Dept. Of Commerce Limiters family

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psych60s

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2012
Messages
96
Location
France
Hello

I've just decided to start a topic about that big range of tube limiters because what can be found on the net is hmm... very frustrating. Few Youtube videos or guy selling reprint copies of operation manuals.

Here in Europe, it could be quite complicated to find some info about these beasts. In addition, I have to service a CA-1322 but I couldn't find a damn thing about this one...

Here what I suggest : This could be a big meta-topic with people sharing technical docs and pictures of various models of these limiters. Every correction is welcome.

Here we go:

As far as I know, these limiters, or "Regulated Output Amplifiers" were based on specifications sheets issued by the Government for Dept. of Commerce or Federal Aviation Agency, and were manufactured by several factories :

Tri-Tronics Laboratory Inc.
Maxson Instruments
Columbus
Hazeltine Corporation
Televiso Electronics


Models manufactured

CA-1322
The one that I need to repair. Fitted with two 6L7, a 6SL7, a 6SN7, a 6H6 and a 5Y3GT.

CA-1486

CA-1529
Couldn't find much more info about that one, it was built by Maxson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVVuKrh1M3I

CA-1581
I only know this one because there is an auction for a reprint of the original operation manual issued by Columbus.

CA-1589
Schematics attached

CA-1601
Manufactured by Hazeltine. Has a microphone input and was fitted with five tubes.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hazeltine-CAA-1601-Dept-Of-Commerce-Limiter-Super-Rare-/121529545567

CA-1782
Put a link to this thread because this is where original docs were posted, as I don't want to "re-use" it on this forum without permission
http://groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=33552.msg410093#msg410093


I've just started to collect pictures so at that time there are only links to other web pages.
 

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  • CA-1589 Schematics.jpg
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I know and I put some links in the post. I will add docs that I have as soon as possible, but I just wanted to launch something like a big reference thread for these limiters.

If you tell me "Except what you can found on the forum, there is nothing more laying around", that's right, this topic is already useless  :-\
 
I have two CA-1322 at my shop.  Both made by "National Electrical Machine Shops" in Maryland, serial numbers 13 (green front panel) and 152 (black).  I do not have a schematic for them.

I have an original manual for the CA-594 made by Presto Recording Corporation in 1942.  It also uses octal tubes.  Very large PDF available if you PM me.

Also an original CA-1604 equalizer manual from Hazeltine, 1956.  Passive EQ to go with the CA limiters and preamps.  Also large PDF.

I traced out the circuit of the Maguire CA-1224 tube clipper that I serviced for a client, hand-drawn schematic attached.

Coincidentally, I was working on two Maxson limiters today, CA-1589 serial #7, and CA-1589A serial #2123, both from the same contract number and dated April and November of 1957 respectively.  So there must have been a ton of these around back in the day!
 

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Still hoping to find someone out there with a FA-5424 Regulated Output Amplifier (limiter) like mine. They are in the same "family" as the CA-xxxx models. I'll gladly post any info that I come across. I'll try to attach a picture of my unit .

Cheers...
 

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Here's a Maxson CA-1589 I worked on recently:

full size here

35040243321_58ea93db81_b.jpg
 
Bonjour

Je viens de décider de lancer un sujet sur cette large gamme de limiteurs à lampes car ce que l'on peut trouver sur le net est hmm... très frustrant. Peu de vidéos Youtube ou de gars vendant des copies de réimpression de manuels d'utilisation.

Ici en Europe, il pourrait être assez compliqué de trouver des infos sur ces bêtes. De plus, je dois entretenir un CA-1322 mais je n'ai rien trouvé sur celui-ci...

Voici ce que je suggère : Cela pourrait être un gros méta-sujet avec des personnes partageant des docs techniques et des photos de divers modèles de ces limiteurs. Chaque correction est la bienvenue.

Nous y voilà:

Autant que je sache, ces limiteurs, ou "amplificateurs de sortie régulés" étaient basés sur des fiches techniques émises par le gouvernement pour le ministère du Commerce ou la Federal Aviation Agency, et étaient fabriqués par plusieurs usines :

Laboratoire Tri-Tronics inc.
Instruments Maxson
Colomb
Hazeltine Corporation
Télévision Électronique


Modèles fabriqués

CA-1322
Celui que je dois réparer. Équipé de deux 6L7, un 6SL7, un 6SN7, un 6H6 et un 5Y3GT.

CA-1486

CA-1529
Je n'ai pas trouvé beaucoup plus d'informations à ce sujet, il a été intégré par Maxson.


CA-1581
Je ne connais celui-ci que parce qu'il y a une vente aux enchères pour une réimpression du manuel d'utilisation original publié par Columbus.

CA-1589
Schémas joints

CA-1601
Fabriqué par Hazeltine. Possède une entrée micro et était équipée de cinq tubes.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hazeltine-CAA-1601-Dept-Of-Commerce-Limiter-Super-Rare-/121529545567

CA-1782
Mettez un lien vers ce fil car c'est là que les documents originaux ont été publiés, car je ne veux pas le "réutiliser" sur ce forum sans autorisation
Federal FA-5238 (Dept of Commerce Limiter)


Je viens juste de commencer à collecter des images, donc à ce moment-là, il n'y a que des liens vers d'autres pages Web.

Bonjour, j'ai un amplificateur de sortie régulateur Columbus 1529, voir les photos ! J'ai besoin de changer la tension d'alimentation pour 220V savez-vous que c'est les puissances secondaires?
 

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  • Columbus regulated output amplifier 1529.jpg
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Hello everybody

I know it is an old thread but any chance to get a copy of the PDF for CA-1604 passive equalizer?

Greatly appreciated
 
Resurrecting this thread. I just bought a Teleregister Corporation peak clipping amplifier. Made for Dept of Commerce, Civil Aeronautics Administration under contract CCA 26540. It's a six channel tube limiter, pretty crazy. Has four 6SAN7, a 5Y3 rectifier, and I can't tell what the other tubes are (haven't received it yet). Also appears to have six output transformers made by Ferranti Electric. Has anyone ever heard of this thing? I'd LOVE to find a schematic and manual for it. So far my internet searches have been unsuccessful.s-l1600 (1).jpg
s-l1600 (5).jpg
 

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