I have used chandler pre's and comp, and also an original TG on several occasions. Chandler is really good stuff, but just doesn't quite have the mojo imho. I think that the mixbus is also critical to "that" sound, but trannies must surely be crucial too. I also love the crude but effective TG eq! I thought that some GArdners transformer stuff featured, but I could be wrong. They come up from time to time, and iirc, someone has the blueprints.
If you can build something that sounds at least as good as the chandler stuff, you wont be wasting your time, even of it doesn't quite measure up. Anyway, the chance of you actually finding an original to compare is rather low to say the least . . .
`Kindes rgeards,
ANdyP