Avery Fisher had taste

[Steve Schell]

Some items are being sold on ebay from the collection of the late Avery Fisher. A furniture finish C55 bass enclosure is offered in this auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/JBL-C55-Vintage-Speaker-Lansing-2x15-Woofer-Bass-Horn_W0QQitemZ230066041569QQihZ013QQcategoryZ3284Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The seller's descriptions are worth reading. A pair of JBL N-500 dividing networks was sold in an earlier auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/JBL-N-500-Vintage-Speaker-Crossovers-Lansing-N500-Pair_W0QQitemZ230059477599QQihZ013QQcategoryZ3284Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I seem to recall reading an interview with Mr. Fisher years ago in which the author mentioned the presence of a Western Electric 594A compression driver in his home system. The seller mentions this as well as JBL 375s, W.E. 26A horn, 597A tweeter and a Jensen 18" woofer. Mr. Fisher also owned a late 1930s Lansing Iconic fancy Salon model, the very one exhibited in the recent JBL History exhibit:

http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=10709&highlight=history+exhibit

Mr. Fisher donated this speaker to JBL's collection; we ran across correspondence between Mr. Fisher and William Thomas to this effect in the JBL archives.

It gives me a warm feeling to know that Avery Fisher collected and used JBL as well as some of the finest classic theatre equipment, during an era when most of it was being taken out of service and discarded as scrap. He had taste.

[glen]

The seller's descriptions are worth reading.


Description http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif(revised (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemRevisionDetails&item=230066041569))http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gifhttp://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gifhttp://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gifIMPORTANT NOTE: THIS SPEAKER IS FOR PICK-UP ONLY IN THE NEW YORK METRO AREA! IT'S WAY TOO BIG TO PACK AND SHIP.
One JBL model C-55 vintage speaker. The C55 is a "double-wide" bass "scoop" horn cabinet. This one uses a pair of JBL model 140-R 15 inch woofers. The original owner was Avery Fisher. He used it in combination with a pair of JBL 375s attached to a Western Electric 26A horn and a specially configured JBL N-500 crossover.
The finish appears to be walnut and overall the cabinet is in excellent condition (the photos don’t do it justice). There are just a few scuff marks on the sides. The top is particularly nice because it was protected by a matching walnut finish wood board with a felt-like material on the bottom. This board is included but not shown in the photos. The approx. dimensions of the cabinet are 50" (H) x 36" (W) x 30" (D). The estimated total weight is approx. 250 pounds.
The cabinet is sealed in the back and there doesn’t appear to be any way to remove the grille cloth without damaging it. However, I inspected the woofers by shining a bright flashlight through the grille cloth and they look to be in perfect condition. The 140-R has a pleated/accordion, doped surround which does not deteriorate. I tested this speaker and it works perfectly. As for the sound, the only time I heard low frequencies that approached this speaker was when I had a 1954 Electro Voice Patrician in house. That version of the Patrician uses both 18 and 12 inch woofers. The winning bidder will also receive a copy of a very interesting two-page letter from the president of JBL, William H. Thomas, to Mr. Fisher. In the letter, which is dated February 23, 1970, Mr. Thomas writes about the system being assembled and tested. Noted studio design expert and JBL Technical Service Manager George Augspurger was mentioned in the letter and apparently was in charge of overseeing this order from Mr. Fisher. There are virtually no "comps" to go by. Therefore, my opening bid amount is my estimation of the minimum value of this speaker, based on sound quality and rarity. Remember, it's for pick-up only in the New York Metro area. I’m about 40 miles north of NYC. I have never seen another C55 for sale and obviously, they are ultra-rare. Especially in a wood (walnut) veneer finish! Thank you.

[glen]

It's interesting this was equipped with a pair of the D140-R bass guitar musical instrument speakers, not some of the hifi woofers.