I am doing a little research out of curiosity to answer some questions I always had… and found your most excellent site, dudes.
Well, what I have had all these years is one JIM LANSING Signature MODEL (L in the circle) 130A 15" loudspeaker. S/N 12807. The name and serial number seem to date it around 1950. It has a paper--not Duralumin dust cap. The cone is in very good condition and well aged by now. I have never reconed it. Don't know if it was reconed before I got it. Back side of cone has stamps 180 20 (twice). Wait a minute--there is another stamp 180 200 crossed out in pencil. Factory part number change? Or offbrand recone? And even a 6 written in pencil. The QC stamp on frame appears to be 1B1 with a faint 2 below it in the circle. It has a cork baffle gasket. Unfortunately, condition is not mint. Some of the frame gray finish has pitting. The magnet cover dust may clean up with a toothbrush. I will be getting photos soon if you would like to see. I have found it quite good for vintage tube to 80's transistor amps for hifi and think it would be fine for PA if not abused.
Am I on the right track? Is it the original cone? Is it the same design and specs of a 50's D130? What are the specs? What rigs was it used in? Is it a really good guitar or bass driver? What guitar amp cab would be best? I might use it for an extension cab unit if the right match came along. Is it more of collector interest vs. a player?
Is it for sale? Isn't everything? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Then I could factually represent it on eBay or your marketplace or ???
Thanx a bunch, Martin W.
If you care to know… I originally bought it at a flea market for a ridiculously low price. I was an audio tech in the 80's who knew of the D130 series but surmised this "L" model 130A was a bargain consumer series or some cheap OEM special. We didn't do speaker work at Western Radio Lab in Mountain View CA. Mostly Macintosh & B&O warranties, all Century Stereo service and walkins. I started as the Dual turntable specialist because their changer mechanisms drove the other techs nuts. (Does anybody know Henry Pollack? He was my boss/mentor/expert on magnetic tape recording.) It was in a homemade corner cabinet with a University mid horn/xover and Jensen high horn/xover as yet unidentified. That may be another question to post later.
Needless to say, I bought it anyway. This unit has been used in my home as a 3-way center channel stereo speaker for the last, oh, twenty something years. I have gotten newer sound equipment--which will not need such a monster. So I no longer have a use for it. No, I will not sell my 1984 Altec Lansing 312 stereo speakers relegated to the game room. They make my Pioneer SX-650 sound great. Best setup was in another house suspended from the gabled ceiling angled down to ear level. They rode out the Loma Prieta earthquake no problema on 4 600 lb. nylon straps clipped to the baffles with my custom engineering. (The cabin survived with only 1" shift of the post foundation.) They would fall off the garden pot stands now but should survive except for grill damage. Just not suited to digital recordings through a Marantz Dolby 5.1 AV amp. Am happy with the Boston 965s for that. They work well for my corner placement environment and don't mind the odd geometry and R/A room characteristics. Some people hate the pointed screwy feet--but they are perfect for leveling one on a rock hearth and other on carpet.
BuBye