Remy Bosio
Uber Curmudgeon
Reged: 03/02/04
Posts: 13038
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I haven't posted anything on this forum in a while mainly due to Katrina and it's aftermath plus photography persuits.
I did want to share this though with the group and possibly get some information on what I have here.
Today, I went to the grand re-opening of my local Good Will store. It had been devastated and recently rebuilt.
I was looking around when my eye caught a couple of loudspeakers sitting in a corner. I looked at them and noticed they had the name Wharfedale on them. I took them out (supremely heavy) and looked at the backs which had dual tuning pots and real good binding posts. The grilles were perfect as well as the woodwork. I asked how much and they told me $11.99 a pair. With my senior citizen discount of 15% and tax the final cost was $11.05. I thought that was pretty good for what I believe is a quality name.
I took them home to the garage and went to cleaning and inspecting them further. The cones,surrounds and other hardware look as new. They have a pink "see through" tweeter. After a little furniture oil, I connected them to a test amp. to see if they played. Man, they sound great! They are clear sounding and seem to be at their best when carrying classical music. I find the sound somewhat different to what I am used to but nontheless, pleasing crisp sound! I mounted them in my bookcases on either side of my fireplace in the den. They have a wonderful sound presence and look good too.
Any technical information on these will be much appreciated!
See inset:
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Life Member: Pontchartrain Ast. Soc.
Member: Baton Rouge Ast. Soc.
President: Beachview Heights Civ.Assn.
Member:Kenner Rivertown Advisory Comm.
Member At Large: Jefferson Amateur Radio Club
Call Sign:N5VEG
Registered Curmudgeon
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Suk Lee
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 4534
Loc: Pleasanton, CA
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I don't know much about those specific speakers, but Wharfdale is a quality, and venerable, British brand. The wood bar across the grills tickles my memory - I think those are early/mid 80's speakers.
In any case, you got a HECK of a deal!
Cheers,
Suk
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Suk Lee
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 4534
Loc: Pleasanton, CA
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So while we're on the subject of cheap fun, in my continuing quest to Sonos-ify every room in my house, I dragged out some old Realistic Optimus Pro LX-5's
http://stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/695ratshack/
http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/archive/perl/454_printreview.htm
http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=rslx_m.html
I had bought on sale for $200 many many years ago and put them and a Sonos CP-100 in my 5-year old's room. They have the Linaeum "foil/coil" tweeter and were a bit of an underground rave 10 years back (I think Ken Kessler had 5 of them in an el-cheapo but satisfying surround sound system).
I hooked them up to the 50-watt amp/player and they sound actually quite tasty, particularly on female voice and piano.
If you find these in a garage sale they're a fun buy.
Cheers,
Suk
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StarWars
Mr. Postmaster Man
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 22112
Loc: Frost Byte Falls <>
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Remy the bargain hunter.....
nice buy on the Wharfs
http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/home.php
you can buy wharfedale at amazon.com !!!!
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Dell Axim X5 400Mhz
PPC pocket stars 5.12
7x35/10x50/15x70 Bino's
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StarWars
Mr. Postmaster Man
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 22112
Loc: Frost Byte Falls <>
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Remy
post a photo of the speaker box rear..... 
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Dell Axim X5 400Mhz
PPC pocket stars 5.12
7x35/10x50/15x70 Bino's
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Powerstar888
sage
Reged: 03/01/05
Posts: 342
Loc: Tucson,Az
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Remy, good luck with your new find.
I hope they give you many hours of listening enjoyment.
Here is a inexpensive speaker that is getting a lot of
attention on Audio Asylum.
Best Buy is having a sale on them.
Best Buy..Insignia™ 6-1/2" Bass-Reflex Bookshelf Speakers...$34.99 a pair
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Robert
12.5 f4.8 truss dob
with Argo Navis
C11 SGT/XLT
C8
Orion 20x80
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Remy Bosio
Uber Curmudgeon
Reged: 03/02/04
Posts: 13038
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Thanks Suk/Powerstar!
I just finished listening to Prokofiev's 7th. symphony on them and they are very colorful and not too heavy on the bass end. I mostly listen to orchestral music so they will work well for me.
Gee Starwars, you really want me to lift those boogers up again! It was a task to jostle them into the bookcase. Hey I'm old and got a lot of mileage! I can describe it for you. It appears to be 1" particle board and mounted flush with the walnut? cabinet. In the upper third, there is the pots and the terminals. Other than a bunch of flush mount screws, nothing else to see. Here's a pic with them in their final resting place...hopefully. 
PS. I have never seen a tweeter like the kind that's hung on these! It's "Pink" or perhaps was at one time Purple or some derivitave of same. Seems like the woofer (12"?) has a really thick surround material sort of like mil spec. rubber. Did Wharfedale make battleship gun turret rubber during WW-2? 
