to get a few more AM-26 hulks - ones not suitable for restoration
but with sufficient pieces remaining to use as amplifiers.  I have several
places in mind to use them, none of which have anything to do with HiFi or
stereo or anything like that - like at least one postwar conversion did.
The thought crossed my mind but I can design and build a far better amp than
that for where I still need a stereo amp and want to stick with hollow
state.

Best regards,
 
Michael, WH7HG BL01xh
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/NTH/index.aspx 
http://wh7hg.blogspot.com/ 
http://kludges-other-blog.blogspot.com 
Hiki Nô!