Value of two 1950s Jensen speakers (BL-220/H-222 and Concerto CT-100)?

[Phlhear]

Does anybody have any idea what these two Jensen speakers might be worth? Both are in blonde korina cabinets and look to be original and untouched inside.


1. Jensen BL-220 Bass-Ultraflex (ST-852)

• H-222 12" coaxial, rim stamp “ST-875 H-222,” date code 220512 (week 12, 1955)
• Factory crossover network and H-F balance control
• Clean grille cloth and finish, intact cone, original wiring, factory inspection paint on the hardware
• Original June 1954 Jensen instruction sheet (Note 146)

2. Jensen Concerto CT-100 (ST-914)

• P12-NL 12" woofer and RP-102 horn tweeter (date code 220622, week 22, 1956), A-204 crossover
• Cabinet label dated week 42, 1956, serial #1281
• Original untouched interior, intact cone
• Cosmetic: the “Concerto” decal is flaking and the Jensen badge on the top rail is worn

Both are 16 ohm. Neither has been tested. Photos attached: cabinets, back labels, rim stamps, crossover plate, interiors.


Thanks for any thoughts on value.

 

[Nyjblbob]

Nice looking survivors.
It's hard to put a value on 70+ year old Jensens.
Especially they say Un-tested?
Sound quality is subjective.
How they compare to equal mid 50's Altec's and JBL's?
Or even EV's.
probably- Definitely, Lower Resale value .
Good luck they do present well.
PS. I just noticed 2 different models. that there is the Re-sale Killer

 

[Phlhear]

UPDATE: I have tested both speakers through the receiver they had been connected to (It’s not original to the speakers. It’s a 1970s Soundesign KMTR-127 receiver/8-track that was in the system when I found it) one at a time and together at low and moderate volume. Both play cleanly with no buzz, rattle, or distortion - and they are quiet at idle.

 

[superdog]

Probably worth more sold as individually to someone looking to set up a mono system. Not being a matched pair really hurts their value as a set.

 

[Mwdan]

If they sound good and the cabinets are the same, I think I'd try to match the speakers with the one that sounds the best.

 

[radioactive]

Probably worth more sold as individually to someone looking to set up a mono system. Not being a matched pair really hurts their value as a set.

Either a mono setup or if they want to match a single that they already have for stereo.So yes the best way to sell them is individually.

 

[loudnoises]

These were rarely sold as pairs, and a pair is sometimes worth more than the sum of it's parts. Visually they are different, but if the construction and dimensions match, then you have a pair, mismatching drivers or not.

 

[Sammcamos]

These were rarely sold as pairs, and a pair is sometimes worth more than the sum of it's parts. Visually they are different, but if the construction and dimensions match, then you have a pair, mismatching drivers or not.

I have plenty of old cabinets that were clearly bought as separates, and later mated into a pair. Even the pair of AR 2a's I had were bought at two different times by the original owner.

That being said, in these parts, I think I would stuggle to get more than a hundred or so for them. Quite literally nobody "on the street" so to speak wants a single speaker, and even fewer want a mismatched set. I know plenty of folks on here have mono systems (myself included), but realistically very few people in the general population (read local market) would actually want one. I'd probably pull the drivers and then sell/give the matching cabinets to someone who would put them to good use.