[Vintage-Audio] Re Foam Suspension Speaker Rebuilds

Tue Aug 13 10:56:00 2002

A lot of things come out of car exhaust, but I dont think
ozone is one of them...

WB

JM/CO wrote:
> 
> Foam deterioration is a common issue on many speakers built starting around
> 1970. The industry has finally realized their error, and today, uses a
> different polymer which ( supposedly ) will not do this. The actual chemical
> responsible for this is low level ozone, mainly from car exhaust. The
> problem is less frequent in rural areas. There are several companies out
> there that sell re-foam kits for all of the common sized drivers. These kits
> work out quite well, and will restore your drivers to their original
> condition. The only issue is an economic one. The cost of the kit often
> equals or exceeds that of comparable replacement drivers, especially if one
> has to pay someone to do the rebuild.
> Regarding the "outrageous" price of vintage speakers: It's really quite
> simple. The ones with great intrinsic value ( for whatever reason ) go up in
> value, as do other vintage audio items. The junk stays at a low value, or
> goes to the dump.
> Given the large amount of absolute crap being put out by the industry these
> days, folks who have a genuine desire to achieve good sound will often find
> their way "back" to good vintage gear. The market for this stuff is also
> world - wide, which puts further upward pressure on prices. Checked out the
> price of a McIntosh MC-30, or a C-22 lately ?? The vintage audio market has
> been active, although very "low key" for decades. Most folks who dabble in
> this are usually not inclined to discuss prices / value unless an actual
> deal is going down. Also, most of them are VERY knowledgeable about what
> they are selling. As a potential buyer on some auction site, it behooves one
> to know what one is bidding on, and always ASK QUESTIONS before one bids.
> Chuck N1LNH
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Duane Fischer, W8DBF <[email protected]>
> To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
> Date: Monday, August 12, 2002 11:00 PM
> Subject: [Vintage-Audio] Re Foam Suspension Speaker Rebuilds
> 
> >
> >
> >I was talking by telephone today with Judith Fulkerson in Oxford, Michigan
> who
> >has been rebuilding speakers since 1976. She commented to me that
> Electro-Voice
> >had made some very good speaker systems using the foam suspension back in
> the
> >sixties and seventies. The foam has broken down over the years and people
> >contacted EV for help. They were told by the company that repair was not
> >possible, parts were not available and to throw out the old speakers.
> >
> >She has rebuilt many of them and the story from EV was just simply not the
> >truth. They wanted to sell new speakers, obviously. Unfortunately, many
> people
> >did throw them away and she has seen very few of these systems over the
> last
> >five years. A real shame, as some of the systems had excellent performance
> >dynamics.
> >
> >She cam rebuild the EV, the JBL and others who did use the foam suspension.
> She
> >can get generic parts to replace some of the originals that are no longer
> >obtainable. If you have some good quality speakers and want them rebuilt,
> this
> >woman knows her stuff and can do the job.
> >
> >I was somewhat shocked today as I called around Michigan trying to locate
> anyone
> >who dealt in old vintage mono/stereo gear. I learned from a man who rebuilt
> >James B. Lansing systems, John Wolff in Brighton, MI, that the Century
> L-300 I
> >want will likely sell for $1,500 for the pair. Working, but NOT rebuilt! He
> gave
> >me some other prices for different comparable and better quality systems
> and I
> >was literally taken aback by the prices. Some were from $3,000 apair to as
> much
> >as $10,000 a pair. They were rebuilt, however. A real bargan, heh?  Ha Ha.
> >
> >He faults the electronic auctions. He gave up trying to locate speakers and
> >rebuild them, because the electronic auctions were selling everything from
> >quality to absolute junk for all sorts of prices, most of which were way
> out of
> >line. Hence, most of the good gear is on the electronic auction sites and
> you
> >are at the mercy of the seller as to their 'real' condition and
> authenticity.
> >Let's face it here, most of those selling are not knowledgeable about what
> they
> >are selling. Although they may not be intentionally misrepresenting an
> item, it
> >may nevertheless be not as advertised because of simple ignorance on the
> part of
> >said seller. It is this huge risk factor that makes an electronic auction
> >purchase a real crap shoot roll of the dice.
> >
> >If any of you would like to have Judith Fulkerson do some speaker rebuild
> work
> >for you, please contact me for her telephone number and address. I have
> always
> >been impressed by her candor and openness. She is more concerned over
> telling
> >you the truth about what you have than she is in making a sale. A rare
> quality
> >nowadays in any business.
> >
> >Duane Fischer, W8DBF
> >[email protected]
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> >List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
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> 
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