Heresy Decorator Model Questions

[doctorolds]

I just picked up a pair of Heresy I Decorator type speakers built in 1976 and I was hoping that someone may be able to answer some questions I have concerning them. I have been searching the web but have not been able to find very much detailed information about them.

If I utilize the "KLIPSCH HERITAGE REFERENCE DATA - (V.2 - 9 May 2008)" from the Klipsch website and the post from "pmsummer" on the AK website the HD-BR speaker type code indicates that these are the "Heresy Decorator" type of speakers and the wood and finish codes indicate that they are birch, raw.

Here are the discrepancies:

It is my understanding that the "Decorator" type speakers had no grills to cover the drivers. Mine have a standard grill.

The standard H-BR design could not have been used since when adding the bull-nose trim to the front of the speaker the speaker grill would be recessed about 1/4". Mine have the grills coming out to the standard distance, about flush with the front.

The "BR" code indicates raw birch. Mine have been stained and a coat of lacquer applied (I think lacquer, since that is all they used).

The "WS" wood finish code indicates birch stained with walnut stain. Mine have the addition of the front bull-nose trim.

I am fairly sure that these are original since I bought them from the second owner who purchased them from a dealer two weeks after the original owner brought them back.

I am thinking that these a fairly rare since I have only seen one pair like them sold on eBay and another AK member may have a pair, and another on the audioasylum website:
Search eBay for 251213571232
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=309650
http://www.audioasylumtrader.com/ca...-Standing/Klipsch/Heresy/alnico-drivers/71341

I attached some pictures for your review. All of your comments are greatly appreciated!

 

[silversport]

here is some information that may help...

You appear to have Klipsch Heresy Decorators in Raw Birch...

People many times bought the decorator because they would not be seen and may have been intended for a cabinet or wall mounting...

Your grills were made after the speakers and may have been made by an owner...you can see the rounded over (bullnose) trim that Klipsch never made...you can see the original butt joints behind it like my 1978 raw birch Heresys...

I can't remember for sure but your Klipsch badges appear on my screen to have the lines through them...I am not sure that this was offered in 1976...I know they were in 1978 (mine have them) and believe they were one year or two year wonders...going to the copper plate you see on most Klipsch speakers...

...not particularly rare but enjoyable in my opinion...I've had my crossovers updated (same Klipsch sound just giving them in spec and better components than when made in 1976)...

that the bullnose trim color matches so closely to the stain of the cabinets, I believe they were stained by an owner (that's why they came Raw...to stain to what the owner wanted...and save a few bucks...)

I didn't see the WS code you mentioned but if it is that stamp inthe wood...it may likely be US (for United States but should be USA...made in Hope, Arkansas) or more likely the initials of the cabinet builder at Klipsch

Bill

 

[doctorolds]

Thanks for the reply silversport. I agree with some of your statements but please look at the pair that sold on ePay and let me know what you think.

Please note that I just spoke with the second owner a minute ago and asked him if he ever did anything to the speakers, such as replacing the grill or emblems and his response was no. He purchased the speakers for half price when the original owner, who was very wealthy by the way, brought them back after two weeks and purchased something else. I highly doubt that in a two week period a wealthy man who did not like the speakers would add the trim to the front and stain and lacquer them, but anything is possible.

Please do a search on eBay by copying "251213571232" into the search field and press enter, when the completed sale appears click on the sold picture in the upper left corner and view the detailed pictures from the sale, hover over the picture and use the zoom function, There are very many items in common with the pair I have, as follows:

1) the serial numbers are very close, mine "30P139", theirs "30P029"
2) The initials of the cabinet maker "OD" stamped in the upper left corner
3) The letters "USA" stamped in the upper right corner
4) The badges appear to be striped also
5) Both inspected and tested by the same people
6) 3 metal glides on the bottom like mine (not sure if that is unique)
7) A distinct line inside the bull nose trim piece where stain was applied (can be seen in my picture clearly)

WOW, seems like they may have made a few of these from the factory? It seems like there is to much in common between the two to be a coincidence. Also, based upon the build quality of the added bull nose trim it appears to me (no expert) that this was not done by your average person. In addition, if I were going to stain my speakers that were "Raw Birch" why would I paint or stain the motorboard (front panel) flat black instead of staining it like the rest?

Maybe someone else has a pair or knows someone who may know if these were produced this way from the factory. I would really like to know before I begin to restore them.

 

[silversport]

interesting...although the metal glides are not usually found...they look like what are on the bottom of my Klipschorns and could have been applied by the factory...plus the metal glides were usually on the slant or straight risers that were an option on Heresys...(I had them on my straight riser 1980 WO Heresys but not on my no riser 1978 BR Heresys)...

...the bullnose could have been applied at the factory too but it is doubtful...but who knows...this would be a popular way to make it so you could have grills on the front (my Klipschorns had a braided trim applied after factory)...

If your speakers were lacquered or stained at the factory...they wouldn't say BR (for Birch Raw) as others who have had Birch cabinets stained at the factory have had the label read BL (Birch Lacquered) or something to denote what was done to it...

