Can anyone send me a photo of an original C1 (1958) radio speaker. I want to know what to look for in case I come acroos one that is still usable. Thank you.
-
-
Re: C1 Original Radio Speaker
Find some pictures here:
greetings,
Rob.Rob.
NCRS Dutch Chapter Founder & Board Member
NCRS Software Developer
C1, C2 and C3 Registry Developer -
Re: C1 Original Radio Speaker
Thanks Rob, I really appreciate the photos!!Comment
-
Re: C1 Original Radio Speaker
Those pix's all look correct for the '68-61 version of the speaker. Note the transformer is mounted vertically on the speaker frame and has a 'clip' on the top center for one lead wire to plug in to. There were subsequent versions of the speaker (all downward compatible) that began to come on stream in '62 and later and these had various 'improvements' that are visually detectable. The biggest change was a different mounting scheme for the transformer that made it attach to the speaker frame in a horizontal position apparently to increase under dash clearance space.
One thing that's 'funny' is the apparent discrepancy in PN's for the different versions of the Corvette speaker. Maybe Joe Lucia can enlighten us with a parts history dissertation!
Service replacement speakers listed in the Chevrolet Parts and Accessory catalogs differ from what's listed in AIM books + Delco's Radio Service books. Instead of calling out the speaker with its Delco PN (7xxxxx series) it appears Chevrolet PN's (9xxxxx) are listed. Is this because the service version of the speaker was packed in an individual box instead of being delivered in bulk on a skid?
Next, the first version of the speaker, as shown in Rob's pix, is called out as 7270428 in my Delco books while it's shown as 7270423 in various AIM books. Is this a typo from Chevy drafting in the AIM books or was there a real difference/distinction?
My Delco Radio books say the speaker changed to 7281141 in 1962, but I've yet to see one of these critters...
For '63 to '67, my two AIM books ('65 and '67) call out 7282156 for the speaker. This is at odds from what's listed in my '63-65 Delco Radio books. They all say the speaker was PN 7282256. Is this another documentation error or were there really different versions of the 'same' speaker?Comment
-
Why look for
one that's "usable"? I had the speaker in my '55, a one year only item, reconed. I dunno if it sounds better than new, since I was an infant at the time, but it sure sounds better than in my memory. It was a lot cheaper than buying a rare speaker, and looks great, too. All you really need is the correct frame.Comment
-
Re: Why look for
Hello Dave, who recones the speakers?Comment
-
Jeepers, now
that was at Carlisle like, ten years ago, maybe more. Took my speaker to a vendor there, he put a new cone in it in the time it took me to eat lunch. Rather than spend a lotta time looking for the receipt, I just Googled "auto speaker recone".
Comment
-
Re: Why look for
Wouldn't it fail during operation check then due to it sound quality being over-restored??? ;-)Rob.
NCRS Dutch Chapter Founder & Board Member
NCRS Software Developer
C1, C2 and C3 Registry DeveloperComment
-
As Chevy's
flagship car, the Corvette had the best radio offered. The speaker would have been the best available, which admittely by today's standards is not so great. However, the reconing I have seen is virtually identical to the original cone, i.e., black cardboard. These old radios sound pretty good, if you have a decent speaker, and a decent local AM radio station.Comment
-
Speaker reconing services are...
all over the country. Fire up your Google search engine and you'll probably find somebody in your neck of the woods doing the work. Prices vary considerably from $25 to $100+ for a standard 6x9.
Plus, you have these issues:
(1) Does the service include 'restoring' the speaker frame? Most leave 'em in as received condition while some knock off major rust and spritz with silver paint to retard rust and present nice cosmetics.
(2) Does the service include replacement of the speaker's lip gasket? Auto manufacturers used a 'trick' to improve bass response by installing a thick gasket on the outer 'lip' of the speaker. This allowed the speaker to gently vibrate against its mounting surface and make that surface (typically the dash) vibrate to provide increased bass response.
(3) Does the service include cheese cloth? Factory original speakers had black cloth installed over the speaker cone to thwart foreign particulate matter from dropping through the speaker grille and 'rattling' against the cone...Comment
-
Re: Why look for
Google "Wonderbar Man" or "Tony Mac at Crutchfield". Tony Mac did mine (1953) for about $150.Comment
Comment