mid 70s KLH Woofer made by Polk?

arcsound
arcsound Posts: 5
in Vintage Speakers
I have a mid 70s KLH woofer from the Baron (model 355) speaker that has a mfg code of “DD142477”. The 1st 3 digits, “142” are supposed to be the driver manufacturer. When I searched who is “142”, it came back Polk(!) Is this possible? Thoughts?356j5jn59nss.jpg
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Answers

  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,735
    If that's a 10” woofer, it's probably not from Polk. Polk's early models were all based on a 6.5” woofer combined with a passive radiator. I don't think they ever made a 10” driver.
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  • arcsound
    arcsound Posts: 5
    Update: now the code “142” is returning “Heinz and Kaufman, Ltd”, Culver City, CA. So maybe not Polk, but I can’t find anything on H&K in the 1977 era, though. Does anyone remember them making drivers in the 70s?
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,735
    I think you are trusting that old number too much. They were probably from Peerless or made in house by KLH.
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,809
    The Audiokarma forum may have some members who have history on the woofers in these. I understand the Model 355 woofer is an odd sized 11 inch. KLH + Infinity was a far bigger speaker manufacturing company than Polk back in the late 1970s and tended to use drivers from their own sources. For example, the Peerless tweeter seen in those was from their company stable.
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  • Gardenstater
    Gardenstater Posts: 4,801
    It might be 55142477. Could be a Peerless woofer mfg. date 24th week of 1977.
    George / NJ

    Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
    Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
    Onkyo A-8017 integrated
    Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
    iFi nano iDSD DAC
    iPurifier3
    iDefender w/ iPower PS
    Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
    iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
    Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
    Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 27,220
    Polk definitely didn't have their own speaker production plant. The let others make their drivers to their (Polk) own spec's.
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  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 5,339
    The 70's were a strange time.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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  • BinKY188_5
    BinKY188_5 Posts: 143
    xschop wrote: »
    The 70's were a strange GREAT time.

    Fixed it.

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  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 5,339
    Great for JHU undergrads enrolled in Bong Engineering elective, crashing at the Gallagher Mansion frat.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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  • arcsound
    arcsound Posts: 5
    Gardenstater wrote: »
    It might be 55142477. Could be a Peerless woofer mfg. date 24th week of 1977.

    This seems likely, “55”, vs “DD”.
    and if “55142” corresponds to Peerless, I’d say you are right.
    I’ve only heard of Peerless in relation to tweeters, sounds like they made woofers, too?
    Was Peerless Dutch? Or German?
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 27,220
    Before a Hong Kong company bought them, the company was in Denmark.
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,809
    Danish, although the ownership of the company has had many international twists and turns over many decades including US ownership for a long time. That's why there's a link between Peerless and KLH.
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  • Gardenstater
    Gardenstater Posts: 4,801
    The list of speaker manufacturers that have used Peerless tweeters and other drivers is huge. KLH just another one to add to the list.
    George / NJ

    Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
    Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
    Onkyo A-8017 integrated
    Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
    iFi nano iDSD DAC
    iPurifier3
    iDefender w/ iPower PS
    Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
    iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
    Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
    Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter