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found on the curb, are they worth fixing?

C

craigcook

New Member
I found these a few hours ago, haven't had time to wire them up, but the cones look ok. According to the data plate on the back, they are Teledyne Olson 12" 4-way speakers, Model S175. I've clipped a few pictures. The cabinets are beat, but could be refinished. Two pots on the back for treble and mid-range.
 
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Orion gives their dates as 1973-77, MSRP $320/pair, some coin back then.
I'd say hook 'em up and give a listen.
If you don't like them, sell 'em or give them to a Goodwill or thrift of your choice.
 
I used to love going to the local Olson Electronics store when I was a kid. Are they one in the same? BTW, it's all about how they sound. They certainly look like quality speakers.
 
They look good to me too.
Play with them a while.
That woofer looks like a strong point to build off of.
Upgrade the tweeters and high mids maybe.
 
That "Teledyne Olson" fullrange is a nice looking driver! Basket looks like Utah OEM, but I've never seen a driver quite like it. The "tweeter" (not the apparently replaced "super tweeter") in the first photo reminds me of the one used in one of the Criterion brand multiway speakers sold by Lafayette ca. late 1960's/early '70's. After seeing the first photo, I was going to guess Burstein-Applebee. Pretty similar to Olson! B/A had some box speakers in the early '70's that featured "woofers" with whizzers, and other MR and HF drivers, too.

I'll bet these speakers are efficient and would work pretty well with tubes. I might be tempted to chuck the cabinets and the MR's and tweeters and see what could be done with those FR's.
 
Wonder about the A/R - Teledyne connection

The Teledyne logo on the grille is the same as that of the defense electronics contractor/manufacturer conglomerate. I imagine that the Olson brand was purchased by them. I don't think that Teledyne would have purchased a retail chain, they probably just bought the speaker designs & plant. The Akron OH dataplate indicates that Teledyne had some kind of manufacturing there, either the Olson factory or their own space. I tried a quick search of what history Teledyne had in Akron, no luck. No luck with the Olson name in Akron, either.

So if these were vintage mid/late 70's, did this brand represent a foray into the consumer audio market before A/R?
 
I don't think that Teledyne would have purchased a retail chain,
Click to expand...

Actually I think that they may have! As you say, Teledyne was a huge conglomerate (or a holding company)... I remember the "shower massage" shower head made by "Teledyne WaterPik". Y'all remember the "WaterPik", right?


Here's a Teledyne stereo receiver that I have :-) It's cute but... No AR, this!
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=29317

attachment.php
 
wow, what a blast from the past

Trext, thanks so much for that link. I read through the Olson Radio/Electronics posting on www.childhoodradio, what a great way to appreciate what I found. Irving Olson was still corresponding in Feb. - age 90-something. MHardy, I saw a reference to an 8" Utah speaker, made for the Olson label (with gold basket).
 
Your welcome Craig. Funny thing is I just came across that site while I was searching for info for you. Glad you like it, and thank you, because I would have never found it if you haden't posted your speaker find. I used to frequent Olsons when I was a younster in Miami. Olsons was a true success story in electronics retailing.
 
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