Speaker Factory?

Frankie's Market

Frankie's Market

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Ok, I'm looking for advice here. I picked up a pair of "Speaker Factory " speakers today. The exterior looks like it was a quality wood veneer, each cabinet has a 12inch, a smaller mid, and a tweeter . These cabinets weigh about 40 pounds each. Judging from the grill cloth I'd guess late '70's. On the grill cloth is a badge "Speaker Factory" . No other numbers, letters, etc.
Does anyone know of this speaker or brand? They seem like quality speakers, I have not pulled the drivers yet so I don't know if there is any additional info on the magnets? All that said does anyone have information on "Speaker Factory" . Thanks in advance, Ed
 
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I picked up a pair of these, 2-ways bookshelf size, at a church sale a few years ago. They appear very similar and same vintage as the Speakerlab 1's. I've thought that this was a local area outfit with knock-off versions of the Speakerlab line of speakers but that is just a guess. Would be interesting if anyone has the history. I recall seeing a Speaker Factory K-horn model listed for sale on local CL at least a couple of times in the past few years.
 
Yostie, thanks for the link! Anyone have first hand experience with this speakers? Build construction is very good, however before I invest any time or $$$ in re-foaming, refinishing, recapping I'd like to hear opinions on sound quality. Folks? Speak up and tell us how they sound!
 
i have a set of speaker factory quanta III bookshelfs i picked up at a garage sale (rich guy) for $40. very very solid.

http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/47mrqYHU/1/6014020

one of the tweeter domes was slightly pushed in but i was able to tease it out. they sound very nice. i contacted the company a while back as another set (different model) was on the local CL that needed new foams and i was checking about replacements. i also asked the guy about my speakers and he said they retailed for over $1k when new.
 
Ok, I was able to remove one of the tweeters, no identifying names on it, but it did have stamped on it the following numbers : 824 7575 908 . Any clue as to who made the tweeter?
 
I saw the website for that company in DC, but with no reference to a line of 70's speakers - so I thought it was unlikely they were pumping out these speakers in enough volume for lots of them to show up in the Pacific NW. Still feels like a local PNW company, long gone. Wouldn't hurt to check with them but a "Speaker Factory" brand name is pretty generic and could have been used by multiple outfits in the past 45+ years.

The 70's models that I've seen around here use Speaker Factory as the brand, Roger's Quanta speakers use "The Speaker Factory" as a distributor/retailer and appear to be from the 80's or later.
 
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I had a pair of Speaker Lab bookshelf (don't know model #) The build quality was very good. I did a A B comparison with some Bose 301's and found them quite similar. Gave them to a friend in need and he is very happy with them.
 
I took some pictures of the cabinet and drivers today, and i found this old thread as well ( http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=55760 ) which shows some speakers that appear to be from the same manufacturer. To me it looks like these were copies of SpeakerLabs , if not actual designs but possible same drivers. I did look up some SpeakerLab horns on ebay, SpeakerLab horns had the same printing of codes along the edge. Also if you Googlate "Speakerlab, Speaker Factory " you should find several posts about the similarities of these two product lines.
It sounds to me like there was at least on actual "Speaker Factory " store in the Seattle area, I'm guessing that they tried to copy SpeakerLab products, but in the end failed. I wonder if perhaps SF was starrted by a former SL employee?
 

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EV tweeter, a 70s Perless mid (nice piece), Eminence woofer. Has potenial quality. Well worth a refoam.... good find...with some unknown history.
 
There was a Speaker Factory store in Seattle,late 70's to early 80's.It was on University Ave. Similar to Speaker Lab....kits and finished speakers as i remember.
 
I did receive this from AK member Highping "Sorry, I'm not much of a source for information concerning that brand of speakers. I can tell you that they were a local company out of Seattle Washington. They were in business at the same time Speakerlab was. Both companys made speakers and speaker kits. Basically you had your choice of buying a pair of speakers built by them, or you could by the kit and do it yourself. Speakerlab had a more successful business. You'll see their model numbers #7 and #4 pop up for sale often here on the west coast. Speaker factory had decent speakers as well, they just never caught on and gathered a following."
I guess my next step is to refoam the drivers, just what I need, another set of large speakers!
 
Look like these speakers have potential, like the 2-ways that I picked up a few years ago. Nice find.

I think it's accurate but understatement to say Speakerlab had a more successful business. I haven't seen anything that shows the Speaker Factory was anything more than an assembler. Speakerlab had an R & D department and had designers like Mile Nestorovic and Dave Graebener. A bit like comparing Frank Sinatra to the guy at the local Ramada Inn lounge! :smoke:

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mids and guts...

So I have these speakers collecting dust, I don't want to sell them, I figure I will refoam the surrounds and put in new caps, anyone have a suggested brand?
I can't believe how they skimped on the wiring, I can't see anything on the wire as to differentiating one half from the other. Anyone have suggestions as to a decent low cost replacement?
By the way, anyone know who made these mids? Thanks, Ed
 

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SpeakerLab copy? which model?

Looking at the pictures I posted, does it look like any particular SpeakerLab model that may have been copied by Speaker Factory? I ask because I am impressed with the quality of the cabinets and parts.
SpeakerLabFan said:
Look like these speakers have potential, like the 2-ways that I picked up a few years ago. Nice find.

I think it's accurate but understatement to say Speakerlab had a more successful business. I haven't seen anything that shows the Speaker Factory was anything more than an assembler. Speakerlab had an R & D department and had designers like Mile Nestorovic and Dave Graebener. A bit like comparing Frank Sinatra to the guy at the local Ramada Inn lounge! :smoke:

13939463271_9abb21fcc9_o.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Frankie's Market said:
Looking at the pictures I posted, does it look like any particular SpeakerLab model that may have been copied by Speaker Factory? I ask because I am impressed with the quality of the cabinets and parts.
Click to expand...

Not from looking at the pictures :dunno:

Compare it with the Speakerlab 3 model or a later speakerlab 3-way - you can find the Speakerlab catalog pages online.

The examples of Factory "copies" that I was thinking of are the Speaker Factory K-horns and the Speakerlab 1's. - although Speakerlab itself was using the Klipschorn design for the K's (with differences/improvements in the corner horn). I have a pair of the Speaker Factory bookshelf speakers and they appear very similar to the Speakerlab 1's
 
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