Unknown Supro Amplifier

[plexi50]

Here's another amp that i cant find any images of.It says Supro Chicago 51. Yes the Spookie Field Coil Speaker!

[dogburn]

Where does it say Supro? Look up Valco Chicago 51 instead. Valco made Supro amps, but also other brands as well.

[plexi50]

Supro

[plexi50]

Ok im seeing it now. Looks like someone removed the original cloth that covered the amp and were seeing bare stained wood i think. Thats why there are no black vertical lines running across the cabinet, speaker area.
I found this video! Lucky!

&t=37s

[sluckey]

Here's another amp that i cant find any images of.It says Supro Chicago 51. Yes the Spookie Field Coil Speaker!

That's not a field coil speaker.

[plexi50]

Here's another amp that i cant find any images of.It says Supro Chicago 51. Yes the Spookie Field Coil Speaker!

That's not a field coil speaker.

Yeah your right. I got ahead of myself when i saw the transformer mounted on the speaker.

[dude]

It's  the OT

[bmccowan]

Valco put "Chicago 51" on many amps of that era. Its not really a model number - its where they were made. 51 was the postal code for Chicago before zip codes.
I think that amp is a transition model from the amps with a 6SL7 input, commonly call Comet and Spectator.
I suspect this National 1210 might be the closest schematic, as it has a 12V preamp tube and a tone control. https://el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/Valco/Valco_1958national1210.jpg
Valco made basically the same amps under the names Valco, Supro, National, Gretsch, Oahu and others during that period. I have one labelled "Loney" which was a large music store and school in Chicago.
Very cool amp - Champ like, but different enough.

[66Strat]

Nice amp!

[PRR]

I suspect this National 1210 might be the closest schematic, as it has a 12V preamp tube and a tone control. https://el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/Valco/Valco_1958national1210.jpg

That tone control wiring looks wrong to me.

[PRR]

Valco put "Chicago 51" on many amps of that era. Its not really a model number - its where they were made.

You also find that text on toolboxes.

And there was a mass-murder "The Chicago 51". "51 women murdered, 0 answers"

One innernet punter claims zone 51 became ZIP 60651, which sounds plausible. Today that is here:

[tubeswell]

And there was a mass-murder "The Chicago 51". "51 women murdered, 0 answers"

The guy who made it was a gangster from Chicago who obviously went by the nickname of ‘Chicago’ - and he had a thing about the number 51.

[PRR]

Catalog: https://jedistar.com/valco-2/
The zone 51 location may be this place. Certainly right vintage and form. See how you can call the bricklayers and set it up as 1, 2, or 3 shops or whutever.
4700 W. Walton St., Chicago 51, Ill
Another stray hit gave 2717 N Normandy which is newer, very 1947 (note twin pipe columns), and may be where VALCo moved to in the 1960s.
2717 N Normandy Ave, Chicago, IL 60707

[bmccowan]

That tone control wiring looks wrong to me

I've seen that tone control on some other Valco schematics - have tried it and found that it does little or nothing, and changed it to a known single knob control.
The gangster 51 stuff is chilling.

[shooter]

was a gangster from Chicago

I had a side gig working at the 4-watt shop. The owner would give me a wad of cash, and order sheet, his ford truck and I'd make the run from Grayslake IL to a zip code just East of PRR's map, back the truck up to a red brick with loading dock, hand over the cash, they'd load me up with CB's, Antennas...Got my orders from the Navy for my final school, Art offered me $22k, (I was getting $5k Gov-pay), the truck and I'd run the store, he was mafia, didn't like being told no 

[sluckey]

That tone control wiring looks wrong to me

I've seen that tone control on some other Valco schematics - have tried it and found that it does little or nothing, and changed it to a known single knob control.

Turning that tone pot all the way down mutes the signal. I suspect the schematic is wrong and probably should look more like this...