Enormous McIntosh speakers turn out to be Klipschorns

tunz

tunz

Man in Motion
Last Friday night, I was looking through CL when I spotted this ad: "Free 2 enormous McIntosh speakers -work fine" The ad had been posted 1 hour earlier. My wife called and left a message. We turned out to be the lucky number one callers. The next day a lady called and said, "Come and get them. Oh, and by the way, they are not McIntosh they are Klipschorns. Do you still want them?"
One is a 1956 mahogany and the other is a 1960 Birch Model D (designer) model. They come topless from the factory with the mid exposed. Looks great.
It seems the original owner bought the '56 new for a mono setup, and then got the stereo bug and bought the '60 new. Though he is no longer with us, his wife and daughter said he cranked them way up everyday listening to Dixieland jazz.
No other equipment he had was of value.
I also got a huge manila envelope stuffed full of papers concerning them. Brochures, receipts,owners papers, etc.
I thought about matching the tops and veneering them, but I would hate to mess up the originality.
I also do not have corners to place them in and because of the original condition I prefer to not construct corners onto them.
I have no idea what I am going to do with them.
Being vintage and original, I thought someone may like to see them so here they are.
You are seeing them exactly as I received them.

'60
mid info- mid driver marked 1099 K-55
sticker on side- type K-5-J Date 24 May 1960
bass cab info- type K-D-FR style D finish FR; inspected 8 Nov 60
spkr1.jpg

'56
mid info- marked University SAHF (not sure if this is original)
sticker on mid- type K-5-J Date 3 Feb 56
bass cab info- type K-357 style 7 finish M-7; inspected 13 July 1956
spkr2.jpg

Both have PWK tweeters. As you can see, the 60's tweeter is mounted vertical, but the 56's is horizontal.
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Did you try them?Sound good? Man,that's a great deal.Free is always good.You could flip them and pick up some nice change.
 
Very cool and perhaps worth keeping for their historical value. Hell, look at all the crappy run of the mill speakers guys around here "collect".
 
Post those pics on the Klipsch forum, those are drool worthy. I would love to hear them on a nice tube amp set up properly.. I just picked up a set of Heresy's last week that I'm restoring, they sound awesome on tubes, the Khornes are a big step up from what I understand.
I would try and find a spot to set them up and borrow a tube amp if you don't own one before selling them off. You may find that you have your holy grail.

BillWojo
 
I have not tried them yet. I am recapping a set of tube Eico HI 52s right now that might be good with them but I still do not have a place for them. I will probably sell or trade them off.
 
tunz said:
I have not tried them yet. I am recapping a set of tube Eico HI 52s right now that might be good with them but I still do not have a place for them. I will probably sell or trade them off.
Click to expand...

You are probably in possession of two Klipschorns that if not for their technical construction and playability... most certainly have a place in history for nostalgia sake. I also can appreciate the misidentification that had these labeled as McIntosh.. something more frequently happening with persons passing on others collectibles.

If not for the name brand and its standing... most certainly these deserve a place in a museum for "Hi-Fidelity history".. if there is such a thing? Might consider a donation to such or passing them on to a worthy collector .
 
A noble sentiment 50s.

Had Howard Carter been one of our more grasping AKers upon first peering into the tomb he'd have shouted "score" and immediately set upon "flipping" it's contents.
 
I'd bet that the walnut ones were veneered over plywood. They'd sell better as a pair if the one was veneered. Sell to someone who has ROOM for them and an understanding family.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom