Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I’ll spare you the story of how I got this, but I’ll just say that it was a throw in with another guitar, I paid nothing for it, and it had a price sticker in it that said $4. It’s been out of my possession for about 25 years in storage and I finally have it with me. It didn’t work so I had to send it to someone that works on old radios. He told me it was either a 1932, 33, or 1934 Rickenbacher type 1 amplifier. This guy really seemed to know his stuff and he really enthusiastic about working on it. He found a schematic of the type 1, but he said it wasn’t right, so he drew one up himself. He said the tubes were from 32 but it could be a 33 or a 34. I would love to know the answer to this. I’ve attached pictured of the amp, his schematic, and the schematic that he found. I also am attaching a link of him playing an Ipod through it.



https://youtu.be/1-uXDGbGcz4?si=1Wr5H5SzTXF41g5p

Ignore the schematics. I seemed to have posted the same one twice.

Peter, have a look in the register for the Lunchbox amp which was made around 1934. There are many photos in both the register and the gallery that are essentially the same as your amplifier. A nice find and certainly a piece of Rickenbacher history. Welcome to the RRF and thanks for sharing and for your good questions.

I tried that but it is only model numbers. Is there some model number associated with this? Also, if you look down the forum page, there is a 34 but it doesn't look anything like mine. I took screen shots of the schematics and the inner working and I'm sending it to the radio guy. Is it possible they made two different types in 1934?

Peter if you do an Advanced Search in the Rickenbacker Register and select the drop box menu you will find Lunchbox. From there you will see the what is in the RRF system.

thank you

Thanks for that. I found a serial number BU23. At least I think that's what it is

Nevermind, I found the serial number, C024

Good work on finding the serial. Based on the serial, your amplifier seems to be one of the earlier models. Please register it with the best photos you can get.

That's a raw (no tone or volume control) power unit. A piece of early amp history. Leo and others in the trade would smile.