About Steve…

A short Bio…

Electronics has always been my calling. As a child my parents would find me taking something apart just to see how it worked, this used to drive them crazy! I then started making simple machines and electronic circuits by the age of five. My Dad used to say,.. “He’ll be an engineer if he doesn’t burn us out first!”

In high school I majored in electricity and electronics, with marks in the high 90′s, while my core subjects only saw minimal passing grades. My electrical teacher, Mr. Grant Soper who was the head of the technical department saw this potential in me and encouraged me to enter a project of a working model elevator I built at home during my spare time in the regional science fair. My model was a huge hit. People could actually work it themselves and that made it fun. I never thought the project was good enough to place in the standings, but the judges did and it took second place.

A moment that I thought would never happen, … did.  It’s been 27 years since high school for me, and the last time I saw Mr. Soper.  Today, December 2nd 2011, I met and had lunch with Mr. Soper.    After four hours of catching up with each other’s lives, I presented him with one of my handcrafted vacuum tube amplifiers.  Teachers like Mr. Soper give so much of themselves to their students.  I wanted to give something back in return.   It was one of the best days of my life.

Thanks for setting the foundation with your teachings Mr. Soper!

By the age of sixteen while still in school, I had entered the work force and applied for a job in the manufacturing sector. It wasn’t long before I went from a general labourer to lead hand, and by the end of one year, shift supervisor. I was able to strip down every machine in the plant and repair or even rebuild it. Management saw my potential and capitalized on it. I was in-charge of a shift 18 workers strong and some were more than twice my age! Since the plastics field was so competitive back in the 1980′s, it wasn’t long before a competitor took notice of me and made me a better offer. So at the age of eighteen, fresh out of high school, I was offered the position of “Electrical Maintenance Mechanic”. I was given an electrical/mechanical aptitude test to see if I was qualified for the position. I scored 98%, the highest score ever seen on that particular test. I was told that that test had been used for over 20 years and no one had ever scored more than 83%. Needless to say I got the job.

Time went on and I worked in the oil industry for 15 years until I decided I’d had enough. I took 2 other job offers over the next two years, but soon realized I had the means to “retire” and find my true calling in life. I was only 39 years old when I did this.  So I left the everyday grind finding myself financially secure, but somewhat empty.  I needed to do some soul searching.  So, I packed up and moved east to Peterborough Ontario where life is slower and quieter.
I dabbled in a few other unfulfilling job positions and realized that I needed to do something much more rewarding.  I needed to find my place in life.   I’m sure you know what I mean, and if you don’t, you will one day.  As fate would have it, I found Lance Cochrane, my mentor and teacher, who has been building, experimenting, and crafting his vacuum tube amplifiers since 1970.  He has also taught his craft to a small number of students in that time as well.  Those who are fortunate enough to be chosen to become one of his apprentices exhibit certain qualities Lance looks for, such as;  an electrical / electronic background, dedication, and the willingness to learn.  Lance also looks for self-motivators who are willing to do the roadwork on their own.  Never once did Lance give his students his schematic.  He gave us only instructions, and from those instructions, we had to come up with the schematic on our own.  That way he knew we understood what was explained.  A perfect way of teaching!  Lance gets requests all the time from individuals wanting to learn vacuum tube technology, but he only chooses those who fit his personality template.  What that is I’m not exactly sure of, but I know I fit it.  I was one of his last students as Lance has since retired from teaching and building at this time.  I am proud and honoured to be one who he felt deserving of his time and knowledge.  I see it as my duty to reproduce what has been taught to me, and to preserve Lance’s teachings for many years to come.  Part of  Lance’s teachings is to include my own design ideas and make these amplifiers uniquely my own creations.  I have executed every task to the best of my ability, and by a few little hints of praise from my teacher along the way, I think he’s happy with the result!

Everything about vacuum tubes and vacuum tube amplifiers fits.  For instance; I am a huge fan of the Art Deco movement, and everything about the look or design of vacuum tubes is Art Deco.  I’ve always loved music and I’ve had an extensive record collection since I was very young.  This has a lot to do with why I was able to master the tuning process so well;  I have developed a very good ear for music and how it should sound when reproduced.   Also, I’ve always loved creating machines and electrical infrastructure.   And lastly, the actual electronics part of it, well that’s a dead ringer too!  Everybody has something that fits them perfectly, a talent, skill, or job, and the drive to do it.  Sometimes it takes a long time to figure out what that is, but when you find it, it’s the best thing in the world!

I have included a few comments that Lance has made about me. They show his pride in his students….

“I’ve said a number of times that a teacher should be judged by the quality of his students. A good teacher should have students that surpass him. Steve is well on his way. That’s due to his hard work and innate curiosity. There is a sense of style to his creations that many designers lack. This is really only the start of the adventure. Check back in a few years to see where it has gone. Expect some intriguing surprises.” October 19 2008.

Also this…

“Steve is an innovative and tireless researcher. He knows what works and sees no limits in achieving his goal. Steve tends to accomplish in limited time periods what most never achieve at all. Highly recommended.” February 8, 2009.

And finally this…

This comment refers to myself and another student of Lance’s by the name of Jim Nicholls.

You know, a lot of guys have been students of mine. Most have been interested but not enough to continue. You two have been pretty much over the top. Why? Because you wanted to. It fit your interests perfectly. Yeah. I had a hand in it, no question but still, you guys had to do the hard work and not only did you do that, you’re still exploring new frontiers. It’s very cool. Something to enjoy in my dotage here too! January 17 2010

Now at age 46 I’ve found what I call my dream job, except it’s not a job at all, and by no means is it work, it’s what I was put here to do.

Steve White

Master Builder

Empire Electron Amplifiers