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Thread: Toploader Hartsfield Project

  1. #1
    Senior Moment Member Oldmics's Avatar
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    Toploader Hartsfield Project

    Just thought I would post a few pics on the Hartsfield toploader project that has been going on in my life for years now.

    Its still slowly coming together.
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  2. #2
    Administrator Robh3606's Avatar
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    Very Nice!! So how many years you have left on it or are you getting close??

    Rob

  3. #3
    Senior Moment Member Oldmics's Avatar
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    Jig for Production of Toploaders

    Most of the time involved has been consumed by the reverse engineering of the original cabinet design.

    Since the original plans are long gone its been quite a journey to get the production jig this far which is almost done.

    Probably another month or two till the jig (pictured) is compleate and then I can start bangin em out.

    I"ll post pics of the first finished pair when compleated.

    Oldmics

  4. #4
    Senior Member 57BELAIRE's Avatar
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    Very nice! What component lineup are you planning to use. Three-way?

  5. #5
    Senior Member spkrman57's Avatar
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    Great project oldmics!

    Thanks for sharing with us.

    I will be watching this thread as it progresses.

    Regards, Ron
    JBL Pro for home use!

  6. #6
    Bruno GINARD
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    Wonderful job........ for the first time i can see and understand the differences between the two models...

    Absolutely not the same speakers.. Are you going to compare the sound of this "top loader" and the 1959 model ?

    REgards

  7. #7
    Senior Moment Member Oldmics's Avatar
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    The reproduction Toploaders will be a two way system loaded with original JBL componets from the original era of Hartsfield production for testing purposes.

    I have a buncha original 150-4C speakers,original N 500 crossovers and the 375 "humpback" drivers with wax seals.

    While I will not be able to do a side by side comparision and offer test data of the reproduction toploader v/s the coffin back style cabinets,I already know that the Toploader is superior in its bass reproduction.

    It will be interesting to hear the differences (if any) between 50+ year old "seasoned" lumber and the new wood.

    Lumber choice was a critical decision to duplicate the original cavity resonance.

    I have owned many Hartsfields of both styles and in my experience the longer horn path of the Toploaders produced better sounding bass.

    Bruno-please note the exponential horn flair mockup trace lines on the sides of the unfinished center cavity in the first picture.It will give a Hartsfield builder such as yourself the rest of the construction picture.

    So its a "work in progress"

    Thanks for the comments,Oldmics

  8. #8
    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
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    Wow... they really are going to happen!

    Congratulations!!!


    Widget

  9. #9
    Senior Moment Member Oldmics's Avatar
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    Fin

    Been a lengthy project
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  10. #10
    Senior Member louped garouv's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oldmics View Post
    Been a lengthy project
    VERY cool one though!

    I hear the term 'toploader'
    does the woofer load through the top cabinet section,
    underneath where the serpentine horn/lens assembly would be?

    interesting note about wood species selection to get the 'right' resonance
    going!

  11. #11
    Senior Moment Member Oldmics's Avatar
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    Toploader Cavity Exposed

    Speaker does load in from under the top horizontal surface
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  12. #12
    Senior Member Woofer's Avatar
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    Not very often do you get to see the insides of a work in progress.
    Thanx heaps for the pics.
    Great workmanship.

    BTW, what sort of glue did you use? I was just wondering if you stayed with tradition and used 'hot pot' glue, or something more current? (eg 'white' glue)
    .... and if I can ask one more question, what are you finishing off the cabs with? Wax? Shellac? Varnish? or again, something current.

    Cheers.
    I might be deaf, but I can still hear da bells! (Quasimodo)
    .... Oh, and the Kick Drum.

  13. #13
    Senior Member Val's Avatar
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    Beautiful work!

  14. #14
    Senior Member jcrobso's Avatar
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    Thumbs up WOW, they look terffic!!!

    Yes a long project, your first post was over two years ago>
    FYI: currently on eBay.
    http://cgi.ebay.com/Early-JBL-Hartsf...item2c589444f8
    If you can remain calm in a crises, you don't understand the situation!

  15. #15
    Senior Member tom1356's Avatar
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    They are beautiful.
    Well done sir. You copied a '54 I see.

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