Meazzi Model F pictures wanted.

[Rjanuarsa]

I suspect something interesting is on the way Ec?

I'll follow this with great interest.

Robby

[Bojan]

I just know that something interesting is on the way !! I'm sooo glad I waited!

[MeBHank]

A little bell is ringing in my head (probably due to the lack of much else in there) telling me that replicas of those little Jennings badges are indeed produced by someone. I thought it was North Coast Music but I can't find the part on their website. That badge also appeared on some of the early TV front amps. I'll ask around for you, Ec. I'm sure I've seen one somewhere.

[ecca]

Thanks Malcolm, but it's OK, no need.
I've sorted it.

[alandjackson]

Hello Eric and Roger,

There is much confusion about the three models made by S.E.P. that found their way over to this country from Italy. I have much respect for both of you so I hope that you are not offended with these two pennyworth from me.

The picture Roger posted is one of three which has found its way on to the web. It is actually a Model 'J' - there are those who believe it was made for Jennings, hence the 'J' - and its front panel, controls etc, are identical with the Model 'F'. The differences which identify the models are to do with the cabinets. The 'J' has the expanded metal grille on the top to help cooling and has a lid which opens for servicing such as changing the tape loop that is squeezed on to the rubber 'tyre' surrounding the wheel. The 'F' has a large metal plate on the top of the cabinet: if you look through Roberto Pistolesi's book you will see a picture of an 'F' with descriptions of what each control etc. does and the plate bearing the name VOXECHO. The 'F' appears to stand for the Italian suppliers Framez. An authority of mine who worked on these assures me that the wheel of the 'F' was driven from above: the 'J' from underneath.

As you both know I have a Model 2 which is almost ready for action. The casework and control mechanism is totally different from the Model 'J' but the chassis and basic drive mechanism are the same. The only difference in the drive mechanism is that the one in the 'J' is simple and has a plain spindle on the motor shaft turning the jocket wheel affording only single speed drive whereas the spindle on the '2' has a brass hollow cone pressed on and a neat extra mechanism based on a cam which gives the '2' variable speed drive and a pot controlling outputs from heads 1,2 and 3 to give special effects as the motor speed is varied. This is the so-called "Wonderful Land" effect.

As you know the '2' has only 4 playback heads but the base plate on the '2' still has the two extra hole sets which made the 'J' a six-head machine. The 'J' was only used on the Cliff single "Now's The Time To Fall In Love" and has a machine gun chattery pattern. However, because of its reliability, Hank often used his 'J' in live shows and these include some tracks on the old B.B.C. "Cliff Richard Shows". "Nine Times Out Of Ten" is a good example and there are others - Paul Rossiter has a full list of these. He has analysed these tracks and can confirm head spacings which show the 'J' to have the first four of the '2' and two slightly shorter ones tacked on to the end the whole running faster than the speed that the '2' was set. I hope that this information helps.

Jet Harris told me that it took ages to get the earlier 'F' up to speed, and some persuasion, before recordings and gigs, and so Hank always used his 'F' with the plate off. It was common for Hank to take more than one machine on stage, just in daish!

Best,

Alan D. Jackson.

[The Badge Man]

Hello Alan,
Thank you for putting on the information regarding the different model echo units it made a very interesting read.

I am waiting with great interest to hear the results of your echo unit restoration.

Eric