BEL amplifiers

[GGJaguar]

Anybody ever heard of this brand? New to me.

From 1965.

 

[Guildedagain]

Names like WEM were a thing then, and besides, real easy to remember ;[]

 

[Rocky]

Ruggerised speakers? Combination of rugged and rubberized?

 

[fronobulax]

Ruggerised speakers? Combination of rugged and rubberized?

Ad is from the UK. But that spelling of that word doesn't seem to be in use so your guess is as good as mine. Oa a typo for ruggedized?

 

[Rocky]

A search for BEL (not BELL) amps turns up a Brown Electronic Labs, but that's all hi-fi stuff.

 

[Rocky]

I also like the 'dangling asterisk.'

 

[Nuuska]

That front cloth is curved inwards - same front was on Burns Orbit - all transistor combo - I have the electronics of one

 

[manorcom]

I had one in around 1966/7 in the UK:



They were made in Nottingham. The New Basford branch of Beeston’s Ericsson Telephones became Bendix Ericsson (UK) Ltd on 1 January 1964 as a joint venture with The Bendix Corporation of USA. The connection was with their headquarters based in Cincinnati Ohio and had no connection with the washing machine maker which had been sold off some years earlier. In 1966 Ericssons, then Plessey, sold off their interest and the company became Bendix Electronics Ltd, wholly owned by Bendix. In about 1966 the company became a joint venture with the Thorn Group as Thorn Bendix Ltd. About 1969 Bendix sold their interest and the company became Thorn Electronics, still based at High Church Street, New Basford.
The guitar amplifier development started about 1964 under Noel Scott. These were the first transistorised guitar amps on the market and a great selling point, beyond the clarity of the sound, was that they were much lighter than valve amplifiers and thus easier to transport.
The first product was the BEL 4/60, a 60 watt amp with four ten-inch 15 watt Wharfedale speakers. Wharfedale was a Thorn company and presumably this was where the connection for future collaboration originated. The 4/60 was followed by a bass amplifier supporting two 12-inch 30 watt speakers. Next came the BEL 120 watt PA amp which was housed in a case about five feet high and contained four of the 30 watt Wharfedale speakers.

Regards...Keith

 

[GGJaguar]

Wow, welcome to LTG and thanks for the awesome history of BEL!!

 

[Uke]

I had one in around 1966/7 in the UK:



They were made in Nottingham. The New Basford branch of Beeston’s Ericsson Telephones became Bendix Ericsson (UK) Ltd on 1 January 1964 as a joint venture with The Bendix Corporation of USA. The connection was with their headquarters based in Cincinnati Ohio and had no connection with the washing machine maker which had been sold off some years earlier. In 1966 Ericssons, then Plessey, sold off their interest and the company became Bendix Electronics Ltd, wholly owned by Bendix. In about 1966 the company became a joint venture with the Thorn Group as Thorn Bendix Ltd. About 1969 Bendix sold their interest and the company became Thorn Electronics, still based at High Church Street, New Basford.
The guitar amplifier development started about 1964 under Noel Scott. These were the first transistorised guitar amps on the market and a great selling point, beyond the clarity of the sound, was that they were much lighter than valve amplifiers and thus easier to transport.
The first product was the BEL 4/60, a 60 watt amp with four ten-inch 15 watt Wharfedale speakers. Wharfedale was a Thorn company and presumably this was where the connection for future collaboration originated. The 4/60 was followed by a bass amplifier supporting two 12-inch 30 watt speakers. Next came the BEL 120 watt PA amp which was housed in a case about five feet high and contained four of the 30 watt Wharfedale speakers.

Regards...Keith

Is this company related to Bendix Aerospace which was one of the contractors for the Apollo Space Program back in the late 60s and early 70s ? I went to high school in Brevard County Florida literally across the river from Cape Kennedy and seem to remember a few classmates whose parents worked for Bendix.

 

[manorcom]

Here is an ad from the Midlands Beat newspaper from January 1965. A connection to Guild!

 

[Prince of Darkness]

That front cloth is curved inwards - same front was on Burns Orbit - all transistor combo - I have the electronics of one

Back in the mid eighties I had a loan of a Burns Orbit Three from my cousin. He had been quite a big name in the music scene in the north east of England in the mid sixties. These were not cheap amps, actually costing more than the Vox AC30 at the time. I needed to borrow an amp because I had spent all my money on my Guild S-300!

 

[Prince of Darkness]

Ad is from the UK. But that spelling of that word doesn't seem to be in use so your guess is as good as mine. Oa a typo for ruggedized?

I think it must be a typo. "Rugger" is a slang term for Rugby, but unless they mean that the speakers could stand up to being kicked around a pitch for 80 minutes by a bunch of burley men, I don't think that would be relevant!

 

[manorcom]

The dictionary definition of "Ruggerised" is: to construct (electronic equipment, cameras, and other delicate instruments) so as to be resistant to shock, vibration, etc.

 

[fronobulax]

The dictionary definition of "Ruggerised" is: to construct (electronic equipment, cameras, and other delicate instruments) so as to be resistant to shock, vibration, etc.

Which dictionary and search engine? Not asked confrontationally. I thought that was likely but none of my searches found it. If I insisted on "ruggerised" I got nothing or got "we think you meant ruggedized so we will show you that". I can expand my tool box. Thanks.

 

[manorcom]

Definition of RUGGEDIZE

to strengthen (something, such as a machine) for better resistance to wear, stress, and abuse… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ruggedize

Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words

The world's leading online dictionary: English definitions, synonyms, word origins, example sentences, word games, and more. A trusted authority for 25+ years!

www.dictionary.com

ruggedise

Definition, Synonyms, Translations of ruggedise by The Free Dictionary

www.thefreedictionary.com

Definition of ruggedised

www.definition.com.co

rugged adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of rugged adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

 

[fronobulax]

Definition of RUGGEDIZE

to strengthen (something, such as a machine) for better resistance to wear, stress, and abuse… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ruggedize

Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words

The world's leading online dictionary: English definitions, synonyms, word origins, example sentences, word games, and more. A trusted authority for 25+ years!

www.dictionary.com

ruggedise

Definition, Synonyms, Translations of ruggedise by The Free Dictionary

www.thefreedictionary.com

Definition of ruggedised

www.definition.com.co

rugged adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of rugged adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

But you missed my point. The word in the add is r u g g e r i z e d. There is an r where a traditional spelling would have a d. Is that a typo or an unusual word?

 

[manorcom]

My apologies. Then I've not been well the last few days.
If you search further, although no definitions around, several manufacturers use the term seamingly to indicate their products have been made more hard wearing.

 

[Prince of Darkness]

My apologies. Then I've not been well the last few days.
If you search further, although no definitions around, several manufacturers use the term seamingly to indicate their products have been made more hard wearing.

Nope, I am unable to find any reference to the word ruggerised anywhere apart from that advert. Ruggedised or ruggedized yes, but not ruggerised

 

[fronobulax]

Thanks. We all know UK English is not American English so I am sensitive to opportunities to learn. I think the best answer is rugge r ised is either a typo or made up advertising hyperbole.