AR-1 speakers for sale

[Guest mfishman]

Greetings,

I have a pair of AR-1 speakers, which are not in perfect

condition, and which I had wanted to maintain, but was

perplexed as to how to open the enclosures. Looking for

this information, I came across this set of forums.

I also noticed a post in the AR forum, to the effect that a

pair of these speakers had recently been sold on Ebay for a

large sum, and in my current situation, I cannot afford the

luxury of overlooking this resource.

Before offering them on Ebay, though, I thought that someone

here might be interested. I realize that prices vary with

condition, and at this point have not set a price. I would

consider it courtesy if an someone were to offer me an

honest opinion of their worth.

As for working condition, one speaker appears to function

correctly, with the exception of having what seems to be a

dirty pot, so unless the knob is in just the right

position, there will be no sound from the tweeter. The

second speaker had the same problem, but after occasional

cycles of resetting the knob and jostling the tweeter into

silence, I cannot get any sound out of the tweeter at all.

I have been using them with a 50 wpc receiver, and rarely,

if ever, drove it into clipping, so I have hope that the

tweeter is not blown, but do not know.

Their appearance is not stellar. Since they had previously

been used in an auditorium, they were painted yellow,

and the paint has acquired many spots over the years. The

fabric of the grill is slightly slit at the bottom, and

is also stained. The paper labels are partly gone, but the

AR 1 name is still visible on one of the labels. The serial

numbers are 18183 and 18184. I have hopefully managed to

attach some photos.

I live near New York City, and the speakers can easily be

transported to Manhattan for pickup. Shipping can also be

arranged, of course.

I can be contacted in this forum or directly at mattisf

"at" gmail.com

Thank you,

Mattis Fishman

[dynaco_dan]

>Greetings,

>

>I have a pair of AR-1 speakers, which are not in perfect

>condition,

On a scale of speaker condition being out of 10, they would be near the bottom.

and which I had wanted to maintain, but was

>perplexed as to how to open the enclosures.

Do not make any attempt to even remove the grille cloth, for anyone!

Looking for

>this information, I came across this set of forums.

>

>I also noticed a post in the AR forum, to the effect that a

>pair of these speakers had recently been sold on Ebay for a

>large sum, and in my current situation, I cannot afford the

>luxury of overlooking this resource.

A pair just went for $200.00 and were, in my opinion, much better condition visually, but less their valuable original tweeters.

>

>Before offering them on Ebay, though, I thought that someone

>here might be interested. I realize that prices vary with

>condition, and at this point have not set a price. I would

>consider it courtesy if an someone were to offer me an

>honest opinion of their worth.

>

>As for working condition, one speaker appears to function

>correctly, with the exception of having what seems to be a

>dirty pot, so unless the knob is in just the right

>position, there will be no sound from the tweeter. The

>second speaker had the same problem, but after occasional

>cycles of resetting the knob and jostling the tweeter into

>silence, I cannot get any sound out of the tweeter at all.

At this point, possibly one or both tweeters are defective, lessening both their values considerably.

>I have been using them with a 50 wpc receiver, and rarely,

>if ever, drove it into clipping, so I have hope that the

>tweeter is not blown, but do not know.

Needs to be properly determined to maximize your income.

>

>Their appearance is not stellar.

Yes, this is shown in the photos.

Since they had previously

>been used in an auditorium,

It appears that you picked them up from a commercial clearance or upgrade sale, rather than a family owned possession.

they were painted yellow,

>and the paint has acquired many spots over the years. The

>fabric of the grill is slightly slit at the bottom, and

>is also stained.

The paper labels are partly gone, but the

>AR 1 name is still visible on one of the labels. The serial

>numbers are 18183 and 18184.

This help's to establish their identity, without a doubt.

I have hopefully managed to

>attach some photos.

>

>

>I live near New York City, and the speakers can easily be

>transported to Manhattan for pickup. Shipping can also be

>arranged, of course.

>

>I can be contacted in this forum or directly at mattisf

>"at" gmail.com

>

>Thank you,

>Mattis Fishman

At the very least, these will be useful as AR-1W, woofer only equivalents, if the woofers are original and in mint operable condition.

