AR-3 grill size problem

[Sax-son]

I am a newcomer to the forum, however I have gleaned information from this site for a few years now. This is a fantastic source of info for anyone interested in this hobby.

I picked up a pair of AR-3 speakers with serial numbers slightly higher than #C35000(I don't have the numbers memorized). They had been painted with a nasty white semi-gloss house paint. I almost did not recognize them for what they were. They were being used as display platform with a table cloth over them to display some "used" dishes or something. When I peaked on to the back of the cabinets, the labels were very much intact and clearly stated AR-3. I brought them home and immediately tested them with our home theater system. They sounded fantastic. The driver were the cloth surround type and other than the nasty paint job, they looked like they had been well cared for. After using over a pint of stripper, there surfaced a very virgin looking walnut veneer cabinet wood.The thick house paint had preserved the wood from being dented or scratched. Unfortunately, some of the latex paint had seeped into the wood grain. I had to scrub the wood with Denatured alcohol to get the rest of the paint out of the grain. After a quart of the alcohol, I came out of the ordeal triumphant.

The grills however, had been replace with a more modern style plastic mesh grill. I had ordered some new grills from Vintage AR, but the ones they sent me were too small. My question is this, did they make these cabinets in different sizes? The inside dimensions of this cabinet face are 23 1/4" X 12 1/4". The grills they sent me measured 22 1/2" X 11 1/2". I am sure Vintage AR knows their stuff, but could their have been some one-off cabinet sizes made that were slightly different. Any information on this subject is greatly appreciated.

[genek]

The AR-3 is a different sized grill from the later AR-3a even though they look similar. Larry may have accidentally sent you the wrong panels.

[RoyC]

The plastic AR-3 grille frame was larger than the fiberboard 3a frame because it snapped into grooves in the cabinet molding. Larry has masonite replacements of the appropriate size. Contact him, and he will exchange your frames for the correct ones. The 3 and 3a cabinets are the same size.

Roy

[JKent]

The grills however, had been replace with a more modern style plastic mesh grill.

Welcome Sax-son!

The AR3 did have plastic mesh. Are you sure your grilles are not original? Take a look at this thread:

http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Board/index.php?showtopic=6238&st=0

Kent

[Sax-son]

Thank you all for responding so quickly to my questions.

JKent, the materials on the grills that I have look too new to be anything original. Although they do fit the dimensions, the material is black plastic and looks like nothing I have seen in pictures before. I did send Larry an e-mail regarding the situation and hopefully he knows what to do as to remedy the situation. My intentions were to do my homework first so we can be on the same page. All of you are so knowledgeable in the area, I thought that there may be something I was unaware of that may be common knowledge to the rest of you.

[Carlspeak]

The AR-3 grilles I've worked on are 1/4 inch or so longer than AR-3a grilles and are the same width. The AR-3 grilles slide into grooves in the top and bottom of the cabinets and must be physically bent a bit to install them.