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Gates Executive

smellygoat

smellygoat

Hi there!

I'm building out a broadcast studio in Los Angeles. I intend to make it period correct for 1960s (equipment, sound proofing, etc.). Just bought the heart of my studio, a Gates Executive. Just came out of service a few years back, so she's in great shape. That said, I need to source a few cosmetic pieces such as knobs. If anyone knows where I can source parts and also where I might find a couple Gates turntables, reel to reel, mics, headphones, etc, I'd REALLY appreciate it!

My Email is [email protected]

Thanks!

Brian
 
man i love that snow plow board! i only worked on one at one station, but man it felt like home. i started out on a studioette and then an old SA-40.

of course it's period correct, even up to the early 80s. but i'm curious, is that what the big LA stations were using in the 60s? i would have guessed more mccurdys. they were what the big chicago stations were using, right?

if you're patient you can still find nice stuf on ebay.

post links to pics when you get some. i'd love to see your setup.

-amos
 
At every station I worked for seemed to have a few of these and also a few the jocks that were notorious for rough riding the big knobs so that the nuts holding the Shalco faders would become loose....of course no one would mention it until one of them would twist the fader until the wiring would snap off. I spent New Years eve repairing a mess involving three faders in Boston during the late 70's. Of course no one knew nothing about that!!!!
The program amps in these boards should be recapped often if you like anything in the bass region, for a board that had germanium transistors they sounded pretty good.
 
The big knobs on each channel are what's referred to as a "VOA" style knob. Hard to find nowdays and expensive as all get-out. The somewhat smaller ones, like the channel knobs on "80" series consoles, are known as "Altec" style knobs. They're a little bit easier to come by, as there were a couple of other manufacturers using them, but still not cheap. I'm looking for some myself, and getting nowhere.
 
Here is a picture of my restored Executive. All knobs as well as the master knobs were originally black but I added the red/orange just to jazz it up a bit.

http://s1147.photobucket.com/albums/o549/d5post/?action=view&current=executive.jpg

The VA knobs (or VOA) were named for equipment designed by Gates for the Voice of America in the 50's. In the three years I have been monitoring ebay the color inserts have shown up twice. The knobs a few times more and are a bit pricey.

Also the M5700 program amps are also of 50's vintage and the specs come no where near 21st century gear. In the 80's Harris stopped supporting the Solid Statesman series and a company picked the ball up and started designing new compatible components. BDI built the HLR-100 from 1986 until 1999. Great specs:

THD: <0.1% 20 Hz to 20 KHz at + 8 dBm output

IMD: < 0.1% SMPTE 4:1

Frequency response: +/- 0.25 dB from 20 Hz to 20 KHz

Nominal Level: +8 dBm into 600 ohms

Maximum Output level before the onset of clipping: +24 dBm

Maximum Gain: 62 dB

Signal to Noise Ratio: - 70 dB below nominal program level

Input Impedance: 150 ohms transformer balanced

Output Impedance: 600 Ohms transformer balanced

The M5700:

THD: <0.5% 50 Hz to 15 KHz at + 24 dBm output

IMD: < 0.3% +14 dbm

Frequency response: +/- 1 dB from 30 Hz to 15 KHz

My Executive came with the BDI's which was very lucky for me. I test them with later Eminem CD's through bi-amped powered Mackie MR5 monitors and they hold their own and sound killer.

Contact Bob Tarsio at [email protected]. They might still be able to put together something for you.
 
This is bringing back memories of the Gates President console that I worked with in the early seventies. Those two rows of push buttons would wear out quickly and not want to lock, but I loved the console.

