Thread: Old wharfedales worth anything?

I had some Wharfdale Meltons from the 60's that eventually died. The membrane that connected the cones to the magnets got fairly rigid/brittle and the speakers lost most of their appeal. Apparently they can be refurbed but you'd have to be keen.

When my FIL passed away we had to do something with his 60's 12inch Altec lansing speakers in cabinets like you describe. We tried and tried to sell them but they were too big for modern day tastes. We eventually located a shop in Lonsdale St (near Elizabeth st corner) that bought and sold old gear. I can''t remember the name but he used to advertise in the Green Guide. The proprieter was very helpful with working out what old technology had any residual value.

I've got a mate who's a sound engineer and I'll ask him during the week to see if they are worth much .
Also bloke I know had old set of 12inch wharfdales and paid a fortune to get them repaired as they do get brittle and not many out there that repair stuff these days however he seemed to think they were worth it so ill check with me mate and reply during week

hooroo

Originally Posted by fubar

I've got a mate who's a sound engineer and I'll ask him during the week to see if they are worth much .
Also bloke I know had old set of 12inch wharfdales and paid a fortune to get them repaired as they do get brittle and not many out there that repair stuff these days however he seemed to think they were worth it so ill check with me mate and reply during week

hooroo

Much appreciated fubar

and Fuzzie.. Lonsdale street will be my next port of call, nice one.

Thanks for the tips folks

audiophiles would love them IMO.. I would sell them, I had one in the 50's along with Axiom 80 I sold no trouble
les

Originally Posted by les88

audiophiles would love them IMO.. I would sell them, I had one in the 50's along with Axiom 80 I sold no trouble
les

Thanks les.. I think its time to get them out of their cases and have a good look at them.
I'll pop up some photo's when I get around to it.

Slow6,
You could try talking to the people on the DTV forum.
There are a lot of audophiles visit that site who could give you some good advice.
Just make sure you give them as much detail as you possibly can.

Alternatively try selling them on ebay.

Cheers........Paul.

Originally Posted by Slow6

Thanks les.. I think its time to get them out of their cases and have a good look at them.
I'll pop up some photo's when I get around to it.

Yes. The thing to do is post info about the lettering and numbers on the drivers. A picture of each wouldn't go astray. In particular, show the condition of the cone and surround, as well as the rear/voicecoil.
Start by posting that here, and you may save yourself the eBay fees.

cheers

Doug

Ah! Remember when Wharfdales were the epitome of excellence along with the smooth Goodmans.? how times have changed.

Wharfdale are still a highly respected english speaker manufacturer.
I recently purchased new hi fi come home theatre gear and ended up going with B&W, but I very nearly went with Wharfdale.

You may be surprised Slow6 they could be sought after speakers.

The truth of the matter is that problay arent worth mutch, HOWEVER someone with a bee in their bonnet about wharfedale might give you some decent cash for them.... but you will need to know condition and model numbers.

Wharfedale are still arround but their current products are so very far removed from the early stuff.
They now have a cradle to grave manufacturing facility in southern china that turns out some pretty consistent quality and very reasonable prices, I used quite a bit of their pro range in installations & it seems pretty damn fair.

I had a pair of "super 8's" for my first speakers and they sounded all right for an 8" twin cone.
I know a bloke that had a couple of pairs of "super 12's" and the boxes were huge (size of a small fridge) but all the "good boxes" were big then.....The common size for a 12" was 100 litres and many were twice that size.

The altec's would be far more saleable as they were a later generation and except for their cheap domestic range parts can still be had... if you know who to ask.

cheers

slow 6
talked to my mate the sound engineer wasnt too interested said you may get some interest from an old enthusiast
talked to the bloke who had repaired his wharfs and this was done in adelaide cost $450 each speaker
dont know if that helped you much
hooroo

Thanks again folks.. took the old boxes apart last night, amazing 40mm thick boards of red pine.

The speakers are wharfdales with the old sales tags from 1959.. 10inch inspected again in 1969.
I'll post photo's in this thread later this arvo or tonight. one speaker has its centre little cloth bubble pushed in.. all else looks good.

Gday Folks.. here we go.

I must say even fighting with my life long affliction of musical illiteracy I'm on the ball enough to know these are pretty sexy looking speakers.

Such a shame about that middle bit (what is that bit called)
All the info you need is in the photo's I think.

10" Bronze/FSB Speakers
Speech coil 15 Ohms

Tested resonance 38 cycles

Date 2nd Jan 1959

On one speaker itself (you can make it out in the photos) there is an ink stamp..
"11 Nov 1969" with a little circle.. I'm thinking the speakers had a checkup in 1969?

What do you think? I cant see any damage or degradation beyond the obvious center thing being dinged up.

Originally Posted by Slow6

Gday Folks.

I have a pair of HUGE old speaker boxes that I am having a hard time justifying keeping.
The boxes were made by my grandfather from timber taken from the flour mill he worked for at the time 1950's I think.
I'm starting to think about knocking the boxes down and using the timber for something special that wont take up the precious floor space and require a trip to the physio whenever I try to move the buggers.
So.. to the speakers.. assuming that they are in good knick and purchased in the fifties (I'd be able to confirm this) would a pair of maybe 300mm across wharfedale speakers be worth holding on to? selling?

Thanks for reading

I am constantly surprised at the old junk people are willing to buy. Clean up the drivers and whack 'em on eBay. You may make a killing on them. I have a mate who specialised in these sorts of things. His area of expertise in in the theatre area. He's been scouring the world for many years, buying up old cinema amps and speakers. He recently sold some 70 year old drivers and crossovers to a Japanese collector for $25k. They cost him less than 100 Bucks.