unclebubba Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 Excuse my ignorance since I am a newbie to this forum. I am a recording engineer and sometimes people bring me things they think I might be able to use. Someone gave me a klipsch speaker yesterday and I am not quite sure what to do with it. The woofer, tweeter and midrange horn all work perfectly. The cabinet is another story. The horn section is in good shape but all the veneer is coming off. The bass cabinet sat in a wet garage and the bottom of the front pylwood is completely rotted away. I live in a small house and do not have room for a speaker this size. So my question is this..... do I sell the components and dispose of the cabinet or should I restore the cabinet ? The thing that bothers me is that the cabinet is signed and dated 1951 so it is an early model from what i learned from the web. I have the skills to fix the cabinet but is that a waste of time? the other thing is that since I only have 1 is it better to let someone else fix it to match their other speaker. Your help is greatly appreciated. I just want to do the right thing. Photos Here: http://s1142.photobucket.com/albums/n604/Larry_Goetz/Klipsch/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runninshine Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 That is it's very cool. I hope someone can help you Welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 It would be a crime to part it out. Restoration might be so big a project that it requires the zeal of someone here who is real lover of Klipschorns. No disrespect intended but when the bug bites and you've got the fever, no job is too big -- and maybe the bug hasn't bitten you. In this, you may be lucky. Smile. WMcD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebubba Posted October 18, 2010 Author Share Posted October 18, 2010 Thanks for the reply. I have the bug for other stuff believe me! I am willing to take on the restoration if that is the proper course but I dont want to spend more than it is worth. Anybody have an idea on the value of this? I will post pictures of the cabinet tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigrfish Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Larry, This is a priceless piece of memorabilia and a functional piece of a nice Hi-Fi set for the right person. When this speaker was made and sold, it was not uncommon to have single speakers, rather than stereo, so there's no detriment to there being only one. If I were you, I think I'd sell it and let someone who is intimately familiar with such things and fond of the Mark, aware of the rich history, passionate for horn-loaded speakers, etc. do this restoration job. If I didn't have the heart or time for it, I'd let it pass. Otherwise, you've got a steep learning curve facing you, and a big welcome to this strange band of gypsies..... There are those of us who wonder at your good fortune....similar to the way I think about another acquaintance who went by the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville not too long ago and found an Altec tube mixer and a bunch of Altec tube amps in the dumpster.... The Lady or the Tiger??? All the best, Chuck Snow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groomlakearea51 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Unclebubba: If you have the time, I'd say go ahead and restore it. It is a piece of Klipsch history that is invaluable. As to how much it's worth? Good question, but it would certainly be worth far more if carefully restored. The crossover likely can be at least cleaned, etc and if the drivers are still intact.... great!!! For some more brief information on the history of the Klipschorn, look at: http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/103886.aspx [H] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryO Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 You might want to post your location in case someone local is interested in making you an offer on it. Or they might be able to offer up some advice for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Any more shots of the bass horn? That EV 15WK alone might be worth a goodly price of admission. Actually, the interior of the bass horn and the woofer mounting looks almost identical to that of my 1962 bass horn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebubba Posted October 19, 2010 Author Share Posted October 19, 2010 I have decided to undertake the restoration. I have the skills to do it but not a lot of free time. I will post more pictures once I open the bass cabinet . I am located in los angeles for anyone who might have an interest in buying this. Thanks again for all the help I have received! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 If you have time for it, a pic or two of the bass horn including the tag if there is one.might be interesting. Thanks! Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLSamuel Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 If you have the skills to restore it you'd probably not regret doing so when completed. See Groomlakearea51's link. He's restored at least one pair of (newer) Klipschorn's and they are spectacular. And the Klipschorn's do kind of hide in the corner. Of course onec restored you might want a mate for stereo but I've heard Klipsch mono can sound very good. I think it would be best not to part it out. It may be worth more that way but parting out classics like this is kind of sad. b3919d87-fe20-49a8-9358-60337a76accd 1.03.01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebubba Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 well I finished the restoration. No room in my house so it goes up for sale tomorrow. Oh Well .... http://s1142.photobucket.com/albums/n604/Larry_Goetz/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Did you open the bass bin? Do you know which woofer it has? If you name a reasonable price you might find an interested buyer on this forum. It's good that you restored it. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyme Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 This is absolutely gorgeous!! Good job on the resto. [Y] -Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebubba Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 It is a EV woofer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebubba Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 You should have seen it before. Looked like firewood. All the veneer had peeled off and half the front panel was destroyed by water. Bottom of cabinet was rotted away. Had to remake the side frames but was able to salvage the front fabric frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyme Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Congrats!! That is awesome!!! -Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seti Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Very cool that you rescued a 1951 Khorn. I love the K5 as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runninshine Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Where did you buy the veneer and grill cloth? I am wanting to restore my '78 Khorns and I am pretty sure I have the skills to reveneer them myself. Those look very nice. SOmeone will be proud to have them in their home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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