Calling All Rectilinear Specialists: What Model?

I have never seen this model before: 10" woofer. Similar drivers as the III, by the looks of it.

Smaller cabinet (~28"?), drivers and port in different location from the III. Grille fabric different; badge "sideways" as it was intended for bookshelf use.

Any thoughts on what model this might be? Feel free to refer with the Rectilinear photo database for comparisons. Thanks.

Hi Njord,

You appear to have a pair of Rectilinear III Lowboy speakers. These were the bookshelf oriented model of the III. Same drivers and slightly different cabinet. Same era and also designed by Stewart Hegeman. :tresbon:

I used to own a pair of the Lowboys, Kent, and here's a picture of them. The ones I am inquiring about have similar drivers, but are definitely a different model.

I saw those posted this morning and thought, no idea on the model but Njord will know. <grin>

I have no idea, never seen these. The tweeters look odd compared to the III tweeters. But the woofer looks like a 10" version of the III's 12" and the mid looks like the Philips mid from the model III. Why make a model so close to the III but with a smaller woofer ?

Not sure. Snade

Snade said:

Why make a model so close to the III but with a smaller woofer ?

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I emailed the owner about the dimensions of the cab -- we'll see if he gets back to me with this info.

They look to be some 24-28" tall - if so, they might fit nicely in the product specter between the Mini-III and the III.

I have a list of all the models up to 1976, and will compare it to the known models and post here when I have done this: Perhaps we can whittle it down to a few possibilities.

Cool!!!

A new Rectilinear model! - I always wondered why about Rectilinear II, Rectilinear VI, or many other models that you would expect to exist, but never hear about. Maybe you've found one of these elusive models. . .

Hi,

Weird that they would make a model so similar to an existing one which was current. Rectilinear was an unusual company in the day. Wonder if this model replaced the Lowboy or the Mini III. Maybe a successor model late in their history.

"Mystery" Rectilinear Model

I have posted this before (and there are probably less than a dozen people in the world who care about this), but according to a 1976 driver replacement price list published by Rectilinear Research, the company issued the following Rectilinear speaker models and drivers (somewhat simplified with regards to categorization) from the launch of the III in 1966 to 1976; the year of publishing (all drivers in published diameter in inches):


As can be seen from the table, there are only five R models running four different drivers - III, Lowboy, 5, 7 and Disco 7. However, the owner states that the woofer is 10", and none of Rectilinear's models had four different drivers and a 10" woofer.

In case the owner is incorrect and the woofer is instead a 12", his mystery model could, if we go by the table alone, be the 5 or 7 (incl. Disco): However, we have ads (and other documentation, incl. photos) of the 5 and 7, and they look nothing like the photo in the picture. The mid looks like the 5" Philips whizzer, too, and not like a "7 in. mid woofer". One point of uncertainty is the Model XI, which seems to have undergone numerous iterations through its life. As well as the "7 Disco" - I have no idea about it, but one would think it would be a more recent (typically, this meant lower quality drivers and builds for Rectilinear) model.

One would think, based on the appearance of the mystery model, that this was a contemporary model to the III, Mini-III and Lowboy, and therefore a straightforward ID: But it is not - based on available information (see link to my Rectilinear database for the full reference) I have no idea what model this speaker is. I would love to find out (it couldn't be a custom built cab based on R drivers, could it?).:scratch2:

Ideas or suggestions are welcome!

Hi Njord,

Could be a custom cabinet job with the Rectilinear drivers or a Rectilinear system which was modified by it's owner. Your information points to either as a maybe.

The owner says the dimensions are 14 wide x 11.75 deep x 25 tall - think somewhat wide Large Advents, in size terms.

Although they don't appear to be, I have asked him if he thinks the cabs are custom. It would be nice to have a picture of the rear of the speakers, too, and specifically the binding posts/L-pad.

I very much doubt that they are custom made (unless they were a custom order made by the factory). They are just too similar to the III's: the baffle looks almost identical in construction (except the layout is obviously different), the woofers are attached the same way, and the cabinet molding looks the same as the III as well.

I'm still fascinated at these oddballs. Maybe a prototype or short-run attempt at competing in the "large bookshelf" category while keeping all the design attributes of the III that were so successful for them.

I found what model these are - Rectilinear VI:



I had the model referred to deep down in the bowels of the AK Rectilinear DB, but because the only reference to it was inside a III brochure, and it was not listed in the 1976 driver parts list, it escaped me!

I'll tell you what - this must be not only one of the rarest Rectilinear models, but alse one of the best Rectilinears - same drivers as the III (except for the smaller woofer), but in a more WAF friendly package. If I were anywhere near N.Y., I would love to audition (and own!) them! I betcha these could easily hold a candle to most "large bookshelves", and would love to A/B them against my Advent 5002. And at $240 apiece (the III was only $40 more!), this was not a cheap speaker! I am going to speak to the owner tonight - he also owns two pairs of Rectilinear XA, another super-rare model.

I have also updated the model list presented earlier in this thread reflecting this latest intelligence as per attachment.

Where in NY, did you say they happen to be located?

Mystery solved. Good job, Njord.

I'm betting these guys sound damn good.

Snade

Saint Johnny said:

Where in NY did you say they happen to be located?

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Albion, NY. I have the guy's details, too. :thmbsp:

Nice detective work!

Wow - I just saw the listing: someone in the area needs to get these - it's a screaming deal!

judgeschreber said:

Nice detective work!


Wow - I just saw the listing: someone in the area needs to get these - it's a screaming deal!

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Waaay too far for me. Buuuuttt.....

I think I may have found, what looks to be yet another pair of VI's, but even less expensive. :scratch2: