avguytx
05-31-2008, 04:10 PM
....a pair of 1978 Klipschorns from the original owner with sequential serial numbers 12S738/739. They are the KB-WO's which people have told me that are the more desirable model? (I don't know myself) They are in darn near perfect shape with the exception of a piece of veneer in the top left front facing that I'll have to fix one day. It's about a 3/4" spot if that.
All I can say is that these speakers will be with me till I leave this earth if at all possible. These are what got me totally hooked on home audio back in the late 70's when my grandfather took me to Custom Audio in Little Rock, AR when I was 13. They were set up in their demo room and were such a dominating factor, it just made them unbelievable. They played them on 2 different amps of which were hidden behind a small "curtain" and weren't revealed till the 15 minute (or so) demo was over with. First running them was the smallest Yamaha (or Marantz) integrated amp that was maybe 15 or 20wpc on them and then they were switched to an all tube system IIRC which most likely was McIntosh since they were one of the first (and oldest) dealers for the Mac line. I was completely blown away and made it a promise to myself at that age that I would own a pair of Klipschorns someday.
Well, almost 30 years later, I do. I bought these a couple of days ago from the original owner who bought them from Hillcrest HiFi in the Dallas area back in the late 70's along with an all Tandberg system consisting of a preamp, power amp, Reel to Reel, cassette deck but some other brand of turntable. He's keeping all of that equipment but I am first on the list for it whenever he decides to part with it. It wasn't the entry level stuff either...it was ALL the top of the line gear he could get from Tanberg. He is a retired Delta Airlines pilot from 31 years of service who was also a jet pilot back in WWII.
What makes me truly know these are staying with me is the personal history behind the speakers in just talking with him for a couple of hours over the course of 2 different days that I was at their home. He and his wife are moving to Nevada after living north of the DFW area for over 50 years to an area they have always loved. These Klipschorns, and the other gear, would have gone to his son who died in some fashion (I didn't ask) a few of years back. His son would have been around 45 now I believe and he left behind his twin 15 year old daughters and wife of 20 years. Earlier today, I had gone back to pick up 2 different Barzilay pieces of furniture which are simply beautiful and will be the "entertainment center" for my living room that I have been procrastinating on building for about 6 months now. The lower piece is 6' long X 18" deep X 14.5" tall and the upper is the same dimensions except it's 4' wide. With the smaller piece on top of the longer one, with the lower units base, they are 31.5" tall. He had them custom made in Gardena, CA (IIRC) and had them shipped here in the early 60's and were custom made with the right height for holding his beloved LP's and reel to reel tapes in the lower unit and the Tandberg gear in the other. (There was other electronics in there before he replaced it with the new Tandberg/Klipsch system) Believe me they are gorgeous with the Tambor doors that are fully functional and STILL together after 40 years. American woodworking at its finest.
Ok...I got a little off track. This morning as I was picking up the furniture, his wife came outside along with one of his granddaughters and he introduced me. She told me about the history of the speakers, how much they enjoyed listening to the big band music on their system and dancing around the BIG room they were in (one wall was 45' long!). She was practically in tears as she told me how their deceased son loved listening to the system when he was young and how that helped give him his love of music and equipment. She reiterated how those speakers would have been his if he would have still been alive and told me to "give them a good home, enjoy them and cherish them as they had." Ok, that put me in tears at that point and I totally understood the sentimental value of these speakers.
Sorry I got a little long winded with this and even writing it brought back some tears just thinking of that couple and their happy times. I will get some pictures of everything posted soon as they (and the furniture) are in the garage "curing" from being treated to a coat of Watco Walnut Danish Oil. He sent me with the remainder of that gallon container that he used periodically on them. (how long do they need to stay outside before they can "come in and play"...haha)
What a great weekend. I am happy, Now the rearranging begins to get them in my less than stellar location for listening to them. But at least they will have true corners even if they are in too small of a room.
All I can say is that these speakers will be with me till I leave this earth if at all possible. These are what got me totally hooked on home audio back in the late 70's when my grandfather took me to Custom Audio in Little Rock, AR when I was 13. They were set up in their demo room and were such a dominating factor, it just made them unbelievable. They played them on 2 different amps of which were hidden behind a small "curtain" and weren't revealed till the 15 minute (or so) demo was over with. First running them was the smallest Yamaha (or Marantz) integrated amp that was maybe 15 or 20wpc on them and then they were switched to an all tube system IIRC which most likely was McIntosh since they were one of the first (and oldest) dealers for the Mac line. I was completely blown away and made it a promise to myself at that age that I would own a pair of Klipschorns someday.
Well, almost 30 years later, I do. I bought these a couple of days ago from the original owner who bought them from Hillcrest HiFi in the Dallas area back in the late 70's along with an all Tandberg system consisting of a preamp, power amp, Reel to Reel, cassette deck but some other brand of turntable. He's keeping all of that equipment but I am first on the list for it whenever he decides to part with it. It wasn't the entry level stuff either...it was ALL the top of the line gear he could get from Tanberg. He is a retired Delta Airlines pilot from 31 years of service who was also a jet pilot back in WWII.
What makes me truly know these are staying with me is the personal history behind the speakers in just talking with him for a couple of hours over the course of 2 different days that I was at their home. He and his wife are moving to Nevada after living north of the DFW area for over 50 years to an area they have always loved. These Klipschorns, and the other gear, would have gone to his son who died in some fashion (I didn't ask) a few of years back. His son would have been around 45 now I believe and he left behind his twin 15 year old daughters and wife of 20 years. Earlier today, I had gone back to pick up 2 different Barzilay pieces of furniture which are simply beautiful and will be the "entertainment center" for my living room that I have been procrastinating on building for about 6 months now. The lower piece is 6' long X 18" deep X 14.5" tall and the upper is the same dimensions except it's 4' wide. With the smaller piece on top of the longer one, with the lower units base, they are 31.5" tall. He had them custom made in Gardena, CA (IIRC) and had them shipped here in the early 60's and were custom made with the right height for holding his beloved LP's and reel to reel tapes in the lower unit and the Tandberg gear in the other. (There was other electronics in there before he replaced it with the new Tandberg/Klipsch system) Believe me they are gorgeous with the Tambor doors that are fully functional and STILL together after 40 years. American woodworking at its finest.
Ok...I got a little off track. This morning as I was picking up the furniture, his wife came outside along with one of his granddaughters and he introduced me. She told me about the history of the speakers, how much they enjoyed listening to the big band music on their system and dancing around the BIG room they were in (one wall was 45' long!). She was practically in tears as she told me how their deceased son loved listening to the system when he was young and how that helped give him his love of music and equipment. She reiterated how those speakers would have been his if he would have still been alive and told me to "give them a good home, enjoy them and cherish them as they had." Ok, that put me in tears at that point and I totally understood the sentimental value of these speakers.
Sorry I got a little long winded with this and even writing it brought back some tears just thinking of that couple and their happy times. I will get some pictures of everything posted soon as they (and the furniture) are in the garage "curing" from being treated to a coat of Watco Walnut Danish Oil. He sent me with the remainder of that gallon container that he used periodically on them. (how long do they need to stay outside before they can "come in and play"...haha)
What a great weekend. I am happy, Now the rearranging begins to get them in my less than stellar location for listening to them. But at least they will have true corners even if they are in too small of a room.