Dennis
 
That's funny... You and I both posted at the same time! I was also reminded of the President I worked with at WDDT back in the 70's. I actually remember seeing it before it was installed and thinking how advanced it looked compared with the Gates Yard console they were using on-air at that time. I was about 10 then, visiting the station with my brother, Walt. About five years later, here is the picture I took while I was doing my weekend shift there...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1014132837123.2002616.1339114489&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=1014134917175&set=a.1014132837123.2002616.1339114489&type=3&theater

And this one, which was taken for my High School yearbook...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1014132837123.2002616.1339114489&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=1015696876223&set=a.1014132837123.2002616.1339114489&type=3&theater

A couple of years later, this is the console I would get to work on, at WJDX, Jackson, Mississippi...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015696876223&set=a.1014132837123.2002616.1339114489&type=3&theater#!/photo.php?fbid=2928261529144&set=a.1014132837123.2002616.1339114489&type=3&theater

That was a custom-built Fairchild Robbins console, unusual for then, but a precursor to with what we all use nowadays.
 
Still have one snowplow in use, a President. It has BDI modules in it. Performs really well. Replaced the Arrakashit that replaced it. All my operators treat it gently and with love. It is their favorite console. I refurbished it for them since they all missed it. I learned how to run a board on a Gates Stereo Statesman and a Yard 80. So, I have a soft spot for Gates consoles. Spun records on 2 CB 77 tables with Micro-Trak arms and Stanton 500 AL pickups. Transmitters for AM and FM were Gates. FM a FM 2.5K, AM a BC-5P2.
 
replaced the arrakas with the original president after rebuilding! wow, that's a station i would love to work for. i'm glad to see the operators respect what you've done!
 
Kent T said:
... Spun records on 2 CB 77 tables with Micro-Trak arms and Stanton 500 AL pickups. Transmitters for AM and FM were Gates. FM a FM 2.5K, AM a BC-5P2.
Click to expand...
Didn't everybody start out that way? ;D

My first station was the same except the transmitters were a FM2.5H3 and a MW-1. Stereo 80 board. CB77's were "remote-started" with raw 120VAC wired through spare contacts on the turntable channel keys...scary!
 
Yea, I started at a little 1kw AM station in Shamokin, PA as a disc jockey back around 1967. It was the type of radio station that you would probably picture in the late forties and fifties comprised of studio A and B with the control sitting a bit higher in elevation, known as studio C. At the time they were using an RCA 76-B5 console. It wasn't bad, but a bit limited with only six mixing channels including two high level pots. I guess the President was either bought in 1970 or 71, I can't quite remember. Compared to the RCA, the President looked like something from outer space with the two movable VU meters. We had the different color dots on the pots signifying microphones, turntables and the high level inputs. I have some B/W photos somewhere taking up space in a cardboard box. I'm feeling rather old right now, lol.

Dennis
 
Yes its sad but there were many engineers at the time that had no concept of the use of 24 volt slave relays both when wiring up not only turntable starts through key switches on audio consoles but also 120 or 240 VAC transmitter relay logic through contacts on remote controls especially the old GATES, RCA and RUST'S but also came across it on installation with Moseley TRC'S and PBR'S the hard way.. You never knew what death dealing atrocities others would leave behind.
 
chrish said:
Yes its sad but there were many engineers at the time that had no concept of the use of 24 volt slave relays both when wiring up not only turntable starts through key switches on audio consoles but also 120 or 240 VAC transmitter relay logic through contacts on remote controls especially the old GATES, RCA and RUST'S but also came across it on installation with Moseley TRC'S and PBR'S the hard way.. You never knew what death dealing atrocities others would leave behind.
Click to expand...
Ran across a TRC15 that had a Gates FM10H1 hooked directly to it for control. Worked fine until lightning struck....I can't say it's impossible to replace the traces on that dinky relay board, but believe me when I say that it's not a pleasant experience.
 
Got an email from a gentleman in VA, he has 2 Presidents, an Executive, and a Stereo Statesman he needs to clear out. And spares for the above. He donated them. A trucker friend is picking them up and will drive them back to TN for us. I plan on putting all of them back into service (and all have BDI modules with them). Love Gates Snowplows. And all my board operators in the cluster have wanted one to run. Now they get what they like.
 
Cool! Can I come board-op for you?
 
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