Many of the Birch Raw speakers I have seen (mine included) have the motor board painted black but this has not been the case (IIRC) for decorators...as these speakers were meant to be heard and not seen...

Here's the big caveat...who knows...the factory did so many variations on the speakers, especially if the customer might have wanted something specific...

I still stand by my original statements but nothing I noted make your speakers any less desirable than any others (except for whatever wood finish is popular at the moment) so enjoy...I do...

Bill

 

[doctorolds]

I'm with you, who knows? I was just looking for any opinions concerning their originality and thought another member may have come across a pair after all these years.

I currently have them hooked to my Sansui 9090, they sound good together. For now I am going to clean them up a bit and enjoy them while I work on the rest of my gear.

 

[sheltie dave]

Original decorator Heresys would come from the factory with whatever veneer on the front facade as well - no grills, no bullnose. HDBR would be Heresy Decorator Birch Raw. The only other Birch decorator would be HDBL, Heresy Decorator Birch Lacquer.

Someone sprayed the front facade black, installed the bullnose, added the velcro buttons and grills, and then stained the cabs and bullnose, and added the casters.

 

[Brian]

I know the factory would build specially optioned speaker cabinets on special order. The price list from memory had a number of options priced but if a customer wanted something special the company would make it.

 

[doctorolds]

...The only other Birch decorator would be HDBL, Heresy Decorator Birch Lacquer.

Someone sprayed the front facade black, installed the bullnose, added the velcro buttons and grills, and then stained the cabs and bullnose, and added the casters.

I see a reference to a HD-BB, Birch Black, Lacquer, Designer (No Grill) in the reference data in addition to a WS code indicating that a Walnut stain was used, "11. An option to have raw birch stained was also used, but not often seen. The stain was applied by spraying, and the serial number stickers generally indicated this option. Example: H-WS would have been a Walnut stained Heresy made from "raw-birch". This option was more commonly seen on La Scala's."

I believe that Brian is probably correct in post #7 in stating that many modifications were done at a customers request and in my opinion not properly documented. My guess would also be that the code stamped onto the cabinet is how it began life before any modifications.

Please review post #3 and the other references I referred to at the bottom of post #1 and tell me what you think. I think that it is also possible that they may have made say 50 to 100 pair of something based upon a special order since they had the production environment already set up for one pair.

Your reference to someone doing these modifications are not likely based upon the facts I have gathered, in addition to the quality of work.

 

[silversport]

is there stain on the label on the back...if so, it was most likely stained by an owner as Klipsch would have applied the label after the staining process...

Bill

 

[Sam Cogley]

I just bought a pair of empty 70s vintage Cornwall Decorator/Utility cabinets. They have the little metal glides on the bottom, too.

 

[doctorolds]

is there stain on the label on the back...if so, it was most likely stained by an owner as Klipsch would have applied the label after the staining process...

Bill

I would normally be inclined to agree with that statement Bill except that the pair that sold on ePay has to many things in common with my pair as I listed in post #3.

I am not a Klipsch expert by any stretch of the imagination and I am just looking at the information I have (which is very little) and trying to determine if there was a possibility that this is how they came from the factory.

The only reason I wanted to know is that I plan on keeping them and just want to keep them as they came from the factory. I created this thread in hopes that one of the many AK members that participate would be able to provide some information that would help determine their originality.

Thanks to all who participate, and maybe some further information will turn up.

 

[tensleep]

When I read through this thread, it seems to me that the consensus among the responders, who do know their klipsch stuff, is that yours have been modified (finished) by an owner, your arguements notwithstanding. Believe what you will, they are very nice Heresies - enjoy!

 

[sheltie dave]

Those buttons are the "domes of silence," Sam.

 

[doctorolds]

Those buttons are the "domes of silence," Sam.

Are you talking about the three metal glides on the bottom?

 

[Sam Cogley]

Those buttons are the "domes of silence," Sam.

Great...KAOS is going to be after me to steal the secrets of CONTROL's Cornwall cabinets.

 

[silversport]

"...wouldja believe..."

Bill

 

[hugeroost]

op, go to the klipsch.com forum and pose the same question. There are a couple old guys that post there that worked at klipsch for years, one of them actually has his initials stamped in my 95 chorus ll"s, meaning he built em.......Roost

 

[doctorolds]

op, go to the klipsch.com forum and pose the same question. There are a couple old guys that post there that worked at klipsch for years, one of them actually has his initials stamped in my 95 chorus ll"s, meaning he built em.......Roost

I think I will post it there, thanks for the idea.

 

[BigMikehifi]

Bump 4yr old post..Here is my pr..of HD-BR..still unfinished..bought from orig owner...He says they were never in sun yet the woofs look to be what others say..sun faded..he took great care in these and has just bought a new pair..

 

[KlipschFan61]

Bump 4yr old post..Here is my pr..of HD-BR..still unfinished..bought from orig owner...He says they were never in sun yet the woofs look to be what others say..sun faded..he took great care in these and has just bought a new pair..

I picked up a set of HD-BR's a few years ago. Their build year of 1978 matched my LaScala's LS-BR's perfectly.