Western Electric 111C Vintages

Hey there,

After reading several comments in various places from @emrr , relating to different vintages and locations of manufacturing sounding different/better than others, I wonder:

Does anyone have insights on the sonic/build quality differences between production eras and manufacturing locations of the 111C? And how can you tell manufacturing location? Which era seems to be the most desirable/highest quality?

Thanks in advance,
MG

I’ve never heard a 111c that didn’t pin my ears back and punch me in the gut.

the one i took apart had served wire (clothe wire wrapped in fabric) that was pretty sketch.

don't know if they are all  like that,  but if they are, then reliability could be an issue.

the tape wound core  has sharp edges.

I don't think I've ever heard of a bad 111C.  OF course the WE dealers will tell you the earliest are the best!  You need the late 1930's.  Honestly I doubt there would be any significant sonic differences in these over the 45-50 years they were made.  I've only noticed location marks on some 70's and 80's examples, otherwise only date codes.  I don't feel personally compelled towards cork-sniffing with these. 

CJ said:

the one i took apart had served wire (clothe wire wrapped in fabric) that was pretty sketch.

don't know if they are all  like that,  but if they are, then reliability could be an issue.

the tape wound core  has sharp edges.

Click to expand...

Cj, do you have all your old pictures of transformers, etc??

For instance this thread on the 111c is all dead links.

https://groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=11917.msg138932#msg138932

If you have all this putting a single doc together to catalog it all would be awesome. I'm sure a bunch of people here would be happy to help.

i got burned by my web carrier  ipower back during the dot com explosion when money was flying.  they nuked everything, should have backed it up, 

if someone wants to host these transformer files that would be great! 

Is the trafo file hosting still an option ? where is the information burried ?

most of my stuff is in the Magnetics dept.

under such titles as
UTC Transformers
Peerless Transformers
Triad Transformers
Western Electric Transformers
Guitar Amp Transformers
ect

if you want to share a file just jpg it and attach as pic

CJ said:

most of my stuff is in the Magnetics dept.

under such titles as
UTC Transformers
Peerless Transformers
Triad Transformers
Western Electric Transformers
Guitar Amp Transformers
ect

if you want to share a file just jpg it and attach as pic

Click to expand...

Im not sure that i understand what you just told me here... that those are the things that interest you or that you have the files somewhere ?
Sorry english is not my main language so this is a little cryptic for me

Hier sind einige Blaupausen für Audiotransformatoren. ich hoffe das war was du suchst. Guten Abend! Warst du schon mal auf dem Oktoberfest? Was hältst du von schwedischem Death Metal?
cj


https://groupdiy.com/threads/partridge-transformers.74208/https://groupdiy.com/threads/jbl-transformers.74206/https://groupdiy.com/threads/mccurdy-transformers.74205/https://groupdiy.com/threads/tamura-transformers.74204/https://groupdiy.com/threads/newcomb-transformers.74203/https://groupdiy.com/threads/thordarson-transformers.74202/https://groupdiy.com/threads/3m-transformers.74201/https://groupdiy.com/threads/willemsden-transformers.74200/https://groupdiy.com/threads/rca-transformers.74197/https://groupdiy.com/threads/kenyon-transformers.74194/https://groupdiy.com/threads/marshall-transformers.74191/https://groupdiy.com/threads/langevin-transformers.74183/




https://groupdiy.com/threads/ampeg-transformers.74182/https://groupdiy.com/threads/neve-transformers.74177/https://groupdiy.com/threads/stancor-transformers.74175/https://groupdiy.com/threads/telefunken-transformers.74173/https://groupdiy.com/threads/trident-transformers.74171/https://groupdiy.com/threads/freed-transformers.74169/https://groupdiy.com/threads/peerless-transformers.74168/https://groupdiy.com/threads/triad-transformers.74167/https://groupdiy.com/threads/utc-transformers.74166/https://groupdiy.com/threads/api-transformers.74165/https://groupdiy.com/threads/webster-electric-transformers.74207/https://groupdiy.com/threads/western-electric-transformers.74195/https://groupdiy.com/threads/guitar-amp-transformers.74192/https://groupdiy.com/threads/fender-amplifier-transformers.74180/https://groupdiy.com/threads/chicago-transformer-company.74176/https://groupdiy.com/threads/variable-mu-transformers.74172/https://groupdiy.com/threads/ampex-transformer.73658/https://groupdiy.com/threads/allen-transformers.73657/https://groupdiy.com/threads/adm-transformers.73656/https://groupdiy.com/threads/fisher-x-100-3-output-transformer.73750/#post-933966https://groupdiy.com/threads/610-input.74235/page-2

