Marconi Type BD 951A 1950’s - Fair - Used

Vintage Compressor – Lansdowne Studios – Type BD 951A

A rare piece of British recording studio history, known in my late father’s collection as the “Dave Clark compressor.”

This substantial vintage valve unit came from Lansdowne Studios in Holland Park, London, where my father, Adrian Kerridge, worked as a recording engineer and producer. My father’s expression-of-wishes letter specifically identifies this unit as the Dave Clark compressor and documents its association with the Dave Clark Five recordings.

The unit is labelled “Line & Limiting Amplifier & Jackfield, Type BD 951A” and features its original-looking valve circuitry, large transformers and built-in gain reduction meter. It is a substantial, heavy piece of vintage studio equipment and an interesting item for collectors of historic recording and broadcast equipment.

The compressor formed part of my father’s private collection and was bequeathed to me.

Condition

The unit is offered in its present, as-found condition. It has not been tested, and its operational status is unknown. There is visible age-related wear, dust and some corrosion consistent with its age. Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.

Given its age and unknown working condition, it should be regarded as an untested vintage unit requiring appropriate assessment by a qualified technician before use.

Provenance

The association with Lansdowne Studios and the Dave Clark Five is documented in my late father’s expression-of-wishes letter. This is a particularly personal item from his collection, with a direct connection to his working life in the recording industry.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, I’ll do my best to help.

Price: €9,750

Offers considered from serious collectors.

This is a substantial and historically interesting piece of vintage studio equipment, offered with its documented family provenance. Collection is preferred due to its size and weight; shipping would need to be arranged and agreed with the buyer But collection would be the preferred method of delivery