[Vintage-Audio] Re Foam Suspension Speaker Rebuilds

Tue Aug 13 11:19:01 2002

True, ozone doesn't come straight out of the tailpipe. Ground level =
ozone (otherwise known as smog) is caused by the reaction of organic =
compounds, such as the compounds that comprise automobile and refinery =
exhaust, and nitrogen oxide in sunlight. so it is one of the causes, but =
not a primary source.

actually auto emissions only account for twenty percent or so of the =
total.

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 9:51 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Vintage-Audio] Re Foam Suspension Speaker Rebuilds

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

WB

JM/CO wrote:
>=20
> 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
>=20
> >
> >
> >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]
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/vintage-audio
> >List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
> >** For Assistance: [email protected] **
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/vintage-audio
> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
> ** For Assistance: [email protected] **
_______________________________________________
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