Wharfdale model ID???
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Gang-Twanger
Resident Wharfedaliophool
They're either early W60's or early W40's (early '60's). If the woofer is a 12", then they are W60's. If it's an 8", then they're W40's. Either way, they are early W** models from the Briggs era. VERY-nice speakers. One important thing to remember about the W60 and other smaller Wharfedale models from that period is that they sound best when resting on their sides. And you want them high enough so that the tweeters are at eye/ear-level, so maybe you have some tall barstool-type chairs or something because they really benefit from the extra height, plus resting them on their sides puts the woofer and tweeter on the same plane and really ties the sound together (Gives them a seamless sound with better bass... Just make sure that you have the tweeter on the left for BOTH cabs... Do not try to mirror-image them). And spend the extra time getting the distances right. Break out the tape measure. The real magic lies within that last inch.
If you do the above and also make sure to power them with either a tube amp (or receiver) or an early solid-state amp (or receiver) with a tube-like sound, then you will be blessed with some truly-wonderful sound (The early solid-state Sansui, Sherwood, and Sony models are a no-brainer, and pretty-much any old tube amp in the 15-30wpc range will make them sound awesome). My main speakers are a pair of early W90's, but I just spent a week and a half house-sitting and brought along my early W60's and my Sansui 2000x receiver so I could try them in a better room and fool around with placement, and I was blown away by the sound. The W60's are a very-underrated speaker. Fantastic upper-bass. They're a bit lean in the low-bass, but you won't notice it (unless you're listening to post-millennium dubstep or something like that with 18hz bass sweeps in it). On classic-rock/pop, jazz/jazz-fusion, blues, country, acoustic music, classical, etc., they are a stone delight (I played AC/DC's "Back In Black", and they kicked it out in fine fashion... Same thing with Judas Priest's "Living After Midnight"... Great drums and great guitars... Rush's "YYZ"? No problem... That upper-bass SLAMS when needed). Just remember what I said about placement. These were designed to be resting on their sides and up high enough so that the tweeters are at eye/ear-level, as if on a tall, open-ended bookshelf.
Almost forgot, but that "Radio People" thing is just the name of Wharfedale's Far East distributor. Some US serviceman must have bought those at an army base overseas and brought them back home with him once his tour was over. This was quite-common with Wharfedales, especially the W** models. No need to worry though. Drivers and materials were made in England and shipped to the overseas distributor who would do the final assembly. Same great sound.
If you do the above and also make sure to power them with either a tube amp (or receiver) or an early solid-state amp (or receiver) with a tube-like sound, then you will be blessed with some truly-wonderful sound (The early solid-state Sansui, Sherwood, and Sony models are a no-brainer, and pretty-much any old tube amp in the 15-30wpc range will make them sound awesome). My main speakers are a pair of early W90's, but I just spent a week and a half house-sitting and brought along my early W60's and my Sansui 2000x receiver so I could try them in a better room and fool around with placement, and I was blown away by the sound. The W60's are a very-underrated speaker. Fantastic upper-bass. They're a bit lean in the low-bass, but you won't notice it (unless you're listening to post-millennium dubstep or something like that with 18hz bass sweeps in it). On classic-rock/pop, jazz/jazz-fusion, blues, country, acoustic music, classical, etc., they are a stone delight (I played AC/DC's "Back In Black", and they kicked it out in fine fashion... Same thing with Judas Priest's "Living After Midnight"... Great drums and great guitars... Rush's "YYZ"? No problem... That upper-bass SLAMS when needed). Just remember what I said about placement. These were designed to be resting on their sides and up high enough so that the tweeters are at eye/ear-level, as if on a tall, open-ended bookshelf.
Almost forgot, but that "Radio People" thing is just the name of Wharfedale's Far East distributor. Some US serviceman must have bought those at an army base overseas and brought them back home with him once his tour was over. This was quite-common with Wharfedales, especially the W** models. No need to worry though. Drivers and materials were made in England and shipped to the overseas distributor who would do the final assembly. Same great sound.
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