1962 JBL Speaker ID Help Wanted Please

[Gunnerguy]

Hello,

I was cleaning out my dad's apartment and found a pair of beautiful JBL speakers but can't find out any info about them. Someone suggested these are a custom built speaker using JBL components because there are no markings on the cabinet.

These have D-130 15" Signature speakers 16 Ohms serial number 55352 & 55590, the smaller speaker model 075 16 Ohm are serial number 29718 & 30710 and the N2600 16 & 32 Ohm controller are serial number 11667 & 11668 and are dated March 27, 1962.

The cabinets are 3/4 plywood with a beautiful and thick walnut veneer. 24" h x 20" w x 18" deep. Whoever built the cabinets was either a professional furniture maker, master carpenter or are factory JBL because the quality, workmanship and attention to detail is spectacular. They have some minor scratches and a 1/4" triangle nick in the wood, but the walnut is in excellent condition.

All of the speakers are in mint original condition, I played them for 10 min and they sound incredible, but I live on a boat and have no use for them. I took the speakers out of the cabinet to photograph them, I didn't touch them because didn't want to do something stupid to damage them.

I'd appreciate any info about these.

Thanks Ray

[Riley Casey]

It was pretty common in the 1950s - 60s to buy components for JBL designed speaker systems and build custom cabinets for them from JBL plans. This combo was I believe called a C38. Not the best looking build internally but certainly nice finish and in good shape.

[edgewound]

Hello,

I was cleaning out my dad's apartment and found a pair of beautiful JBL speakers but can't find out any info about them. Someone suggested these are a custom built speaker using JBL components because there are no markings on the cabinet.

These have D-130 15" Signature speakers 16 Ohms serial number 55352 & 55590, the smaller speaker model 075 16 Ohm are serial number 29718 & 30710 and the N2600 16 & 32 Ohm controller are serial number 11667 & 11668 and are dated March 27, 1962.

The cabinets are 3/4 plywood with a beautiful and thick walnut veneer. 24" h x 20" w x 18" deep. Whoever built the cabinets was either a professional furniture maker, master carpenter or are factory JBL because the quality, workmanship and attention to detail is spectacular. They have some minor scratches and a 1/4" triangle nick in the wood, but the walnut is in excellent condition.

All of the speakers are in mint original condition, I played them for 10 min and they sound incredible, but I live on a boat and have no use for them. I took the speakers out of the cabinet to photograph them, I didn't touch them because didn't want to do something stupid to damage them.

I'd appreciate any info about these.

Thanks RayAttachment 88816Attachment 88817Attachment 88818Attachment 88819

My condolences if your dad has recently passed.

The components are an 030 system, installed in custom, non-factory enclosures.

The Library has the brochure from 1962. I have this same brochure a customer gave me 30 years ago.

http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/...alogs/1962.htm

[BMWCCA]

Of course Edgewound is correct. My guess is the cabinets were built to house just the D130 which was common for the era. The 075 was often used to "upgrade" the D130 and together they made up the 030 system. The D130 was considered a full-range speaker and the 075 was often added later, which seems to be the case here since they didn't even leave enough room on the baffle to mount it properly and just stuffed it in the duct.

A system I know a bit about since I still have my Dad's which he bought new in 1957.

[Doctor_Electron]

Of course Edgewound is correct. My guess is the cabinets were built to house just the D130 which was common for the era. The 075 was often used to "upgrade" the D130 and together they made up the 030 system. The D130 was considered a full-range speaker and the 075 was often added later, which seems to be the case here since they didn't even leave enough room on the baffle to mount it properly and just stuffed it in the duct.

A system I know a bit about since I still have my Dad's which he bought new in 1957.

Back when those drivers were new, quality empty cabinets were available from outfits such as Allied, Lafayette, Olson, Burnstein-Applebee, and probably others.

The mounting of the bullet tweeter over the port area IMO says the cabinet was not built to house these specific drivers, since making a hole for the bullet tweeter at the time of building the cabinet would have been a small task compared to that of cutting out the woofer opening and the opening of the port.

I think the probability of the drivers and crossover having been purchased as a set is higher than that of someone putting just a D130 in a cabinet by itself.

But... ?

[BMWCCA]

I think the probability of the drivers and crossover having been purchased as a set is higher than that of someone putting just a D130 in a cabinet by itself.

But... ?

Nearly every JBL catalog from the '50s speaks about the D130 as an "extended range" loudspeaker which can be used on its own "for full-bodied performance" or "at any time" adding the LE175DLH or the 075 to "make a perfectly balanced 2-way system with even greater clarity and brilliance".

It's possible!