[Vintage-Audio] Re Speakers From Yesteryear

[Robert Nickels]

> Bozaks: What ever became of this company?

In searching for an answer to Duane's question, I came across a website in
South Africa that I think will be of interest to many here.  You might want
to check out The History of Audio Development:
http://www.avsa.co.za/misc/sept_audiodev1.html

But I could only find snippets of information about the original Bozak
Company.  (Unfortunately, as is so often the case, there is a new "in name
only" Bozak company today, but it has no connection to the one we know -
don't ya just hate that??)

I did learn that the company was founded by audio pioneer Rudi T. Bozak, who
was made a fellow of the Audio Engineering Society in 1965 and received the
John H Potts award in 1970.  He was a graduate of the Milwaukee School of
Engineering.

In 1950, he was hired as a consultant to McIntosh Labs and helped develop a
24 inch square loudspeaker.  But the performance was awful, and the project
was cancelled.  He later made the drivers for the McIntosh F-100 as part of
McIntosh's continued effort to enter the speaker business  -
http://www.sundial.net/~rogerr/lsd1.htm

Sometime thereafter he started his own company to make the Bozak speakers we
know  in Darrien CT.  The model B-410  set the high water mark, but all of
their speaker seem to have been well-received and are sought after today.
The B-410 "Concert Grand" contained four 12" woofers, two 10" midranges,
four "treble speakers", and at 275 pounds and $862 each, they must have been
Bozak's answer to the EV Patrician.  (And after reading Ron K's comment
about the rich Hammond owner, I wonder if this might be the speakers he
sold?)

I found a 2 page spread in a 1969 Arrow Electronics catalog, showing a good
selection of speakers, components and nice looking 2 and 3-way systems and
even PA speakers and pro-grade PA amps and mixers.  With prices in the
$2-300 range back then, they definitely weren't playing in the shallow end
of the pool!

The Bozak company evidently folded up in the late 70s or early 80's, accordi
ng to comments on a newsgroup.    A company led by ex-employees called
N.E.A.R. (New England Audio Resource founded in 1988), bought much of the
tooling and know-how on his metal drivers and variable density woofer cone
technology. They can still rebuild Bozak speakers -  near@maine   Evidently
Bozak developed special tooling for spinning metal cones.   This is
interesting to me, because the Bozak B-1000s I have are housed in round
metal enclosures designed for outdoor use, and now I suspect they may use
this metal cone technology.  (Guess Mr. Screwdriver and I will have to find
out!)

In any event, it seems that NEAR is the closest living relative of the
original Bozak, and now are owned by Bogen.  http://www.nearspeakers.com/
To my surprise, they still make and use the metal alloy cones that were
originally developed by Rudi Bozak. http://www.nearspeakers.com/tech.html
They also make outdoor speakers that look like rocks - but I prefer speakers
that look - well, like speakers!

Thanks for the exercise, Duane and I wonder what others here can add about
the history of this company?

73, Bob W9RAN