I'm getting greedy

Jayrosc

Jayrosc

Super Member
Today I was working at a house where the owner was getting it ready to be sold. He had inherited it and didn't seem to care much for it beyond what he could get from the sale. Beautiful Mid Century Place. So, while I'm working in the back this guy is making trips to the dump. When I'm done with my tasks, we are talking about the place and he points out a "flaw" in the living room: there are two large circles in the dark, birchwood paneling, flanking the fireplace. He says they are "old, shitty speakers from the 60's." At that point, his wife chimes in from the kitchen and asks, "Did you get rid of those records?"
Turns out that while I was in the back he was ripping out the custom, built in, sound system. It was hidden behind a sliding panel where the gear and LP's were stored. The turntable and records were brought to the dump, just an hour before our conversation, but the receiver, a Harman Kardon Twin Powered 430, was still there because he couldn't figure out how to disconnect it.
I told him of my hobby and that I knew how to disconnect it and he gave it to me.
Driving away, I noticed my knuckles on the steering wheel were white. I was tapping my index fingers. I knew what was going on.
I turned around and knocked on the front door.
Noting that I was aware that I might be crossing a line, I said I was dying to see what was behind those 2 big circles of dark fabric by the fireplace.
He pulled one off and there was a beautiful speaker that was forever untouched by sunlight. Some research just now shows it to have been a 12 inch Bozak B-207: one of those ones with Two, 2 inch tweeters angled out for maximum dispersion.
Here's the greedy part. I tried to get him to give me permission to remove both speakers from the walls.
No dice.
I should have been happy with just the receiver, but man.....
 

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Jayrosc said:
Today I was working at a house where the owner was getting it ready to be sold. He had inherited it and didn't seem to care much for it beyond what he could get from the sale. Beautiful Mid Century Place. So, while I'm working in the back this guy is making trips to the dump. When I'm done with my tasks, we are talking about the place and he points out a "flaw" in the living room: there are two large circles in the dark, birchwood paneling, flanking the fireplace. He says they are "old, shitty speakers from the 60's." At that point, his wife chimes in from the kitchen and asks, "Did you get rid of those records?"
Turns out that while I was in the back he was ripping out the custom, built in, sound system. It was hidden behind a sliding panel where the gear and LP's were stored. The turntable and records were brought to the dump, just an hour before our conversation, but the receiver, a Harman Kardon Twin Powered 430, was still there because he couldn't figure out how to disconnect it.
I told him of my hobby and that I knew how to disconnect it and he gave it to me.
Driving away, I noticed my knuckles on the steering wheel were white. I was tapping my index fingers. I knew what was going on.
I turned around and knocked on the front door.
Noting that I was aware that I might be crossing a line, I said I was dying to see what was behind those 2 big circles of dark fabric by the fireplace.
He pulled one off and there was a beautiful speaker that was forever untouched by sunlight. Some research just now shows it to have been a 12 inch Bozak B-207: one of those ones with Two, 2 inch tweeters angled out for maximum dispersion.
Here's the greedy part. I tried to get him to give me permission to remove both speakers from the walls.
No dice.
I should have been happy with just the receiver, but man.....
Click to expand...
Nice find! To bad you couldn't score on the rest, it's a shame some people don't know or respect what they have.

Audiofreak71
 
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It never ceases to amaze me how often when someone is dumping what they consider to be old,shitty crap,the least bit of interest usually causes a 180 degree shift in attitude.

We've probably all heard the old ''Well,I'd like to get something for it,at least''. To which my usual reply is ''Well,at the least you'll get a sore back carrying it and an outing to the recycling center'' :rflmao:

On a related note,the GF tells me I need to up my anti-a**hole medication.......sigh.....She doesn't buy my witty/whimsical sense of humour claims.....
 
I would have figured out a way to sell him on the idea of display cubbies or something. I know I know- back seat contracting;) enjoy the HK
 
That was my thought, ask which dump and where it was if I didn't know the location, must be fairly close by.
Probably 50/50 you could retrieve then from there,(would the dump employees even give you access to them) but worth a shot.
Based on the situation, seller taking "stuff to the dump" and knowing he was getting rid of the audio gear, I don't think you were out of line asking about the "holes in the walls". Sounds like the rest of the system except wiring was already gone anyways.
 
goodolpg said:
That was my thought, ask which dump and where it was if I didn't know the location, must be fairly close by.
Probably 50/50 you could retrieve then from there,(would the dump employees even give you access to them) but worth a shot.
Based on the situation, seller taking "stuff to the dump" and knowing he was getting rid of the audio gear, I don't think you were out of line asking about the "holes in the walls". Sounds like the rest of the system except wiring was already gone anyways.
Click to expand...
I have not given up on the Bozaks. His only concern was that there would be naked holes in the walls and it would look bad if a potential buyer took one of the girls off to see what was behind it. There was some other work at the house that he didn't spring for because it brought the overall charge a bit too high. I may offer to do it in exchange for the speakers. As for the stuff at the dump. Forget it. Once it goes through the gates at this particular place it is untouchable.
 
I make myself feel better by imagining a shelf full of Mantovani (spelling?) and Reader's Digest "selections." That would explain offspring that has no respect for dad's hobby.
 
The next new thread will be the dump employee that will regale us with the tale of his records and turntable score some fool threw away.
 
I guess it still surprises me when I hear of what seem to be naive people discarding things like that. With the phones we all have these days all you have to do is look something up real quick to check on the spot. Remarkable.
 
What sense does it make to leave those speakers behind the wall? I might have pressed him a bit more to come to a compromise.
 
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