Bob_PDX

Oh yes, I'm well aware of that. My point is that the odd variation of La Scala I have was meant for use on electronic organs, and by coincidence, I used them on an electronic organ without knowing that this pair was in fact designated for that purpose.

Wow, I think you're on to something here. I'm in Oregon, and Rodgers used to be based in Hillsboro, Oregon. The example listing was also from Oregon. When I was a teen and taking organ lessons, we actually had a Rodgers for several years (but with internal speakers only). My father and grandfather had a lot of connections to Tektronix, and there was some overlap with Tektronix and Rodgers engineers, so it is quite possible that the person in the neighborhood that my father bought these from was an ex-Rodgers employee. Further coincidence, I have used these very La Scalas on a digital virtual pipe organ project. I guess they were cosmically meant to go with an organ!

Another possible clue: I've scrutinized the photos on the listing I linked to. I can just barely make out part of the serial number on one of them, it also has an "M" like mine, which indicates 1974. Perhaps this is something that was offered as an option in 1974, or something that some dealer was doing as a modification on a batch of them? I wish the linked item had a way to contact the original seller (contact is not allowed on completed listings on that site), it might help clear up the mystery.

Hi - I do not believe they were modified, since I did find a link to a nearly-identical pair (see the link near the bottom of my post) with the same features. The bottoms on mine are solid and do not appear to have had any openings in the past. Woofer access on mine is indeed via removing the network, although I have not attempted to remove it.

(Apologies in advance if this is already answered elsewhere. I've done a lot of online searching including of these forums but I may have missed it.) I've recently put up for sale a pair of La Scalas that belonged to my dad. (See my post in the Garage Sale forum if you're curious.) He was the 2nd owner. I had a potential local buyer visit today for a listening test and to scrutinize the condition of the woodwork. (They are raw birch with some wear and tear.) He brought up some things which, at first, gave me a bit of a panicked moment because I wondered if the speakers were not authentic or had been significantly modified. Then, after a lot of searching on Google Images, I found other examples out in the world, so I do know that they are authentic, but here's the questions that arose from this (the buyer's and mine)... 1. The tops have what appear to be screw holes at the edges which have been filled with wood filler. These are larger than the nail holes with filler that other vintage La Scalas have, including a pair he used to own which he showed me a photo of. 2. The crossovers, Type AA (which is appropriate for these based on the serial numbers), are mounted sideways in the cabinet, so that you don't easily see the "AA", and there is a separate terminal block for connecting your amp, which then has a short jumper going to the crossover. 3. The two plywood "filler panels" on the left and right of the rear opening (where you see the horn drivers and crossover) are wider than on most other La Scalas. I'm attaching photos of mine. The good news is that I've found another example online that has all three of those - round filled holes in the top, sideways crossover, wider filler panels, on an audio gear listing site. Here's the link (those aren't mine, even though they're in the same state) - https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649739659-klipsch-la-scala-raw-birch-speakers-all-original/images/3275316/ Can anyone tell the story of how many were made like that, and why, and is there any issue I should be aware of compared to other La Scalas? (My serial numbers are 2M38 and 2M839, with the "M" dating their production to 1974) Thanks, Bob

For Klipsh-related gear, I need to do more research, in the late 50's or very early 60's, before he met my mom, he built a corner Klipshorn, which I still have. I know that people often built their own replicas, but for a time I understand that Klipsch sold plans and components. I need to list and look up all the components and see if they are something Klipsch would have used/sold-to-hobbyists back then, or if he was just putting together what parts he could get that worked well. The issue is that it was a time before stereo was commonplace, so he just built the one. Later in the 60's, when he upgraded to stereo and they bought their first home, there wasn't a good 2nd corner in the living room, so he built a freestanding Harkness replica, which I also have but it isn't functional, need to diagnose. The wood finish matches a mid-century style writing desk that he built and I'm definitely keeping the desk (it now supports my MIDI workstation). The speakers I will probably let go of someday, I just don't have the room, but I don't know how many people would be interested in a mismatched pair of homebuilt speakers, and I'd hate to see them parted out. I know the horn that he built has the high sensitivity of the official item, in 2020 when I was getting their house ready for sale, I was able to power the thing at a high volume level using just tiny computer speaker amplifier that was lying around. One of our projects was building (what is now called) a "Virtual Pipe Organ" together, which for awhile used the La Scalas. In my current home they're just too big for the space, and the digital organ has been upgraded to 8 channels of audio spread around the room using more modest (but tall) home theater speakers from another brand, which also happen to match the finish of the console. In the non-audio department he was a specialist in radiation safety both in the military and civilian realms, and I have a lot of cold war and civil defense memorabilia. Back in the 50's he had a small mail-order electronics company (selling things like multimeters, signal generators) that used the family name. I may resurrect that brand someday. I even have the original phone # parked, just in case!

Thanks, yep the ability to like posts has just shown up.

Aside: Stupid newbie question, I'm looking for how to actually react/add a smiley to other posts but not finding the way. Is it because I'm a new member?

I can't provide you with a guarantee but I can sell you a $50 extended warranty which, as a hedge against being denied the discount, will refund 50% of your initial processing fee. And I'm also selling titanium-doused irradiated quantum plug connectors for improved audio quality.

Believe me I don't particularly want to part with them, I know how special they are. I won't bore you with the circumstances. But there is plenty left to cherish to remind me of my folks. Relevant to this forum, my dad was an electronics wiz and collected hi-fi gear and made a lot of his own stuff, which I still have. My very first amplifier in my childhood bedroom was an early Heathkit tube amp that he found at a garage sale and gave me some of my first lessons in troubleshooting as we got it working. I must have been about 8 years old when I got to see my first large capacitor go up in smoke! So I'll be OK. 🙂

<s> Oh, I know about the special discount. But there's a processing fee. Anyone who's interested in the discount can send me a $100 processing fee to receive a determination as to eligibility. </s>

Update - April 12, 2023: Sale successfully completed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update - April 11, 2023: eBay sale to local buyer pending --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update - April 6, 2023: Well, I've had two buyers for this, both who fell through. (One was a flake who couldn't read eBay terms and conditions, the other had a genuine health issue and had to back out.) So, back on eBay they go - this could be your opportunity! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm selling my father's pair of La Scala speakers which have been in the family for decades. They are now listed on CraigsList. Local pick-up in Portland, Oregon. Potential buyers may schedule an appointment for listening/testing. https://www.ebay.com/itm/275779734904 See listing for full description and multiple photos. Thank you for your interest.