JRH

Shipped 4/7/1980.

To be clear, there was not a "Stephens squawker horn". What I see pictured is not close to stock, other than the possible re-use of the top and bottom horn flares. The K-5 did go thru some modifications, significantly the early elimination of the "boats". There were also various throat adaptors available to accommodate different drivers, including the Stephens.

Admittedly this could be quite the project if maximum authenticity is desired. I believe I could supply a circuit design (2 or 3 component values). It would then require you to find vintage components and actually build the network. As for the horn, making one of these would truly be a retirement project. PWK's greatest manufacturing challenge was the process and equipment to make these horns. Patience should result in finding one online. If the driver adaptor does not fit the Stephens 108, I probably have one at home!

Early two-way crossovers are mostly a mystery. The logbooks make little, if any, mention of crossovers used. In the very early days, people would send in their own drivers to be utilized, including the WE555! Crossovers were likely custom-tailored in these situations. In Sept. 1951 PWK sent "upgrade parts" to Armstrong as pictured. The three-way 500-5000 series began at least as far back as 1953. The Type 1 started 1/1/64, and was quickly followed by the 1R (initially for -3dB tweeters, but became standard in 1965). The museum's collection has only one that appears to be a two-way (pictured). In the case of #193, I would get vintage components like pictured, and do a simple 6dB/octave centered at 500Hz. (I know people who can do this!)

You may also email info@klipschmuseum.org, or jim@klipschmuseum.org.

I am available to discuss restoration at: jim@klipschmuseum.org!

Finally joining the conversation! My first guess would have been the Dope From Hope collection. However, the "size recollection" sure fits his pocket notebooks, of which there were many. The code mentioned above would have at least covered his bowel movements! Unfortunately the Museum did not end up with these. I am not aware of anything else that would fit the bill, but it never ceases to amaze me what surfaces in our largely unexplored archives. Hoping to get them accessible this summer, so I can resume exploration!

You have hit the jack pot! #193 was shipped Nov. 15, 1950 to Major Edwin H. Armstrong in NY, NY. Yes, the inventor of FM radio, and a friend of PWK's. It had the Stephens 108 HF driver and a Stephens P-15LL woofer. Congratulations!

It is unusual for PWK's signature to be present during this time period. Both were shipped to Hess Recorder Company on July 15, 1963.

344 and 345 shipped Feb. 27, 1962. Had K-22/K55v/K77/WR drivers and networks. Portus Gilley entered the logbook data.

Magnet structure steel plates are typically plated with a "zinc chromite" plating. I know of at least clear, yellow, and black. There is no difference in magnetic performance, and the change might have been "environmentally" influenced.

The K-77 was an alnico magnet (round structure) until converted to the K-77-M "mud magnet" (rectangular ceramic) in the late 70's. There SHOULD BE no differences during it's life time.

119W830 shipped May, 19, 1981 to Audio Village.

The "historian" knowest not!

Pro records are sparse. I do not have date of manufacture on KP and newer products.

I am not completely clear on this, but I think the B2T was used with the very brief appearance of the K-55-G (essentially a ceramic magnet version of the Atlas Alnico K-55-V). Changing a network without using the designed-for driver is "at your own risk". However, I suspect the K-55-G is a pretty rare duck.

John's recollection is the same as mine.

1766 & 1767 LF's shipped to Ideal Acoustics on 12/11/80. 1977 & 1978 HF's shipped to Ideal Acoustics on 3/3/81. No idea why the delay. Speculating, it could have been a driver "supply chain" issue! Also, no idea on "Sixth Series".

I had a hand in both, particularly on the driver side.

I don't believe this has been done with any accuracy. It would be a pretty big project that is not currently "in my cards". And "my cards" only go to the early eighties! Beyond that it is all Klipsch Group.

I'm not sure of the date when side access was changed to top access. However, I do believe top access was very short-lived.

These are probably 1964. They had not shipped per the 1963 logbook. Logbooks from 1964 thru mid-1976 came up "missing" about 25 years ago. KDFR stands for Klipschorn / Decorator (open face HF) / Fir / Raw. Good job revitalizing these!

Without substantial combing of the logbooks, one was shipped to Rodgers as early as 1976. At least 100 in sequence were shipped to them in 1978. I have not seen one with woofer access at the top.

These were shipped to Flanner & Hafsoos on 12/3/81.