Got a Rare pair Empire floor speakers not the columns

RedShoe

RedShoe

Member
I purchased a pair of Empire speakers this week. Not like any I have seen. Hope some one will help identifiing thease heavy beasts. They are acoustic labyrinth style cabinets with the back half being verneer covered pressboard a good 1" thick. The fronts (about 2.5 inches thisck) are genuine walnut. Mid range and tweeter ar set in a cast metal pice and are bolted to the font. In side is a 10" cast frame woofer marked 907-D-111. Font pieces have the empire badge (Crown over the letter "E") I have done a lot of research and found nothing on them. Cabinets need some work, but i am thinking of restoreing them for a tube setup i have.See attached image.
Any info would be appreciated.
 

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I have some very unusual Empire speakers that I really never found any info on. You're lucky that Celt chimed in with the info he did. Mine are 3 way also and use a 10 inch woofer. They have seperate tweeters and midranges (not on a plate together). They are all alnico magnets... Sound very good but need the cabinets refinished (real wood). Your cabinets are in a lot better shape than mine. Enjoy them. There's just not much information on the more standard Empire speakers. There's a lot more info on the round types with marble tops. I think they all pretty much had the same basic drivers though (from 10" to 15" woofers and used the same tweeters / midranges). I bet if you look at the backs of the speakers, they will have gold frames...

Look here for my original cry for help on mine (page 2 has pics of the of the speaker baskets):
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=95191
 
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Do you have any pics of the insides? How do they sound? They are very cool looking. Now you just need an Empire turntable to match them.
 
Celt beat me to it, but still...

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I'd gladly give you the original price of $9 per month for them!

Very cool looking speaker. :yes:
 
Thanks for the Info Here are more Pictures

Drivers are good in both speakers, massive magnets. Tweeter and midrange have phenolic diaphrams. Front half of cabinets (solid Walnut) are in good condition, however the back halfs appear to be to far gone, as you can see.
What to do? I am not very talented when it comes to wood projects.Restore them or sell them for parts? please help me make up my mind.
 

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Nothing unfixable there. If you like the sound, find a decent cabinet shop and ask them to do the repair work.
 
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