Early '58 Speaker Assembly

[Don E.]

I am interesting in sourcing an original speaker assembly for a '58 Corvette wtih a birth date of December 1st. '57. Can anyone provide a source for information on the description, ink pad stamping, and other descriptions for the speaker assembly.

As reference, I have located an assembly on e-bay with the following #s on the speaker coil 72811411 (preceeded by a triagle), and 466224.

Any idea if this is the correct speaker for my application?

Don

[Jack H.]

Re: Early '58 Speaker Assembly

The Delco 7281141 is downward compatible with the factory original speaker used in '58-60 Corvettes. It's actually factory 'correct' for '62 and later cars.

The difference lies in the exact geometry of the matching transformer components that are installed on the speaker's frame. A savvy judge can look up with a mirror/flashlight and see the difference(s) and should render an opinion of it being a 'service replacement' speaker for the car...

Back in '58 there were two speakers defined for Chevy's Wonderbar system. The 7270423 (some evidence says 7270428) was the 'Corvette' version of the speaker while 7270531 was the passenger car version. What's the difference?

Little and nothing that can be detected under tranditional judging scrutiny. The two speakers are IDENTICAL in all respects except for their physical mounting.

Corvette had metal posts on the speaker grille that went through the upper dash and through slightly enlongated holes in the speaker at its four corners. Speed nuts bite onto the speaker grill posts to tighten the speaker up flush to the bottom side of the dash.

The passenger car version of the speaker had four smaller holes at the corners that were drilled/tapped. Simple machine screws threaded through the top side of the dash to 'suck' the speaker up against the dash. Then, the passenger car version of the speaker grille was snapped over the the top side dash and held in place with separate screws.

A passenger car speaker from the era is child's play to 'convert' to a Corvette speaker by simply enlarging the drilled/tapped mounting holes to allow the posts of the Corvette speaker grille through. Once speed nuts installed on the grille posts they completely hide the mounting hole modification(s). The balance of the speaker that's visible is 100% identical to an original 'Corvette' unit...

Specifically, the 7281141 speaker has its matching transformer installed onto the speaker frame in a horizontal position while the original 7270423 or '428 part stood the transformer in a vertical plane. Plus, the early verions of the transformer was obviously 'center tapped' via a discrete 'clip on' wire and the surrounding filter circuit components differed slightly.

[Don E.]

Re: Early '58 Speaker Assembly

Jack, Thank you for the detailed response. Not only was it very insightful, you saved me from a bad purchase.

Don

[Stewart A.]

Re: Early '58 Speaker Assembly

I think I might know someone with one for sale. Let me ask him the question ! Stewy

[Don E.]

Re: Early '58 Speaker Assembly

Stewy, Thank you for checking and letting me know.

Don