LE-15-30 Mystery

[hmolwitz]

I came across a cast frame 15 inch speaker with no manufacturer name whatsover. All it has is MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in the frame casting and block printed LE-15-30 on the strut and 6-8 ohms at the terminals. It has a fat, grey pancake shape alnico magnet fastened with a nickel plated steel strap and three 3/8" steel studs and a brass vent screen on the back. The voice coil is 2 1/2" with a pointed dust cap. The surround is part of the molded paper cone with a thick felt gasket. The frame casting also has a nifty carrying handle. The only thing we cannot figure out is who made this beauty.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Harry

[spkrman57]

Might better help the identification process.

Ron

[hmolwitz]

I shrank it a bit more.

[johnaec]

The front shows up for me in the first post.

John

[Don C]

The magnet housing looks like a Jensen. The number stamped at the edge looks kind of Jensen-ish too.

[Steve Schell]

Hi Harry,

You have a very nice driver there. It was made by Cinaudagraph in the late 1930s or early 1940s. I found the LE-15-30 listed in their 1942 catalog. Below is a scan of the page. Your driver is listed second from the bottom.

These Cinaudagraphs are excellent, heavy, high quality speakers. Rudy Bozak was their chief speaker engineer in those days. Here's a link to another thread where I rhapsodized about Mr. Bozak recently:

http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=9674

Cinaudagraph made a rather remarkable 27" full range (!) driver in those days. Check out its shipping weight in the description.

**Edit** I just noticed that the catalog listing shows the LE-15-30 as a field coil driver. Hmmm. Yours obviously is not, it has their humongous "Magic Magnet" permanent magnet motor.

[hmolwitz]

You have an amazing wealth of information about the history of this field.
This was found in an unattractive homemade ported cabinet in a basement. There was a 10" in a similar cabinet with a similar cone also marked "Made in USA" but no other markings at all.
It is not as nice as the 15, but it likely is from these guys as well.
Bozak was located in Norwalk which is right nearby so there may well be a connection there.
After a bit of research I found out that Cinaudagraph was located in Stamford where I found this speaker.
Thanks
Harry

13667

13668

13669

[Flodstroem]

Steve Schell:

Cinaudagraph made a rather remarkable 27" full range (!) driver in those days. Check out its shipping weight in the description.


600lbs??!! Nearly the weight of a Paragon, :jawdrop:
A stereo pair including a center channel, well you had to secure your floor from collapsing.

Regards

[Regis]

Steve Schell:


600lbs??!! Nearly the weight of a Paragon, :jawdrop:
A stereo pair including a center channel, well you had to secure your floor from collapsing.

Regards


I want a pair for the house! I've got some furniture rearranging to do, so I can paint the room. It would be like those vintage electric vibrating football games.

[phubbard]

hey guys. you seem to all know a lot about cinaudagraph. i have an incredible 12inch version housed in J H Dallmeyer cases. they really are beautiful but i cannot find anything about them. they say fb-12-12. and i know j h dallmeyer was an optician, but he also had many many patents and worked with the military a bit too. If anyone knows of anything to help me i would very much appreciate it. ive been researching for weeks now. 7353373534735357353673537

[Steve Schell]

Phubbard you have some genuine "Magic Magnet" Cinaudagraphs, late 1930s to early 1940s. With the long cables and utility boxes, they would have been originally supplied with film projector(s). If they are still in decent shape I'll bet they sound surprisingly good.

[phubbard]

Steve. I cannot thank you enough for that information. I have been searching for months and months. Do you know a value?