What are these?

Pycroft
Pycroft Posts: 1,960
edited March 2010 in Vintage Speakers
http://cgi.ebay.com/western-electric-753c-monitor-speakers_W0QQitemZ160407445647QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintage_Electronics_R2?hash=item255907608f

I saw these, 15 miles from me...20,000 dollars? Never heard of the company, and they look like crap. Wondering if it's worth charging 20,000 for a scam? Seriously, who would pay 20k for speakers that weren't guaranteed to be the best damn speakers ever? Any comments on what these are! FYI, I'm not interested in buying :)

James
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,606
    edited March 2010
    I have read about those before. Western Electric made theatre speakers way back in the 50's and on, I think. Not sure on the price but they are suppose to be really rare. I have never seen that model before, only the way bigger ones.

    Pretty sure the price does not reflect the sound quality but raher the rarity.
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited March 2010
    Pycroft wrote: »
    http://cgi.ebay.com/western-electric-753c-monitor-speakers_W0QQitemZ160407445647QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintage_Electronics_R2?hash=item255907608f

    I saw these, 15 miles from me...20,000 dollars? Never heard of the company, and they look like crap. Wondering if it's worth charging 20,000 for a scam? Seriously, who would pay 20k for speakers that weren't guaranteed to be the best damn speakers ever? Any comments on what these are! FYI, I'm not interested in buying :)

    James

    There are speakers out there that cost far more than 20k, and none of them are guaranteed to be the best speakers ever(there is no such thing as "best ever" with something like speakers anyway).;)


    I'd have to agree though, you're paying for the rarity, not necessarily the SQ.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited March 2010
    what are these? Overpriced is what they are. dang.. the condition of them is poor.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited March 2010
    SOME Western Electric speakers can bring AMAZING money, especially in the Asian market. They are usually the 'Field Coil' variety, and while those drivers themselves are in really good condition for the age, they are Alnico, and might bring between $500 and $1000 from an overseas buyer.

    I'm all for running it up the flagpole and seeing if someone will salute, but that asking price is more than optomistic, and the seller probably just wasted the listing fee.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,606
    edited March 2010
    ^ I agree. I am fairly positive they dont sound that good. And hell, they are not in that great of shape. But again, the rarity is where the price is. But in that condition i certainly would not give anything close to the asking price.
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited March 2010
    I don't know why they have such a following, they are extremely efficient which is great for flea tubes, but I think it's also just 'Americana' for a lack of a better word.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,606
    edited March 2010
    i guess maybe cause they are not made anymore, production quantities, and their history maybe? Some collectors will pay lots for something you or I would pass on. I know that from experience with vintage guitars.

    Maybe a dumb question, but what truly American speaker manufacturer's are there these days?
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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