That's all you got ?
wtf over

i know, "where's the Belclaire"

they had one on evilbay for cheap last weak, still kickin myself,

CJ said:

Hier sind einige Blaupausen für Audiotransformatoren. ich hoffe das war was du suchst. Guten Abend! Warst du schon mal auf dem Oktoberfest? Was hältst du von schwedischem Death Metal?
cj


https://groupdiy.com/threads/partridge-transformers.74208/https://groupdiy.com/threads/jbl-transformers.74206/https://groupdiy.com/threads/mccurdy-transformers.74205/https://groupdiy.com/threads/tamura-transformers.74204/https://groupdiy.com/threads/newcomb-transformers.74203/https://groupdiy.com/threads/thordarson-transformers.74202/https://groupdiy.com/threads/3m-transformers.74201/https://groupdiy.com/threads/willemsden-transformers.74200/https://groupdiy.com/threads/rca-transformers.74197/https://groupdiy.com/threads/kenyon-transformers.74194/https://groupdiy.com/threads/marshall-transformers.74191/https://groupdiy.com/threads/langevin-transformers.74183/




https://groupdiy.com/threads/ampeg-transformers.74182/https://groupdiy.com/threads/neve-transformers.74177/https://groupdiy.com/threads/stancor-transformers.74175/https://groupdiy.com/threads/telefunken-transformers.74173/https://groupdiy.com/threads/trident-transformers.74171/https://groupdiy.com/threads/freed-transformers.74169/https://groupdiy.com/threads/peerless-transformers.74168/https://groupdiy.com/threads/triad-transformers.74167/https://groupdiy.com/threads/utc-transformers.74166/https://groupdiy.com/threads/api-transformers.74165/https://groupdiy.com/threads/webster-electric-transformers.74207/https://groupdiy.com/threads/western-electric-transformers.74195/https://groupdiy.com/threads/guitar-amp-transformers.74192/https://groupdiy.com/threads/fender-amplifier-transformers.74180/https://groupdiy.com/threads/chicago-transformer-company.74176/https://groupdiy.com/threads/variable-mu-transformers.74172/https://groupdiy.com/threads/ampex-transformer.73658/https://groupdiy.com/threads/allen-transformers.73657/https://groupdiy.com/threads/adm-transformers.73656/https://groupdiy.com/threads/fisher-x-100-3-output-transformer.73750/#post-933966https://groupdiy.com/threads/610-input.74235/page-2

Click to expand...

Brutal :0

We use them regularly, there is about half a dozen here now. Never had one bad, or had one test or sound any different than any other. Consistently good.

CJ said:

i know, "where's the Belclaire"

they had one on evilbay for cheap last weak, still kickin myself,

Click to expand...

Would you be up for a private conversation ?
I cant find how that works on here, so i have to ask you silly like i do right now here in the thread...

Maybe someone can correct me on this, but since transformers are passive and built and wound to precise tolerances, its seems to me to be unlike active circuits. Active circuits are built of lots of components, each with variable tolerances. So yes, match transistors, match mic diapragms, match entire active circuits, but there is no need for a "matched pair" of the exact same model of transformer. Is this right?

Thanks

it depends, the cores can be different from one year to the other,

if the winder can not fit all the turns on due to wire variance there could be some differences, usually that is on the big stuff, small stuff is wound 24 at a time so usually no variance unless they break a wire on the last layer,

WE stuff was mass produce but those 111's are so old, and there is cotton in there that rots out, ect.

CJ said:

Hier sind einige Blaupausen für Audiotransformatoren. ich hoffe das war was du suchst. Guten Abend! Warst du schon mal auf dem Oktoberfest? Was hältst du von schwedischem Death Metal?
cj

Click to expand...

Ha ha, that was great!