Johncan Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 I answered a Craigslist ad for some classic gear and speakers. The ad was very vague so I had no idea what to expect. I get to the house and was shown a pair of Cornwall II's with a lattice front cover. There was no Klipsch badge on the front, but the back still had the Klipsch tag. Has anyone ever seen Cornwalls with a lattice cover? They were very ugly and sort of resembled the old Sansui speakers of the 1960s. I guess I could play them without any grill cover. I was unable to test them because the owner did not have a working stereo. I am going back on Sunday with some of my gear to test them. The owner said they had not been used in years (maybe 20 years). The back of one of them had been removed and was leaning on the speaker. Is there anything I should look for? The asking price was "around" $600. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Probably CBR or decorator models "dressed up by loving hands at home." Which means you can most likely reverse the "damage." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johncan Posted February 12, 2007 Author Share Posted February 12, 2007 Can I still buy the "normal" black cane cover? John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmsummer Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Didn't have a stereo... Hadn't played them in 20 years... Back removed from one speaker... ...adds up to "exercise all due caution" on this transaction, John. Take a back-up with you... preferably a large adult male. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johncan Posted February 12, 2007 Author Share Posted February 12, 2007 There is more to the story, but I really don't wish to post it publicly. If we ever meet, I will fill in all the details. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmsummer Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 That's cool, but it's not that great of a deal (IMHO). If the back was off, it isn't a Cornwall II, but a Cornwall "I" (access for drivers on the II is from the front). I see $500-700 Cornwalls in good shape quite often (usually first generation... which some folks prefer). I don't know the particulars, but it just doesn't sound all that promising. Just my two cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmsummer Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 But on the other hand, I have heard of Cornwall I's with lattice grills... and I'm pretty sure it was a short-lived factory option in the mid-60s. Rare as hen's teeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauln Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Like these? http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Klipsch-La-Scala-Speakers_W0QQitemZ160083937339QQihZ006QQcategoryZ61378QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160083937339 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johncan Posted February 12, 2007 Author Share Posted February 12, 2007 That's cool, but it's not that great of a deal (IMHO). If the back was off, it isn't a Cornwall II, but a Cornwall "I" (access for drivers on the II is from the front). I see $500-700 Cornwalls in good shape quite often (usually first generation... which some folks prefer). I don't know the particulars, but it just doesn't sound all that promising. Just my two cents. The tag on the back clearly said Cornwall II. At $600 it is not very promising, but as I said before there is more to the story. I will fill you in later. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johncan Posted February 12, 2007 Author Share Posted February 12, 2007 Like these? http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Klipsch-La-Scala-Speakers_W0QQitemZ160083937339QQihZ006QQcategoryZ61378QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160083937339 Nope. The covers were wood lattice and they looked like sort of like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Pioneer-CS-A31-Pre-Vintage-3-Way-Large-Stereo-Speakers_W0QQitemZ320081060204 only with a large size lattice. They also did not have the riser underneath them. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmsummer Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Dang, boy! Sounds like a mystery. I love mysteries! Keep us posted.... and did you write down the serial numbers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardP Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 [The tag on the back clearly said Cornwall II. At $600 it is not very promising, but as I said before there is more to the story. I will fill you in later.] Are the horns positioned horizontally or vertically? Is it not the case that the old vertical Cornwalls (ca. 1960s) show a "II" on the tag, which did not mean "2" but was a symbol representing the vertical (vs. standard horizontal) version? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johncan Posted February 13, 2007 Author Share Posted February 13, 2007 I will check when I go back. What are the differences sonically between the vertical ones and the standard horizontal ones? John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardP Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Others with more knowledge of the history can chime in here, but the vertical orientation of the horns make those models currently desirable as a center speaker for Heritage HT set-ups, as most will be turned on their sides to go under a TV. The dispersion of the horns will then match two standard horizontal models in front L&R positions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good2BHome Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Look for the serial number stamped into the edge of the plywood above the label (if the label is unreadable) If it contains a letter "A" through "L" it is for sure a Vertical Conwall II. The change over from vertical to horizontal took place in 1974 (the "M") year so the the "M" could be either. The verticals are more desirable because they sound better IMHO! If the drivers are original they will have Klipsch logos on them. The K-77 tweeter is a round ALNICO. The K-55V squaker is a round ALNICO. The K-33 woofer is a square "mud" magnet. Should the serial number contain either the letters be A, B, C and maybe D and the woofer is round do not leave there without them!! If you don't want them I will come and get them from you!! Based on the example you pointed to, the "lattice" covers are probable caine. Best of luck, keep us informed and 600 would be a steal price for Verticals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmsummer Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Here's Bob Crites take on the issue (quoted from another thread): "It is a real problem to try to figure out the Cornwall saga. Thevertical and horizontal horn models were built concurrently up untilsometime in the 70s. Some of the Cornwall vertical horn models aredesignated as Cornwall II and some are not. I have a set of verticalhorn Cornwalls with one marked Cornwall II and one marked Cornwall.When you get to the end of the original Cornwalls in the early 80s, allbets are off on what you find inside the cabinets. The driver sets andcrossover types are bewildering.Then we get to 1986 and the "newer" Cornwall II. They have a (in mostcases) MDF cabinet instead of the earlier plywood and the backs are notremovable. All drivers mounted from the front. The crossovers in theseare a genuine mess and look like they came out of Mrs. Beasley'skindergarten arts and crafts class. The crossovers will need a rebuild.In fact they needed the rebuild before leaving the factory. TheCornwall II moved completely away from the expensive driver set foundin the early Cornwalls to a driver set that probably cost about 1/4 asmuch and a cabinet that cost much less to build also. Somehow thespeakers manage to sound very good." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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