Vide-greniers: not very interesting anymore.

[RobertArthur]

Old habits never die. Our visits to vide-greniers are still pleasant, but no impulsive offres speciales anymore in the car when returning. Only pictures, sometimes of objects triggering flashbacks to another century when I designed several valve amplifiers and mixing desks. Not as complicated and advanced as the mobile studio ( here in France) of the Rolling Stones. For those interested in old school technology, this is an excellent book written by a former BBC engineer, Morgan Jones. The OH bought an impressive art book about the painter Monet.

What about this nice little Fender:



In the grandes surfaces we see others, miniature Marshalls:



Once towering behind the Who and others, now also available for the living room, honey, I shrunk the amplifiers:





Only 140 x 110 x 60 mm, output 1 Watt RMS, clean & overdrive modes, 9 Volt DC battery power supply or mains adapter.

Who is missing? Mr. Vox, still available here, including a little story about one of George Harrison's guitars:






Even more flashbacks these days.

[Sparkle]

Some interesting things there.

[L Austin France]

This is my 70's valve amp. http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/britamps ... dom23.html
I acquired it in the early 80's from my uncle together with a 1963 Hofner violin bass a la Paul McCartney.
Uncle was a bass fiddle player on the London dance scene, got tired of lugging his double bass about & tried a 'leccy bass.
Lucky for me he couldn't get on with it & knowing my interest in guitars sold the pair to me for the princely sum of £60.

[Oldblueraincoat]

For the past couple of years we have seen an increase in what could best be described as roadside vide greniers in the guise of Brocante merchants. Old empty roadside commercial premises are being stuffed to the rafters with what can best be described as "A Load of Old Toot" at worse or Aladdin's Cave at best. Some incredible old stuff is on offer and our local vendors never seem to be short of potential buyers. Maybe it is the appearance of such places that make the vide greniers less attractive?

IMG_4766-01.jpg

[RobertArthur]

@ OBR: "A Load of Old Tood" continued:

[RobertArthur]

@ Austin France: could have been interesting. No valves in the ECC series (81,82,83, 85), no valves in the EL series (84, 34) or rectifier valves (GZ, EZ), so only one picture:

[L Austin France]

@ Austin France: could have been interesting. No valves in the ECC series (81,82,83, 85), no valves in the EL series (84, 34) or rectifier valves (GZ, EZ), so only one picture:

Sorry but I've no idea what you mean

[RobertArthur]

Department spare parts, you never know, only problem is that it has been more than 15 years ago that someone asked me to repair a valve amplifier. Another reason to keep some distance from these offres speciales.

[curtis]

There is a nice little trailer to go behind a Mobylette or VeloSolex.
Great fun. I had a couple of old trailers which went on the VeloSolex; My wife said I looked like un marchand de peau de lapins!
I sold my collection when we last moved partly motivated by the fact that I didn't want to be riding around on an old Mobylette with modern registration and gloves etc.

[L Austin France]

Department spare parts, you never know, only problem is that it has been more than 15 years ago that someone asked me to repair a valve amplifier. Another reason to keep some distance from these offres speciales.

Ah!
I think you're saying that it'll be difficult to find replacement valves etc if one 'blows'.
No worries. I can always buy another bass amp but the bass guitar is another matter.
It's a rare low serial no. 1963 Selmer import in perfect nick reputed to be the holy grail of Hofner 501's which is much sought after by Beatles afficianados & would take a good 4 figures in UK quids to acquire.