1930s Volu-Tone Guitar Amplifier by Schireson Brothers LA 10"Rola Speaker with Energizing Switch

1933 The Volu-Tone Company Los Angeles

Schireson Brothers Los Angeles

        Vintage Gear America is pleased to offer this incredible looking and historically significant 1930s Volu-Tone combo guitar amp, sold to be paired with a Volu-Tone mountable pickup or Volu-Tone electric Hawaiian guitar sold retail exclusively by Schireson Brothers Los Angeles. It is questionable as to how much of the Schireson product line was actually made by them as evidenced by Martin guitars & Nunes Hawaiian ukes sold with Schireson brand names. It’s entirely possible this amp was made off premise by someone other than the Schireson Brothers and simply branded Volu-Tone to be sold retail in Schireson Brothers stores. Appears to be all original with no modifications or repairs with a beautiful 10" Rola EXP NO 3934 (2) 6A6 (2)42s and a 5Z3 original coke bottle tubes with energizing switch (1) microphone input and (2) instrument inputs. This instrument was well taken care for by a responsible owner in a nonsmoking environment with zero signs abuse. Does reflect some usage and age wear, otherwise 100% original a strong condition 8 untested with newer three prong AC cable. John Nelson is a professional musician, vintage guitar and vintage gear expert with many years of experience. You can buy with complete confidence that your instrument has been properly identified, vetted and if necessary thoroughly researched, as we always know the originality of and value of any stringed musical instrument we are selling. All of our instruments have been thoroughly gone through to determine their originality, we observe and document their cosmetic and working condition. Our guitars are examined for originality of finish, parts and case. Truss rods are adjusted to straighten necks and encourage low action, bridge saddles are moved to accommodate perfect intonation, electronics are examined and tested. Vintage pedals, keyboards and amps are also examined for originality and tested for working condition. Vintage home audio and recording studio equipment will be sold untested as is but are subject to the same liberal Vintage Gear America return policy that states any item can be returned if not happy, no reason necessary and only in rare circumstances a maximum of 10% restocking fee may apply solely at the discretion of Vintage Gear America, buyer pays shipping. All parcels are shipped same day with tracking USPS Priority or Fedex Ground professionally packed and fully insured. Vintage Gear America would like to thank you for your business, only $699. John Nelson VGA

Attention, this amp may be dangerous in the hands of those who don’t understand that this particular early approach to building an amplifier was not as safe as amplifiers that are made now. This amp has an “energizing switch” that could be as dangerous as it is interesting and necessary to the functionality of the amp and Volu-Tone pickup. Please read the John Teagle re printed information below...

The influence and restraints of technology on amplifying the guitar

By John Teagle

Volu-Tone (1933)
While no one dared offer an electrified or electric guitar without also offering an amp to power it, the Volu-Tone company of Los Angeles, like Vega, manufactured an amplifier and pickup set designed to be used with any existing guitar. The idea was valid, as shown by the later success of the DeArmond pickups; however, Volu-Tone went about picking up the instrument’s vibrations using a unique, not to mention potentially deadly, method. The pickup, which mounted to your favorite steel-stringed instrument, had to be charged up with a short blast of high voltage current provided by a special jack mounted to the amps chassis.

On the inside wall of the amps cabinet was pasted an instruction sheet reading (text missing from damaged label is in parenthesis) (plug AC power cable in) to convenient receptacle. (Insert instrument cable) plug into energizing socket at extreme right. (Remove) guitar plug from energizing socket almost immediately. This energizes the strings, without which the Volu-Tone is inoperative. The energizing operation must be repeated every time a string is replaced. DANGER: do not permit the guitar plug to remain inserted in the energizing socket for longer than a second or two or harm to the instrument will result. Insert guitar plug into one of the sockets on the left. IT IS NOW READY FOR USE.

Considering the amp was not equipped with a fuse and the casing of the plug was metal, it’s hard to imagine that; a) Volu-Tone was allowed to even sell these, and; b) the company stayed in business from the summer of 1933 into at least the late 30s without being shut down due to a wrongful death (or at the very least, a serious personal injury) lawsuit. The cable connecting the pickup to the amp was fitted with four-prong connectors at either end to ensure no other pickup would ever feel the 300-plus volts necessary for operation. Having a male plug at the amplifier-end of the cable protected the user from accidently touching the high voltage prongs in the amps energizing socket.

Unfortunately, having a male plug at the pickup-end of the cable meant if you didn’t plug the pickup in first, you had high voltage on the prongs!! If you didn’t follow the directions, and unplugged the cable from the pickup while it was still connected to the energizing socket, zapp!!

The different styles of connectors at each end did ensure that no one accidently plugged the high voltage of one Volu-Tone amp into the high voltage or the inputs of another. A small red label above the jack read (in very small letters) Caution. Do not permit plug to remain inserted in this jack for longer than two seconds. Hopefully there was a thorough owner’s manual included, warning of the potential hazards to life and limb.