In 1975 I was fortunate enough to be honored as the second person to ever build BK's at Klipsch and Assoc. A job I only performed for a year
Although I was fresh out of college with 2 degrees the economy was so poor that I decided to spend the lag period enjoying my AV hobby and left Michigan to take a temporary job with Klipsch. It was really a family of employees that I found there. I had to go through a period of adjustment as a Yankee working in the south but I found a warm and friendly environment for my year working there.
At that time the BK was made with 9 ply russian timber. It was important that the seams in these all wood horns (cabinets) were sealed. That was done by the use of a unique and quick setting glue that was generously applied between the seams prior to the additional use of a air-nail gun. I was surprised to hear that the glue is no longer used in todays BKs. If that is true I would be surprised since the seal was key in preventing and whistling brought about by the forced air pumped though the horns (cabinet).
As for construction diagrams of these speakers I would anticipate that the only way to get them would be to buy a set and break them down and take the measurements yourself. Each piece was cut and crafted separately and then assembly was done by an assembly specialist.
After cabinet assembly, a carefully matched set of drivers were installed. Using an oscilliscope to check each piece the tweeters, mid-range and woofers were chosen to match identically for each pair assembled.
I still have my K-horns from those days. Still proudly displayed in my AV Room they resonate the history of the passion that went into building them. You see, the wood in this pair was quite unique and possessed a unique and powerful grain pattern. When I saw the (front boards) sitting in the factory I ran to get masking tape and a marker to put my name on them. I spent the next 3 months trying to find equally matching tops and side boards. When I had collected the boards for the cabinets we spent time after work locating the ideal drivers. When finally assembled we opened champagne and everyone in the crew signed the inside of the cabinets......it was a special time.
Here now in Grand Rapids, Michigan 30 years later... my home is filled with Klipsch speakers. My Living room and AV theatre are all Klipsch. Good luck finding the documents though. Even if you do find them they won't come up to the specs of a factory pair assembled in those early days at Klipsch in Hope Arkansas 1975......
You would be better off to find a used pair .....they have to be available somewhere. Have you thought of looking on Ebay for some BK's?
Regards,
Mark
