[Vintage-Audio] Re Source For Speaker Grill Replacements

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Hi All,

The James B. Lansing Century L-100 speaker cabinets came with a front grill 
made of some kind of flaky foam. Mine was blue in color and the pattern 
consisted of a lot of about one inch by one inch squares. These were raised 
and protruded beyond the wood trim the held the front grill on the cabinet.

Foam is foam, and it has a history of being flaky. After about twelve years 
the foam squares began to shed particles of blue foam all over the floor. It 
did not take long until those nice one inch squares took on a wide variety 
of geometric shapes, some as yet not named! It progressed from curious to 
annoying to downright butt ugly! So I got on the red phone hotline here in 
my den/office/computer control room and call the nearest JBL distributor. 
They were well aware of the problem and had a grill replacement kit in 
stock. I ordered one for about $35.

It was quite simple. Attach/stretch the brown grill cloth material over the 
framework that came with the kit. Then install it into the press on front 
grill frame of the cabinet. Press the grill frame with new cloth on the 
cabinet. Done.

This was twenty years ago and they still look nice.

I have found a second set of JBL Century L-100 speakers and they are calling 
my name! However, they have never had the front grill replaced and have the 
not very attractive mostly flaky foam free look! Where can I order a 
replacement grill kit from and how many piggy banks do I need to use my 
vintage Louisville Slugger on?

Thank you for your assistance.

Duane W8DBF
dfischer at usol.com