I just received an email from a friend who is a collector of high end stereo amps and other stereo related stuff.
But sometimes he rips something apart or just trashes it. For instance, he will find a console at a garage sale. he will bring it home, pull the tubes to sell on ebay. He burns the console in the back yard over beers with buddies, and the amp, tuner and turntable go to scrap.
He just told me he had scrapped out a "bunch of big transformers from old stereo's"
I emailed back that I couldn't believe he would do that, and next time please let me know, I will come and pick them up.

I want to check my thinking.
Many times, a power transformer, output transformer, coupling transformer or a choke can be reused in a different application, either home made or a different piece of equipment of the same or different model.
Transformers, even Hammond's, are not especially cheap.

So, am I wrong in thinking it's not good to scrap the transformers, assuming they work?
I'm thinking some of these came from name brands, like HH Scott, Dynaco, etc. He has piles of these brands of amps and others. I've seen the stacks in his basement.
Mark D.

So, that is where all the good stuff went - just keep the beers coming!

I'm saving all transformers---if nothing else, the hardware, core, etc. can be used for winding new one. Part of the problem is the cost of shipping to nutcases like me.....

Save!

You may find yourself amazed as to how tolerant some circuits can be.

where is your friend finding all this stuff. transformers are reusable definately. magnavox consoles whole are nice to restore. scott, dynaco sought after equipment. if nothing else sell all the parts on eBay

Amen to all said. If nothing else, copper commands a pretty high price for scrap. But pretty good or tested transformers worth quite a bit. Nice to know where they came from and some idea if they are good. Don't pitch 'em!

Oh, the humanity!

I just went to an estate sale of an ex Stromberg / Harris engineer - was to late to find much of interest. On the way out, I noticed a box of transformers in a trailer, destined for scrap. I outbid the scrap yard (they give 28 cents a pound for motors and transformers) and brought home about 60-70 pounds - all Stromberg Carlson part numbers, some of which I identified with a few minutes work. Paid less than half the price of one Hammond part...

Possibly attach identical heavy duty ones back-to-back to make your own hot-chassis, radio servicing, isolation transformer.

This is just wrong. Copper scrap is worth around $4.00 per pound and transformers are at least 40% copper windings by weight. If the transformers are functional and good, sky's the limit.

Well, I haven't heard back from him since I chewed him out for throwing them away. Maybe he's miffed, or embarrassed.
In either case, I'm sure he'll see me first next time.

Mark D.

You need to go relieve him of all the vintage electronics he has. Anyone who strips restorable electronics for parts has no buisness even touching a vintage piece of electronics unless of course the piece is too far gone to restore or cheap junk.

If he is destined to still trash stuff you might advise him he can make a killing on certain parts from those electronics such as switches, variable resistors, knobs, some speakers, certain types of paper capacitors (popular with the guitar amp crowd) ETC...

To simply scrap stuff for the tubes is pointless. The guy could probably make more for a complete piece of electronics gear specially if it is a Scott, Fisher or other well known name brand than from selling the tubes.

I save EVERY transformer; at today's prices, they are worth keeping. Some audio units can bring big money, especially WE and broadcast/hi-fi types. Power transformers are always worth having for replacement in vintage radios, if one is mindful of the plate and filament voltage requirements.

Also good if ya happen to get the same model device the transformers were pulled from as you now have spares.

Hate people like that pulling vintage stuff apart because he can and making a quick buck on the tubes.
If a cabinett is too far gone, say water damage then sure id pull the amp and turntable, but doing it when there is nothing wrong with it makes me sad.

In all fairness, he doesn't scrap out the good component stuff, like HH Scott, Marantz, etc and etc.
He junks mostly the big console stereo's from the 50s and 60s, which we all admit have little monetary value these days FOR THE MOST PART. I know there are some that are worth some serious money, but they're the exception, and not what he finds in the garage sales.
Anyway, he's heard from me. Now it's just a matter of time before he has a bunch more transformers and I'll (hopefully) get them before the scrap man does.
Mark D.

Glad you did get to him. Good work saving those transformers.

Larry

even the no name brand console equipment has a lot of value pieced-out. audio output transformers can be used everywhere including table top tube radios. power transformers can be re-used in many audio amplifier applications. the entire audio amp chassis itself is money. all can sell pieced on eBay at least
pieced on eBay. hey has anyone pieced on eBay lately

A couple of months ago I stopped at a yard sale and in a corner there was a small pile of assorted test equipment, a couple of RCA VoltOhmists, an old HK scope, what looked like a signal generator at the bottom, etc.
I asked the seller how much she wanted for the pile and she said that it had been "donated" to the local Girl Scouts troop so they could "take it apart to see how it worked"... no amount of persuasion worked with this old biddy... She would not budge...

So she's willing to risk people in the girl scout troop getting hurt by some of the parts of the test equipment than taking money to see it go to someone who will not get hurt?