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Need Info: Vintage Permoflux & Electro-Voice Aristocrat Speakers

pjones2127

pjones2127

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I came across two old cabinet speakers at a thrift store. One is an Electro-Voice "Aristocrat" corner speaker. The other speaker is by Permoflux. The model is "Diminuette". Both are in very good condition save a few scratches on the case. Both have beautiful wooden cabinets. The wood is dark and appears to be walnut or mohogany.

Both speakers appear to be in nice condition considering how old they are. I was told that both are in working order, although I have yet to test them.

I'd like to learn more about these old speakers. I'm also wondering what they are worth, and how to test and restore them.

I'll be happy to email photos. If you're interested in purchasing either them, I live in the N. Alabama area. Feel free to drop me an email. :banana:
 
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Thanks Grumpy. I had a chance to test both today and they work, although i did not test with significant wattage. What is the secret for getting to the guts of this thing. It managed to get the front cover off, but can't find a way to get to the back to see what model the speaker is. Visually the speaker looks fine.
 
Wow! That's a great site. I found a vintage ad for the Aristocrat showing exactly the same speaker that's in my cabinet. It's the model 12TRX8 Triaxial 20 watts, 35-1500 cps, 1lb 2oz magnet. I still haven't found any information about the permoflux speaker.
 
If you're still having problems getting into the Aristocrat, have a look at the front baffle. There are about 8 or 10 screws around the perimeter and the whole baffle comes off. The back isn't removable. Yes, that's right, I've got a pair as well. They actually sound decent if you can find the corner space for them. Move then in and out of the corner until the bass sounds best and there you are!
 
Thanks for the info. When I slid the front grill down, I noticed there were screws around the perimeter. I even removed them, but the board didn't budge, so I didn't want to force anything and just put it back together. I'd like to get in there and clean out the cobwebs.

This unit has the Triaxial speaker. It only has one knob in the brilliance position. Is it missing the other or perhaps never had it. It seems that there were lots of options for this cabinet in terms of speakers. I notice it has a few unused cutouts. I guess they encouraged owners to upgrade.

Anybody ever heard of permoflux speakers?? I've found listings for headphones and also military hardware, but no references to home-style cabinet speakers.
 
Never heard of permoflux.
My aristocrats only had one driver but have cutouts for the horn and maybe a mid. The controls are capped but the labels are there. When you do get inside you may see labels on all of the panels, I think they're mostly kits and have assembly part names on the boards. I made new baffles and tried a few different speakers in them: Coral 10tx70's, goodmans 12" triax's and 12" university mustangs. The corals worked best in that box. I'd like to hear the EV drivers in there.
 
I just saw on ebay's completed items an original EV Aristocrat kit, new in the box and never assembeled. I couldn't believe it didn't even get a $5.99 bid! Meanwhile, a single aristocrat cabinet with a voice speaker sold for over $200. There is one on now im watching thats currently @ $41.

It seems that success in selling one of these involves being in the right place at the right time with the right driver! I haven't seen any with the 12TRX8 Triaxial driver like mine, so I'm optimistic that it may be worth something. As soon as I get some basic cleaning and restoration done I'm gonna list it and cross my fingers. I wonder if I would be better off just scrapping the cabinet and selling the driver by itself?? I might get $75 for the driver and save the shipping headache.

It's the same moral deliema that my father has with vintage outboard motors. Despite the fact that the're in perfect shape and running, they're still worth more as parts, but the thought of tearing them down and parting them out breaks his heart.
 
The Aristocrats were my 1st set of decent stereo speakers. Got them with a Quad tube system in the early 60s. Some rich kid from Philips Exeter academy heard the setup and paid me something like 10x what I paid for the system - that's when I learned about profit and it gave me the cash for my 1st Marantz tube system. The speakers with the low powered amps were very good sounding and I had to move up quite abit in terms of speakers before bettering them.
 
I have a pair of 'crats with EV triax in them. Great for a small room but I had to put them on top of some other cabinets to raise the tweeters up.
 
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