[johnieo]

The cabinets would likely be a chore, but certainly not impossible, to refinish by a skilled person. The tweeters are a most valuable component of this speaker that is well regarded by Asian collectors. In this case one should consider carefully removing the grille cloth to determine the tweeter condition - without doing that you will realize little return. One person suggested unscrewing the badge and in its place inserting a long screw so as to help in pulling free the very old and now dried hot glue. A thin flat steel blade will help pry the grille out without gouging the picture frame. The tweeter is not part of the acoustic suspension cabinet volume, rather it is mounted in a small external well. Simply unscrew the tweeters and check the continuity of each tweeter individually with an Ohmmeter. Alternatively, momentarily touch a 1.5 V battery across the tweeter termials and see if that makes noise. Some years ago I sold an AR-1 and all the questioning from proposed buyers centered around the condition of the tweeters. Should the purchaser only want the tweters, then you could sell the woofers separately. However, If both are good you might well receive a reasonable price for these units.

Cheers,

[Guest mfishman]

Thank you Vern and John for your replies, and also thanks those of you who replied off-line.

I was a little puzzled, Vern, how I was to determine the condition of the tweeters and woofers without removing the grille cloth, which you caution me strongly against.

I did try a spray of electrical contact cleaner down the pot stem, and twiddled with it for another half hour, with the happy result of determining that the tweeter does indeed function well - but only if I keep my hand pressing on the stem at just the right position. From reading many archived posts here I gather that pots and their rotors do need replacing from time to time.

So now I have two speakers, both with two working drivers.

Unfortunately, I am particularly prone to damage things I try to repair, and the daunting task of removing the woofer and replacing the pot through the aperture is likely to do more harm than good.

John, and others, have advised me that I could simply remove the tweeters and offer them on Ebay, but the posting in the AR forum about the recent AR-1 Ebay sale said:

>>A pair sold for $ 1,935.00 last night !

>and the tweeters went for $356 (same seller, different buyer. Too bad--would have made a nice set)

which appears to show that they are considerably more valuable as a complete unit. And then, mine are quite unsightly and need work on the pots, at the very least.

If anyone would like to offer there opinion as to whether it is better to sell these as is, or just the Altec tweeters, etc. I would be grateful. Fixing them up, either myself, or professionally is not a likely option, unfortunately (if I could afford to restore them, I would keep them!). Also, as I have no experience with Ebay, if someone wants to share some experience of selling, with an eye to the Asian market, you have my thanks in advance.

It has been a pleasure to discover these forums, and to read the archives.

all the best,

Mattis Fishman

mattisf "at" gmail dot com

[ar_pro]

The tweeters in this case were JansZen electrostatics, and not the AR-1's Altecs. The Altec is what makes the speaker "valuable", OK?

Listen - why don't you just put the damned things on ebay, and be done with it?

There should be a special forum category for people who have inherited, or happened across a pair of AR-1's - we could post a sticky with FAQ's on how folks can make big, big bux from their beloved dad's beloved speakers.

Phooey!

[roundhome]

>The tweeters in this case were JansZen electrostatics, and

>not the AR-1's Altecs. The Altec is what makes the speaker

>"valuable", OK?

>

>Listen - why don't you just put the damned things on ebay, and

>be done with it?

>

>There should be a special forum category for people who have

>inherited, or happened across a pair of AR-1's - we could post

>a sticky with FAQ's on how folks can make big, big bux from

>their beloved dad's beloved speakers.

>

>Phooey!

I know I have spent the past 4 years saving cabinets from strippers but then to put them back together its still the stippers that supply the parts My children know what these sound like and have enough respect for me and the music to save them for themselves.

now if they found them at thrift stores and part out vary bad cabinets we need the partsbut as I just read about some 10pi's replaced the mids with junk from a parts catalog and they sound great ya right.

whatever

[dynaco_dan]

>Thank you Vern and John for your replies, and also thanks

>those of you who replied off-line.

>

>I was a little puzzled, Vern, how I was to determine the

>condition of the tweeters and woofers without removing the

>grille cloth, which you caution me strongly against.

My comment was to stop you from doing any damage before more qualified assistance came to your aid.