I know, the audio source is a POS, but it's just a tester. Will replace with a more vintage unit tomorrow. I'm tired now.
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Life Member: Pontchartrain Ast. Soc.
Member: Baton Rouge Ast. Soc.
President: Beachview Heights Civ.Assn.
Member:Kenner Rivertown Advisory Comm.
Member At Large: Jefferson Amateur Radio Club
Call Sign:N5VEG
Registered Curmudgeon
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 19246
Loc: Brooker, FL
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Wharfdales used to have (as I suspect these do) "UK Coloration". In the '60s and early '70s, Wharfdales were considered medium-end - not too efficient, not too accurate, but satisfying (just as you've concluded!)
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N11GPS Fastar//TOA-130S//MK66 Std//AT6RC//Vintage C5//Megrez II 80mm APO//SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II//Sirius EQ-G
Too Many Astro-Cameras//Mallincam Color Hyper Plus
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Casey and Nelson
Lot 19 Deerlick Astronomy Village (Canis Major)
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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Remy Bosio
Uber Curmudgeon
Reged: 03/02/04
Posts: 13038
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You're absolutely right Cap'n Rusty! They have a reserved sound, clear and not much bass unless you induce it yourself electronically. They are pleasant to listen to vocals and orchestral music with but not good for throbbing R&R.
I did a little research on Wharfedale's history today and found a couple of interesting things. The company was founded in 1932 by a brit names Gilbert Briggs. Once he got the company up and running in Yorkshire, he staged a promotional concert at Carnegie Hall where he placed an orchestra behind 2 of his "Golden" loudspeakers and in the middle of the playing the orchestra would put down their instruments and the speakers would continue a recorded concert. Most all of the audience could not tell the difference in the sound quality. I think this promotional technique was also done by Acoustic Research.
Another thing was that Briggs started to fill his speaker cabinets with fine sand. He claimed it prevented movement of the cabinet and reduced vibration. In early "sand" models you got a bag of sand and instructions to pour it in. Seems he made a double wall cabinet. I pulled off the grille on one of mine today and sure enough, there is a "sand hole" with a wooden plug in place at the bottom of the cabinet. I would imagine from the looks of the plug that this particular model had the sand put in at the factory.
Are you ready... the company is now owned by the Chinese and most all of the hardware is made over there. They still do R&D in England though.
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Life Member: Pontchartrain Ast. Soc.
Member: Baton Rouge Ast. Soc.
President: Beachview Heights Civ.Assn.
Member:Kenner Rivertown Advisory Comm.
Member At Large: Jefferson Amateur Radio Club
Call Sign:N5VEG
Registered Curmudgeon
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E.B.
member
Reged: 06/26/06
Posts: 30
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Yhrift stores and Good Will Rule. I've gotten countless good stuff out of them ove the pass couple of years. If you can learn to racoon woogers (refoam woofers) your in business!!
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Remy Bosio
Uber Curmudgeon
Reged: 03/02/04
Posts: 13038
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Yes, sometimes you can strike gold. A couple of years ago I found a nearly new pair of Marantz SP1500's at the same store. They are playing here in my study as I type this. They costed me all of $6.99/pr.!
I go in there each week hoping I will spy a nice McIntosh or Harmon Kardon sitting there for $10.00! I did get a nice Optimus CD changer there last year that works as new. I think that was $7.99.
Besides it's fun to rummage through history. 
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Life Member: Pontchartrain Ast. Soc.
Member: Baton Rouge Ast. Soc.
President: Beachview Heights Civ.Assn.
Member:Kenner Rivertown Advisory Comm.
Member At Large: Jefferson Amateur Radio Club
Call Sign:N5VEG
Registered Curmudgeon
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E.B.
member
Reged: 06/26/06
Posts: 30
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My best is probably a Sansui 717 tuner for $6.99
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kray
super member
Reged: 01/25/05
Posts: 140
Loc: NC, USA
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My best thrift store "bargain" in audio was a Marantz 8B (tube power amp)for free at a thrift store on Federal Drive in Ft. Lauderdale about 15 years ago. It was sitting next to the front wall of the store as I drove by. I went around the block and parked, went in and asked if it was for sale. They asked if I wanted it. It looked pretty rough but I said"yes" and they said take it.
The best deal of all was from Salvation Army store in Tampa. A Hammond B-3 organ WITH Leslie , in working condition for , get this, $275.
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Ken
Celestron Regal LX 8 x 42 roof
Orion Expanse 7 x 32 (14 degree)
Nikon 10 x 35 E2
Nikon 10 x 50 Action V ( Made in Japan)
Oberwerk 15 x 70
GO 25 x 100 IF Bogen 501/3046
Celestron 102 F/5 Wide View Refractor
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