Dad’s DIY Paragons make the move…

[DanMan]

So I have “warm-handed” inherited the family Paragons; dad is (still luckily) on his kick about it being: “better to give with a warm hand… than a cold one”.

I can’t share in that… as luckily no dependents have come knocking on my door, unexpected or otherwise

But something that all of us here JBL-nuts may share … ‘hearing loss’ in our {hopefully much} later years. Dad’s new speakers fit entirely behind his ears, and play to 145 DECIBELS! He also tries to limit climbing stairs, which is where the Paragons were for the last 25 years, slowly becoming the last thing to be disconnected where they sat still for the last 10 years (but they still ‘looked’ like they were speeding!;-).


This pair was built by dad himself from around 1969-1974 (hey - cut him some slack, he doesn’t afford any to himself lol; he was building a house at the same time which he designed these around!).

Dad also had great vision in his hey-hey-hey-days envisioning a day when a big screen tv would be affordable, and in color ... which he wanted to place in the center, with R+L Paragons flanking… ya know .. like normal stereophonics ?! So he gets on his letter-writing campaign with JBL and proceeds to design his own plans, while working with JBL folks and their plans, to be R+L halves. That’s the most striking difference anyway in these Paragons … but hey if you’re open to changing *that* … go bonkers right?? (..or maybe that's another one of my genetic inheritances :-0)

These both use the LE15A… and so after removing a back panel and woofer, we found the surround to be harder than good ole American drywall… not that cheap toxic Chinese stuff… though really... what’s in this magical 'lansoloy' compound, with its type-of-rubber-that-never-wears-out-given-proper-lubrication!??? ... More magical JBL sorcery !!?!!! Hey these JBL speakers go SOOOOO fast … you need to apply brake fluid to them… and regularly !!! lolz. That Is Awesome!

So a couple starter questions as I’m trying to revive these obese babies:

1. is the brake fluid still the ‘solution’?? I scoured and finally found this post, which it seems to be the penultimate guide to the application of braking fluid to lansaloy surrounds:??
   (is this in fact ‘the one’, and still ‘applicable’ to the LE15A?) somebody mentioned to only DOT 3 and that Ford was best??
   
   http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...14A-and-others

1. what’s the good word on using “other” woofers in Paragon(s) or something the size and brea(d)th of the Paragon woofer enclosure with big horns on the other side? I tried an old & sorta tired 2231A in one enclosure, unfort the other 2231A has beaten its last non-metallic-sounding breath. I can’t make any real ‘loud’ comparisons … because the right half is still stuck, between a magnet and hard place (Until I get in there and brake it!) So go bonkers here… I know every time I see a 15” opening … I think of stuffing a W15GTi MkII in it and plugging it straight to the wall! So .. What’s in your Paragons??? Or ya know, what else could be fitting for in there??

Thx.
Any feedback / hyperlinks very much appreciated! (pics, yes, I know .. I need to search for stuff)

[BMWCCA]

Congratulations on your acquisition. I'm looking forward to your photos! Pictures of the house, too??

I work with brake fluid every day, but in its original purpose and application: vehicular brakes. We keep it sealed and away from everything else. It is one of the world's best unintentional paint removers. I can't imagine it ever returning your surrounds to the original durometer intended by the designers. If they were mine I would simply have the surrounds replaced with conventional foam surrounds. I'm sure someone can suggest a replacement driver such as the 2234 or 2235 but I can't see that you have anything to lose by trying a simple re-surround first.

[frank23]

I have the big Olympus set, which is the same as the Paragon set, and I have chosen to get them together again first with a pair of 2235's I have and leave the hardened LE15's as they are for now so to make no decisions I can't come back to.

[hjames]

Sounds very cool, and we'd love to know more ...

But, as the old saw goes ..

So I have “warm-handed” inherited the family Paragons; dad is (still luckily) on his kick about it being: “better to give with a warm hand… than a cold one”.

I can’t share in that… as luckily no dependents have come knocking on my door, unexpected or otherwise

But something that all of us here JBL-nuts may share … ‘hearing loss’ in our {hopefully much} later years. Dad’s new speakers fit entirely behind his ears, and play to 145 DECIBELS! He also tries to limit climbing stairs, which is where the Paragons were for the last 25 years, slowly becoming the last thing to be disconnected where they sat still for the last 10 years (but they still ‘looked’ like they were speeding!;-).