The mere act of removing the grille cloths, without destroying them is something few members here would attempt to on their own.

The potentioal value is several thousand dollars gross or a lot less.

If you find that you can listen to the speaker system without removing anything, all the better.

Your method of applying contact cleaner, down the pot stem, there is many you should never use, is possibly damaging to other areas on the crossover.

If you offer the system as a sealed system, do not tinker any more and offer it as a complete system.

Every AR classic fan knows about the pots and caps etc, no surprises here.

If you have discovered the drivers work, at least as best as you can, leave them alone.

My final advice is to not attempt to sell to a CSP member unless they are posted on the sale/wanted forum, for everyone to see.

>

>I did try a spray of electrical contact cleaner down the pot

>stem, and twiddled with it for another half hour, with the

>happy result of determining that the tweeter does indeed

>function well - but only if I keep my hand pressing on the

>stem at just the right position. From reading many archived

>posts here I gather that pots and their rotors do need

>replacing from time to time.

>

>So now I have two speakers, both with two working drivers.

>

>Unfortunately, I am particularly prone to damage things I try

>to repair,

By your own admission, I would leave well enough alone.

and the daunting task of removing the woofer and

>replacing the pot through the aperture is likely to do more

>harm than good.

>

>John, and others, have advised me that I could simply remove

>the tweeters and offer them on Ebay, but the posting in the AR

>forum about the recent AR-1 Ebay sale said:

>

>>>A pair sold for $ 1,935.00 last night !

>>and the tweeters went for $356 (same seller, different

>buyer. Too bad--would have made a nice set)

>

>which appears to show that they are considerably more valuable

>as a complete unit. And then, mine are quite unsightly and

>need work on the pots, at the very least.

>

>If anyone would like to offer there opinion as to whether it

>is better to sell these as is, or just the Altec tweeters,

>etc. I would be grateful. Fixing them up,

either myself,

Not so.

or

>professionally is not a likely option, unfortunately (if I

>could afford to restore them, I would keep them!). Also, as I

>have no experience with Ebay, if someone wants to share some

>experience of selling, with an eye to the Asian market, you

>have my thanks in advance.

>

>It has been a pleasure to discover these forums, and to read

>the archives.

>

>all the best,

>Mattis Fishman

>mattisf "at" gmail dot com

[dynaco_dan]

Hi again Mattis;

There is only a select few people in the world that can afford to bid on the the average AR-1 speaker.

Having said that, they and I probably cringe at anyone removing the grille cloths and exposing the drivers to careless fingers.

Lubing the pots from the shaft is certainly not the normal way to clean a pot.

Some lubricants are nasty with crossovers.

To even suggest to remove the cloth is a serious depreciation.

I believe I've suggested here that a 3rd party do the parting.

An AR-1 with a noisy pot is expected and any normal sound output that can be obtained should be accepted as the norm.

If you can swear on a stack of bibles that they are functioning, audibly normal, then put them up for sale.

After the buyer's payment clears, as we all know there are some buyers that change their mind, when they find out it is $300.00 or more per speaker to ship to Asia.

I wonder how many sellers have parted out a speaker after the auction at the request of the buyer, then all falls through?

I also wonder how many parters have dropped a screwdriver into a driver or the driver even and OOPS!

There goes a $100.00 or a $1,000.00 in the blink of an eye.

You can look into the grille cloth at night with a low level light and see the drivers condition.

I can still laugh at a parter who even removed the 4 screws that held the plate to the magnet on a AR mid or tweeter.

[dynaco_dan]

>

>I did try a spray of electrical contact cleaner down the pot

>stem, and twiddled with it for another half hour, with the

>happy result of determining that the tweeter does indeed

>function well - but only if I keep my hand pressing on the

>stem at just the right position.

Where did you ever get this advice from?

From reading many archived

>posts here I gather that pots and their rotors do need

>replacing from time to time.

>

>So now I have two speakers, both with two working drivers.

>

>Unfortunately, I am particularly prone to damage things I try

>to repair, and the daunting task of removing the woofer and

>replacing the pot through the aperture is likely to do more

>harm than good.

