Wharfdale W70 question

[HiMcDunnough]

I’m looking at these W70s on CL. They’re 2 hrs away, so I was hoping to get a couple questions answered. The grill cloth has been removed so the drivers are visible, and I was wondering, can you tell by looking if they’re original?

 

[transmaster]

Yes they do appear to be originals c.1962
Please pay attention to the power limitations, about 30 Watt's.

 

[HiMcDunnough]

Thanks! I’ve got a 35 w tube amp... any opinion on whether replacing the grill cloth is doable? Online I see mostly people failing at it

 

[transmaster]

You are not going to match the original cloth which I have always thought was ugly anyway. I would get them working properly first than do the grills later.

 

[HiMcDunnough]

Cool. Thanks!

 

[transmaster]

There is an art restoration channel on Youtube. It is interesting to watch this conservator restore paintings But when you watch him stretch a canvas on a stretching frame you see the technique needed to stretch a speaker grill

. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvZe6ZCbF9xgbbbdkiodPKQ

 

[Darby Crash]

Hi, did you end up getting the speakers?
Im working on a pair now. The front baffle can be removed from the inside. Its held in place by a bunch of screwed in wedges. What sucks is you have to remove all the glued on insulation and the upper and lower screwed and glued wood pieces that the back screws into.

 

[markkb]

Those are not ported, so more likely ‘65 onward vintage.
The grill cloth is doable, as noted above, the front baffle can be removed. Your lucky if the wood cleats are screwed on and not glued. If glued you chisel them out and replace with screwed on cleats.

 

[Darby Crash]