This pair was built by dad himself from around 1969-1974 (hey - cut him some slack, he doesn’t afford any to himself lol; he was building a house at the same time which he designed these around!).

Dad also had great vision in his hey-hey-hey-days envisioning a day when a big screen tv would be affordable, and in color ... which he wanted to place in the center, with R+L Paragons flanking… ya know .. like normal stereophonics ?! So he gets on his letter-writing campaign with JBL and proceeds to design his own plans, while working with JBL folks and their plans, to be R+L halves. That’s the most striking difference anyway in these Paragons … but hey if you’re open to changing *that* … go bonkers right?? (..or maybe that's another one of my genetic inheritances :-0)


Thx.
Any feedback / hyperlinks very much appreciated! (pics, yes, I know .. I need to search for stuff)

[DanMan]

I can't find the pics from the first house. I was trying to picture teenage girls moreso in those days

They were designed into a sort-of horn enclosure in the basement, it basically extended under the staircase; which barely fit the tv, the paragons and some equipment. Most of my pics were pointed the other direction towards the pull out couch and the girls in their pj's. I'm headed back to Houston and will scour for pics to scan from those days and during construction.

Dad bro & me all taking a construction break, some of us just napping apparently.



This was after their 80's styled upgrades, restain, and new room for them.



(Left)



(Right)



The bottom trim is a skirt which conceals the awesome (1970's-grade) 6" casters. You can push these speakers around on the carpet with a finger or two.

[DanMan]

Rear 2-L60T surrounds, 1-L20T rear center
Dad bought the theater chairs for $1 each during a Houston theater demolition. He sandblasted, re-cushioned, re-stitched and built the elevated-bleachers with center control tower for lighting and screen controls.



Center



Moving Day:

[Rolf]

This is NOT a Paragon.

Rolf

I can't find the pics from the first house. I was trying to picture teenage girls moreso in those days

They were designed into a sort-of horn enclosure in the basement, it basically extended under the staircase; which barely fit the tv, the paragons and some equipment. Most of my pics were pointed the other direction towards the pull out couch and the girls in their pj's. I'm headed back to Houston and will scour for pics to scan from those days and during construction.

Dad bro & me all taking a construction break, some of us just napping apparently.



This was after their 80's styled upgrades, restain, and new room for them.



(Left)



(Right)



The bottom trim is a skirt which conceals the awesome (1970's-grade) 6" casters. You can push these speakers around on the carpet with a finger or two.

[ivica]

This is NOT a Paragon.

Rolf

http://www.audioheritage.org/images/...ts/section.jpg
http://www.audioheritage.org/html/pr...bl/paragon.htm

regards
ivica

[BMWCCA]

This is NOT a Paragon.

Everyone understands that and yet we are still intrigued by the industrious ingenuity of the builder and his progeny's continuing affair with his creation. Nothing beats fond memories of our earlier generations, especially while they're still around to see us enjoying their efforts.

[SEAWOLF97]

This is NOT a Paragon.

Rolf

granted ..so call it a PIJBLDCS" (paragon inspired JBL driven custom system) or Paragonish or even just Paragon ... who cares ? it the heritage and inspiration and bond between generations that matter, not a name.

[Mr. Widget]

granted ..so call it a PIJBLDCS" (paragon inspired JBL driven custom system) or Paragonish or even just Paragon ... who cares ? it the heritage and inspiration and bond between generations that matter, not a name.

Absolutely... technically it may not be an exact clone of a Paragon, but who cares... it is an heirloom and absolutely Lansing Heritage!



Widget

[pathfindermwd]

This is NOT a Paragon.

Rolf

The thread clearly state's: Dad's DIY Paragons. Nothing DIY can truly be sold as the real thing. The story and pics are the real gem here.

[Maron Horonzakz]

I,m always interested to see variations on Paragon design,,This one has posibilities of continuating driver upgrades.

[hjames]

Very nice work - looks like a nice heirloom to have
and a great way to always remember your dad!

[Audiobeer]

I've read quite a few posts here on the board but this one is at tops of my list. Love the history and love the fact your Dad wanted to give them up while he's still around. Just great history and thanks for sharing!