Western Electric 594's
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So retire early... 
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
Yes, when offered by a reputable, and credible international seller of that type of collectible audio gear, not joe schmo.
The example you gave is from a well known and experienced high end Korean seller. That could(will) generate unrealistic expectations for a novice seller.
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PPstereo
Super Member
That is normally quite true.
But given most schmos end up selling on ebay to try and fetch the most take home.
And ebay basically backs the buyer to an insane level.
I'd guess theres a damn good chance schmo will net the same amount.
Big reason being it is so damn rare. And hardly ever comes up for sale.
This isnt some SX1980. These hardly ever come up for sale.
I wouldn't be shocked he listed them they may well exceed the 2017 sale price.
I dont see this being the case for 90+% of vintage audio. But something like this. Theres a chance. Schmo or not.
But they fired me from the antique road show so take my 2c with allot of salt
So, this begs the question - is this kind of money liable to equal great sound, or is it the rarity and prestige of owning?
15k buys serious stuff.
15k buys serious stuff.
PPstereo
Super Member
I dont blame you for asking such a thing.
To shed a bit of light on the high cost I'd cite, its western electric. Some of the most sought after brand vintage audio gear in existence. It then goes to the next level of being a field coil driver. Now we have the pinnacle of uber rare and sought after.
$15k is allot of money for a single audio driver. But it gets even crazier than that. Many years ago I attended a couple audio shows where modern day field coil drivers were being used in some crazy boutique high efficiency horn speakers. And were talking stuff with price tags equal to that of a new BMW car.
It's been many years since I kept up on that stuff but it's still being made these days. And the handful of sites I found showing the goods, none list prices. Not uncommon for such stuff.
Heck the exotic power supplies owners use to charge the coil often costs an insane amount of $ in addition to the driver itself.
Way out of my league gear. I'm in the command man fixed magnet drivers for my horn gear.
http://www.myemia.com/_FC.html
https://www.teresaudio.com/haven/cogent/cogent.html
Another example that will blow your mind is how much an original working vintage Fairchild 670 tube compressor limiter will fetch. They can hit 6 figures.
Yeah certain vintage gear will get crazy money. If it delivers bang for the $ is up to the listener. I couldnt tell ya.
Well, from sitting on my porch, zeros and ones travel to my dragonfly dac into humble PSB400's, powered by an average Onkyo mid 90's receiver, from god knows where, compressed, and recorded likely with a cellphone, I'll say this -
Damn. That trumpet sounds real as hell.
What if we started in the 1920's to REALLY get it right, and from there, just effed it up?? Love those big horns. They actually resemble the inner ear.
Haha, of course there is. Is there anything that amazing country cannot do?
I'd guess shipping would be prohibitive, alone. But still, if I had space/money.....
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
About a decade before that, greed, politics, and profit have kept it F'd up continuously since. Study the Bell Laboratories patents from the early 1900's. Heck, just look at one innovation, the radial slit phase plug. Who designed and patented it? and then 50 years later, who took the exact idea and put it into production with modern low cost manufacturing(injection molding)?
Inventory control that doesn't alter the product in any way.
You don't really want collectible gear carved up with an electric engraving pencil. too bad somebody didn't tell the GI blokes when they were buying systems at the PX.
PPstereo
Super Member
I suspect the only way you'll get an accurate answer will be putting them up for sale.
That's the rub with super rare items.
And with little sales history of such an item. The passage of time between sales. Who's to say with specificity.
We all know they are worth allot. Beyond that the notion of speculating on their value seems kinda silly to me.
When you sell you'll get your answer accurately
That's the rub with super rare items.
And with little sales history of such an item. The passage of time between sales. Who's to say with specificity.
We all know they are worth allot. Beyond that the notion of speculating on their value seems kinda silly to me.
When you sell you'll get your answer accurately
Lazarus Long
Super Member
Thats an amazing find. What if you found those at an estate sale, for next to nothing. You buy because it says, Western Electric, and you have no idea what they are really worth. Would you feel guilty when you found out they were worth $15K each?
bigcaddy64
Super Member
If I can read Western Electric on the back, so can the seller. If it’s a pro outfit making the sale, I’m getting a score. If it’s a widow selling off her stuff to keep her house, I’d educate her
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BillWojo
Addicted Member
I found some Western Electric oil filled caps at a flea market for a few bucks each. Grabbed them because I know anything WE is worth something. Got home and saw they were fetching between 5 to 6 hundred each on Ebay.
But to find a set of those drivers in good condition? it would make me nuts, I mean, I would NEED a set of vintage horns to play them through. But needing and getting are two different things. I'd have to adapt them to some Altec horns and be satisfied with that.
BillWojo
But to find a set of those drivers in good condition? it would make me nuts, I mean, I would NEED a set of vintage horns to play them through. But needing and getting are two different things. I'd have to adapt them to some Altec horns and be satisfied with that.
BillWojo
