What are the these?

[M-30]

I got these two items in the case pocket of a very old archtop.Does anyone know what they are and what they do?
I'm guessing that the unit with the two 1/4" plugs is a splitter but not sure.Hoping someone is familiar with these.All info appreciated.
Thanks,Eric

 

[Boneman]

Interestingly old gadgetry, never seen those before so if I had to guess it looks like the early version of an a-b unit, and some type of an input jack extender/filter.

 

[M-30]

The two input unit has two volume?tone? controles.
Thanks

 

[M-30]

Just saw this for first time.
Modern day archeology!

 

[M-30]

I believe the other is an A/B splitter with volume for each input.

 

[GAD]

What’s inside the threaded connectors of the box? Could I see and end-shot?

They look like F connectors used in ham radio. Makes me wonder if some ham made a long-run balanced rig splitting out each wire to an individual antenna cable sort of like the principle used in XLR cables.

The other piece looks like an phone plug screwed onto an F-toF inline filter for noise suppression.

 

[M-30]

I will see if I can figure out how to open it up.

 

[M-30]

Ok Here we go.

 

[GAD]

Oh I didn’t mean you had top epen it (but very cool - thanks!).

I mean looking into the end of the jack.

 

[GAD]

Oh wait never mind. Those are phone jacks. Looks like phone jacks that have secure screw covers, too. Neat.

Looks like a two-to-one “mixer” of sorts that lets you adjust the levels of either of the “two” side.

Could be for joining two signals (guitars) into one output (amp) or one signal (guitar) split to two outputs (amps) though the volume rolloffs in each case would be superfluous.

 

[GAD]

I assume then that the other one is a screw in phone jack, too. Could be anything inside the thick part. Noise filter? Added capacitance? No idea. Neat, though.

 

[M-30]

I really appreciate your input.I tried plugging the second unit into my amp.Then plugged into it.
I also plugged it directly into my guitar and tried it that way.Dont hear any change in the sound.I should say there is no difference in sound when using it or not.
?

 

[M-30]

I always wondered if this was Barney Kessels personal studio secret setup.
LOL!

 

[GAD]

Just saw this for first time.
Modern day archeology!

So the top piece is shown here:





Are there any numbers on the fatter section that we can use to identify it?

I wonder if all of this was used to put a mic into a guitar amp. The fat piece could be an impedance matching adapter.

 

[M-30]

Great sleuthing GAD!
The only thing I find on the larger diameter cylinder is 'SWITCHCRAFT'.
It doesn't look like I can take it apart unfortunately.Looks like it had a label on it but doubt it's came from switchcraft with it.

 

[M-30]

But maybe it's stock since it doesn't have an adhesive back.It seems to have been applied directly to the metal housing.
?

 

[GAD]

See the knurling at the arrow? That's a grip and that entire ring should turn after which the plug underneath it in the pic will come off. I don't think you'll learn anything doing so, but that's how it's designed.



The label for what it is clearly was paper with an adhesive that you can see which is long gone. A few minutes with some test equipment would determine what it's doing assuming whatever's in there hasn't deteriorated.

 

[GAD]

It would look something like this when removed:

 

[GAD]

Look what I found!

The box is a Vintage Switchcraft No. 311 Mini Audio Mixer Splitter for Guitar-Harp Mic:

Switchcraft 310, (Vintage) Mini-Mix Audio Mixer, Dual Line Control

NEW Switchcraft 310, Miniature, High Imepdance Microphone Mixers Accommodate 2, High Impedance Inputs with Low Cost Factor. Feeds 2 Signals into a Single Output. This Connector is New Old Stock (N.O.S.) from a bulk case with no retail packaging. The contacts are silver plated and are showing...

marvac.com

Vintage Switchcraft No. 311 Mini Audio Mixer Splitter for Guitar-Harp Mic 1960's | Reverb

This listing is for a vintage Switchcraft No. 311 mini audio mixer/splitter. This mixer/splitter features 2 x Mono 1/4" input jacks and one male 1/4" output plug and 2 thumbwheel knobs to control/balance the volume of each signal. These are great for splitting a guitar signal to 2 amps or balanc...

reverb.com

 

[GAD]

And I believe your other item is a Switchcraft Inline volume control for harmonica (harp):

Switchcraft 329 Inline Harmonica Mic Volume Control Vintage | Reverb

This has been in the bottom of a parts case for decades. Knew what is was, but not how scarce they've become. Just tested and works perfectly. Light use. Threads are in great shape. A couple small nicks in housing probably from bouncing around in storage for so long, and some "patina". Last ...

reverb.com