Leave well enough alone and sell them now.

>

>John, and others, have advised me that I could simply remove

>the tweeters and offer them on Ebay, but the posting in the AR

>forum about the recent AR-1 Ebay sale said:

>

>>>A pair sold for $ 1,935.00 last night !

>>and the tweeters went for $356 (same seller, different

>buyer. Too bad--would have made a nice set)

>

>which appears to show that they are considerably more valuable

>as a complete unit. And then, mine are quite unsightly and

>need work on the pots, at the very least.

>

>If anyone would like to offer there opinion as to whether it

>is better to sell these as is, or just the Altec tweeters,

>etc.

I would be grateful. Fixing them up, either myself,

You've already admitted you are not handy, leave them alone.

or

>professionally is not a likely option, unfortunately (if I

>could afford to restore them, I would keep them!).

Also, as I

>have no experience with Ebay, if someone wants to share some

>experience of selling, with an eye to the Asian market, you

>have my thanks in advance.

I do not think it is appropriate to offer you this advice from members here on this site.

My reasoning is, liablity, what if you are not happy with the way the advice goes, for example, low bid.

>

>It has been a pleasure to discover these forums, and to read

>the archives.

>

>all the best,

>Mattis Fishman

>mattisf "at" gmail dot com

[Guest mfishman]

ar pro,

I agree that it can be annoying having to see the same type of

question posed by posters whose sole purpose in joining this group

was to capitalize on their speakers. Since I see that you have

taken umbrage, let me apologize. Your faq, by the way, would

be a good idea. The general posting guidelines do not seem to

prohibit or even discourage this type of posting in the "for sale"

forum.

Unfortunately, the ridiculously inflated prices which have been

paid, has changed these lovely pieces of audio engineering into

valuable property which many of us cannot afford to squander.

Having encountered the postings and knowledge base provided by these

forums, it is true that I have gained knowledge which I hope will

prove financially advantageous, but I have also increased my

appreciation for the people who are so knowledgable in this field,

and so so generous with their help. Perhaps if you have any

C-language computer programming problems, I could help you some time.

Your advice is also appreciated. I believe that I have no need

to trouble you here again, and will indeed try to find someone to

post them to Ebay, eventually.

I was intrigued by your statement regarding the manufacturer of the

tweeters. If you would care to explain how you know that my particular

speakers have janszen rather than altec tweeters, I would be

interested, and if you don't feel like cluttering up the forum please

feel free to email me at mattisf@gmail.com

If you do not, no problem.

all the best,

Mattis

[dynaco_dan]

>ar pro,

>

>I agree that it can be annoying having to see the same type

>of

>question posed by posters whose sole purpose in joining this

>group

>was to capitalize on their speakers. Since I see that you

>have

>taken umbrage, let me apologize. Your faq, by the way, would

>be a good idea. The general posting guidelines do not seem to

>prohibit or even discourage this type of posting in the

>"for sale"

>forum.

>

>Unfortunately, the ridiculously inflated prices which have

>been

>paid, has changed these lovely pieces of audio engineering

>into

>valuable property which many of us cannot afford to squander.

>

>Having encountered the postings and knowledge base provided by

>these

>forums, it is true that I have gained knowledge which I hope

>will

>prove financially advantageous, but I have also increased my

>appreciation for the people who are so knowledgable in this

>field,

>and so so generous with their help. Perhaps if you have any

>C-language computer programming problems, I could help you

>some time.

>

>Your advice is also appreciated. I believe that I have no

>need

>to trouble you here again, and will indeed try to find someone

>to

>post them to Ebay, eventually.

>

>I was intrigued by your statement regarding the manufacturer

>of the

>tweeters. If you would care to explain how you know that my

>particular

>speakers have janszen rather than altec tweeters, I would be

>interested, and if you don't feel like cluttering up the forum

>please

>feel free to email me at mattisf@gmail.com

>If you do not, no problem.

>

>all the best,

>Mattis

Hi again;

I think that AR_PRO is venting out of frustration, sorry.

I do believe that the Janszen speaker comment was referring to the ebay auction.

AR-1 speakers were fitted with Western Electric/Altec 8" cone tweeters only.