Monday, April 10, 2017

The Lesmann Amplifier Project






If you've been here before you know of my weakness for orphan amps with fifteen inch speakers, and this one seemed to fill the bill on all counts: 15 inch speaker, about 25 w, made by who knows, and general adaptability to other chores.

Behold the Lesmann amplifier which, I think, was built to accompany Lesmann's other big gun, the Accordio-organ (which seems to be a hybrid accordion with electronic organ features).

All I have been able to dig up on this amplifier is the following. I believe the amps were built in West Allis, Wisconsin, as there was a Lesmann Corporation that existed there for a time. In addition, the Accordio-organ was patented (2,983,178) in 1961 by Fred N. Searles and Ralph G. Studemann and assigned to the Lesmann Corporation of West Allis, Wisconsin.

I did find a tantalizing lead on The Accordionists Forum in which the daughter of Fred Searles states that the company came from the two names, searLES and studeMANN. There was no further information

She also states that her father worked at "The Music Shop", which may be connected to Ralph Hanzel's Music Store in Milwaukee which was a powerhouse in the trade at one time. The proprietor was a steel guitar player I believe, and is credited as the co author of a country song entitled "This Is Honkytonk".

I hope that someone finds this information and  adds to the general fund of knowledge. I've been theorizing that there was an interesting music scene in the Milwaukee area during the fifties and early sixties that was heavily into country and accordion music-Flotatone was doing business at the time in the same area, and they were involved in amplified accordion music.

There's a little more about Flotatone on the internet, and I do know that others made and sold accordion amplifiers-Ampeg, Sano, Danelectro and Magnatone, among others.

Well then. Now, to the amp.

It's about the same size as a narrow panel tweed Pro, but I have not as yet drawn out a schematic or done any circuit analysis. This one's relatively untouched, and has the (mostly) original Aerovox capacitors and  Northlake Engineering transformers. Northlake is in Wisconsin and is still in business. I did not check the chokes for manufacturer's dates and codes.

A casual look inside reveals some strange vibrato stuff going on with a couple of neon bulbs but that's about as far as I've gotten. Here are the pictures so far.

















12 comments:

  1. I've got a very similar Lesmann Amp (not working) I'm looking for more info (schematic) but as you know there isn't much out there. Is your amp working?

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  2. I just bought one of these amps at a shop in Milwaukee called Gearheadz. They have a few of these and the owner of the shop knows more about them.

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  3. I just purchased a Lessman 500-P today. It has recently been serviced, but I'd love to acquire a schematic. Please share or point me in the right direction?

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  5. Have you made any advances with the schematic? I have a Lesmann 500-P and the filter cap section has been greatly modified... The pics you posted have given me some good ideas (and thinking of the general Fender approach) but I'd be very grateful to see some more information if possible. Thanks.

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  6. Take a gander at my Facebook page for Elderly Amplification. I'll be posting more.

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  7. I just bought a Lesmann Accordio Organ amp 1960 ,I think - I need a schematic - 210-655-0195 Thanks

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  8. My email is johnbrinegar@att.net Thanks

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  9. I have two, a 1958 Accordio-Organ amp and a 1966 500-P amp, both are 1x15 with a 5U4, 6L6,6L6, 12au7, 12ax7, 12ax7, 12ax7 layout. Have one on the variac right now. If the B+ voltage is in the range of a Fender tweed Pro and I believe it would be a perfect candidate for modding since everything is just about there. Would most likely change out a few resistors the filters and some coupling caps to match the 5E5 Pro circuit if the PT voltage is close. Won't know till it's done charging on the variac.
    Will try to keep you updated when I find out.

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  10. After charging the caps with the variac the B+ voltage measured 428v which makes it perfect for modding to a Fender 5E5 Pro which has exactly the same PT voltage. 428v at 120v line voltage = 396v at 110v line voltage as what's called for on the 5E5 schematic.

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