Did KLH use Rosewood veneer?

[JKent]

This was advertised as having rosewood veneer. So I bought it (like I really need another Model 21 )

I am not aware of KLH using Rosewood. Does anyone know? Maybe Andy? The color and grain sure look like it to me. Here is a pic of the radio, and a side-by-side comparison with a walnut veneer 21.

Thanks for any help.

Kent

[Andy]

Hi Kent, I've never heard of rosewood being used on a 21. Rosewod has a distinct grain with lines running with the grain that almost look black. I think at some point that radio was rubbed down with an oil that had a coloring in it, maybe mahogany tint, giving it a deep reddish hue. The grain in the side by side photos you posted show that the grain is very much the same (walnut). I also have radios from the 1930's and 40's and have seen huge color variations in the same model radio thanks to what people have applied to them.

I used to work with a guy who restored furniture for a living. He always said to take a good long look at the grain pattern because the color can really throw folks off coarse when determining wood type.

Right now I can't remember if KLH might have offered rosewood veneer on speakers in the early 60's ? I'm pretty sure AR did on it's speakers.

My vote on that model 21 is that it's the familiar walnut we've come to love.

Andy

[boreas]

Hi Kent, I've never heard of rosewood being used on a 21. Rosewod has a distinct grain with lines running with the grain that almost look black. I think at some point that radio was rubbed down with an oil that had a coloring in it, maybe mahogany tint, giving it a deep reddish hue. The grain in the side by side photos you posted show that the grain is very much the same (walnut).

Hi, Kent & Andy -

I'm far from being knowledgeable on the subject of Model 21's so I can't say whether they were ever offered in rosewood. However, I do know a bit about cabinetry and woodworking.

As Andy said, Rosewood has distinctly darker lines running through the grain giving sort of a "stripey" look to the wood with definite areas of a deep red color and an almost black color. I see just such areas in the photos you posted so I have to say that it looks alot like rosewood to me.

John

[bob]

The answer to your question is emphatically YES! The Model 21 was offered in two finishes, Black Walnut and Rosewood. How do I know this? Well, back in 1965 when I was in college, I made several trips to the Abraham & Strauss in downtown Brooklyn, NY to drool over the 21's they had on display. I was a student on a restricted budget and really couldn't afford the Walnut one at $89.95 (I believe that was the retail price), let alone spend an additional $10 for the Rosewood one. And I have to tell you, I love Rosewood! After 3 trips down there to just "look", I bit the bullet and bought the Walnut model. I used this as my "hi-fi" in my dorm room where it was my constant source of jazz while I many times worked through the night. I still have it with its original shipping carton and instructions and I still listen to it in my basement office. I just wish I had the $10 more to have bought the Rosewood model, but those were very different times.

[JKent]

thank you Bob and welcome to CSP!

Hope you find interesting and/or useful information here. I just did.

Kent

[redstone7]

Hi Kent, I don't remember KLH offering anything in the M21 days besides walnut but 2 years ago I did pick up a pair of Model 17's in Teakwood which I never saw advertised in those days, and yes they're in "the room" awaiting TLC like the rest, Rob P.S. I'll get back to you on those e-mails you sent me next weekend when things settle down, Rob from HIGH AND DRY Colorado Springs

[boreas]

Hi Kent, I don't remember KLH offering anything in the M21 days besides walnut but 2 years ago I did pick up a pair of Model 17's in Teakwood which I never saw advertised in those days, and yes they're in "the room" awaiting TLC like the rest, Rob P.S. I'll get back to you on those e-mails you sent me next weekend when things settle down, Rob from HIGH AND DRY Colorado Springs

Boy, would I like to see those!

It makes sense, I guess that teak would be used for speaker cabinets in the late '60s and early '70s since Scandinavian furniture was REALLY popular at that time and a lot of that is done in teak.

John