Really Vintage Sherwood Speakers

DonQuixote99

DonQuixote99

just give me some truth
Pair at the local Goodwill for $10.00. These date back to 50's (by looks) or very early 60's. It was before they invented zip codes, in any case. Old style Sherwood address (Chicago 18, Illinois) on the one remaining input pad.

The pad legend identifies them only as "3-way speakers." + terminal is labled 16 ohms. The cabinets are large and very well made, comparable in size to my big Utahs, which are 15x14x27. Good walunt venier. Side edges exposed at back look like 1" plywood.

Wonder what's in them? Could be anything at this point. The hole where the input pad used to be on one of them is covered from the inside with some Radio Shack pcb...
 
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I've been thinking about that ohm spec. Never had any 16 ohm speakers. Probably super-efficient, eh? Might be great tube speakers?
 
DonQuixote99 said:
OK, I think I've identified them. Sherwood Ravinias, as described here: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2895392&postcount=4

Right size, right look, right vintage. 10 watts will drive them; 50 max.

Now, do I have room for some big heavy old speakers, good for their time, need work, with no following and no market? Well, they might make super econowave boxes, if I rebuild them with 2-way baffles.....
Click to expand...

Yes one can always "Find Room" :yes:

Remember it is all about the :music::music::music:
 
The Ravinias are a great sounding speaker imho. I had a pair for about 2 years, and was always very pleased with their response, especially for the combo jazz that I prefer. big and solid, for sure. A classic speaker from a classic time. I passed mine on to a couple who was just getting into the vintage set. They loved 'em too. Still do, as far as I know. Give them a chance, I found that they were a little restrained when I first brought them home. Perhaps hadn't been loved in a while. After a couple of weeks, they really stated to "sing".
 
Goodwill outlet on Airway? I saw them there Wednesday night, with a pair of KLH 17s on top of them (also $5 each). I would have bought the KLHs but I only had $9 on me. I noticed the Radio Shack PCB, which made wonder what else in there might have been replaced with RS parts.
 
I got the KLH's. Goodwill takes bankcards. ;)

Yes, that whiff of RS is a bit discouraging. But the cabinets are original in any case....
 
MRH gave me a pair of the even bigger Tanglewoods, which despite sagging suspensions were a very nice speaker if the room was big enough -- they need some distance. So I would be optimistic about the Ravenias.
 
We'll see. Just got back from picking them up.

If a restoration doesn't look promising, for $10.00 they will make great project cabinets.
 
Sounds a bit like christmas morning, you never know what's going to be in the box when you open it up :) Could be awesome, could be... socks. :)
 
Ok, I've got them home!

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For what's in them, and what I thnk they're good for, see thread I started in speaker forum: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=4207241#post4207241
 
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