Stupid Question of the Day.. (Wharfedale W70c Restoration)

[Max Young]

Good morning to all my wonderful ‘Hi-Fi Heads! Please Pardon my post if this isn’t the correct place to ask this..

But, last year I purchased a pair of Wharfedale W70c’s & am just now getting around to opening them up for the first time to see what kind of condition everything is in.

(I know, I know.. dumb of for not looking inside before buying.. but everything sounded to be 100% functional to me. Also the price was low enough. Even if I had to replace a tweeter or 2 it wouldn’t break the bank)

However, I am seriously struggling to get these grills taken off without breaking them. Im starting to think someone may have glued these wood strips on… -_-

Any of you fine folks have suggestions for me??? I just can not figure out how to pop these puppies off …

!!!Thanks in advance!!!

 

[HamboneF18]

My dad had the W70C which he bought in ‘66. Listened to them growing up. In 1982, at the request of my dad, I rebuilt them.

It was a ported 3-way. The tweeter was a paper cone with gray felt surround. They tended toward a chesty sound, with crisp highs that beamed.

No worries about the sand filling the side panels. The front baffle is plywood. The rear panel is screw mounted/removable and is sand filled; but all panels are framed in wood, so no concerns of spilling or leaking the sand. The front grills were removable.

I wound up designing my own crossovers and using Peerless 12” rubber surround woofer, Dynaudio dome midrange and 28 mm tweeter.

 

[HamboneF18]

Now, it’s been a few years ago, LOL! But I don’t remember having any problem getting the grills off, or back on. It seemed they just lifted off, no screws, staples, or glue. The tweeter is mounted in a 1/2” thick plywood “box” mounted from the front of the baffle.

 

[Max Young]

My dad had the W70C which he bought in ‘66. Listened to them growing up. In 1982, at the request of my dad, I rebuilt them.

It was a ported 3-way. The tweeter was a paper cone with gray felt surround. They tended toward a chesty sound, with crisp highs that beamed.

No worries about the sand filling the side panels. The front baffle is plywood. The rear panel is screw mounted/removable and is sand filled; but all panels are framed in wood, so no concerns of spilling or leaking the sand. The front grills were removable.

I wound up designing my own crossovers and using Peerless 12” rubber surround woofer, Dynaudio dome midrange and 28 mm tweeter.

View attachment 2861512

Thank you so much for the very detailed response Judging from multiple comments, I think someone may have glued the wooden pieces to the screen.. because mine simply won’t come off. I’m thinking about using some sort of Alcohol & water mixture to try to loosen them up. Thoughts?

 

[HamboneF18]

You may wind up prying them off. Look for staples. Use a really good, bright LED flashlight to closely and carefully examine your grills, looking for staples or small nails. Also for signs of glue. If you wind up prying off (using force) the grills, PROTECT those ornamental finished wood strips and Wharfdale badge. The grill frame can be repaired or even replaced. The grill cloth can be replaced also. But the finished decorative strips are not replaceable. Iconic finishing touch to the design!

These W70C speakers are VERY well built and can sound great! If I had the room, I’d buy a pair. But instead, I bought a pair of 1965 AR 2-ax speakers. Smaller than the W70Cs; fit my living room. I’m in work on them now.

 

[Joewag]

I fixed up mine a couple years ago. To be honest, I don’t remember taking the grills off. The entire back was screwed on, so I opened it that way. Mine aren’t the c model though. Maybe they’re different.

 

[HamboneF18]

W70C:

The tweeter is accessed from the front.