I just acquired what I thought was a C36 Viscount with the 030 System (D130, 075, N2600) with serial numbers indicating 1957-59 according to LHS Registry. But, I have some questions about the age of the cabinet (I only got one - which may be a clue to the age). I am not sure if it is the D208 Enclosure shown in the 1951 catalogue, a late 50s C36, or non-factory built cabinet. Legs are sculpted wood - not straight turned legs, but are probably replacement as they are plywood (perhaps birch) with no edge banding. They are installed with gluing dowels that look somewhat modern, and the screw holes in the legs were never used, as there are no corresponding holes in the bottom of the cabinet. Cabinet veneer appears to be mahogany; grille slides in from underneath, and appears to be in an aluminum frame (I have not attempted to remove the grille), there is a Signature logo badge in the lower right corner. There do not appear to be any identifying markings, badges, or SN on the cabinet. Back is removable, drivers are mounted from the inside of the baffle board.
I was going to put on a set of after-market aluminum legs from alpha furnishings, but there are no holes for four individual legs - I am reluctant to drill into it. So, Lansing Heritage gurus, what is it? Here are some more clues:
Why I think the cabinet could be a D208 (or whatever the pre-C36 was called in the 1951 catalogue): the dimensions match exactly, including the depth which was listed at 15 13/16 in the 1951 catalogue only, rather than 15 7/8 for later C36 cabinet -- I checked it several times, but, it is only a 1/16” difference.
It could be an early C36, before the individual (wood with metal end) legs were used - these first show up in the 1955 catalogue, but the sculpted legs are shown in the 1952 catalogue as a "C36 General Enclosure". Aluminum legs were later.
Or it could be a DIY built to original JBL plans. I am not familiar with the particulars of JBL factory cabinet construction of this era. All plywood, and there are nails (yes nails) holding the bottom on, and there are angle glue blocks with staples on the inside corners - is this how it was done at the factory? Veneer looks factory. There are no identifying markings, SN, or badges on the cabinet.
Now for the drivers, 16 ohm D130 SN is 30419. 075 is also 16 ohm SN 11705, finally the crossover is an N2600 (with the impedance selector switch for 16/32 ohms), SN 3096. According to the LHS Registry, all three components date between 1957 and 1959. If the cabinet is from the early 50s, were all components replaced in the late 50’s – seems like a long shot.
Oh, almost forgot, it works and sounds great, and was on Craigslist only 3 miles from my house!! Also included was a Rek-o-kut L-37 turntable with 16-inch tone arm, wired mono, which I think dates from 1956, which is in keeping with the age of the drivers. The turntable is mounted to a flimsy board out of a console, which supposedly the JBL was the external speaker for - I did not see the console, so cannot verify this, and could be false info, but it could be a clue as to why there is only one.
So JBL detectives, what do I have? A super early "pre C36" cabinet with (likely) newer drivers? A late 50s C36 with earlier style replacement legs? or something else? Is there a resident expert on this vintage cabinet?
If these are early and did have the sculpted legs, any idea where I can get a template, or good photos, so I can reproduce them in solid mahogany? Or should I just drill 4 holes and put on the repro legs? Any info on where to drill the holes for the legs?
I look forward to your responses.
If I don’t get much activity, I may repost this this thread on AudioKarma, where my handle is SabreFencer.
Lansing collection: JBL L44 (2 pair), Home built S12 system, 4311WXA, L26, L15; Altec 887A
C36,