Lafayette & Olson Speaker Info

[stormking]

I picked this single speaker up at a sale last weekend. I think it is from the mono era. Anyone have any info on these components? Any guess on ohms? Correct wire hookup? What is the device hanging off the tweeter?
DSCN2637 by , on Flickr
DSCN2638 by , on Flickr

 

[jwrauch]

Looks like a Utah woofer and a Calrad (Japanese ) tweeter. JOHN

 

[gdmoore28]

How about a better picture of the tweeter device? Can't make it out in the pics you posted.

GeeDeeemm

 

[CopperWizard]

If the tweeter is a Calrad, than I would like to add that Calrad stands for California Radio which is still in business. I called them about a speaker and they didn't have records that far back (70's.) I think the previous posts concerning calrad are incorrectly saying they are a Japanese brand.

 

[gdmoore28]

That's interesting. What does Calrad produce now?

GeeDeeEmm

 

[Ohighway]

Wow, no markings at all on that woofer? Looks like a 12" ?? Based on other Lafayette woofers I have that are around here I'd guess 8 ohm for that.

 

[rusomon]

The tweeter is an Olson S-307 that was made in Japan, as was most of what Olson sold. Calrad was in the same business as Olson, selling, not manufacturing, electronic components. (Think Radio Shack.) It wouldn't shock me at all if this same tweeter also turned up under other labels, Calrad among them.

Back in the day a large part of what these and certain other American companies sold came out of Japanese factories. So technically speaking CopperWizard is correct. Calrad wasn't a Japanese company, it just happened to sell Japanese goods. Hence the confusion.

 

[stormking]

I got some great info from a knowledgeable member about this. The Lafayette is 15" and most likely built by Utah as jwrauch said. Rusomon is correct, the tweeter is a Olson S-307 and was built in Japan by Fukuin which became Pioneer in 1961. They built these for several other companies as well. The forks hanging from the horn are a stand so you could use it without being in an enclosure. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[winters860]

I've catalogued about a dozen different model numbers of that Pioneer tweeter, which they slapped a name on for just about anybody in the late 50's and early 60's. Jwrauch isn't exactly wrong - there was a Calrad version, too.