zekfrivo@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(GregS) wrote in
news:fu08u2$dp8$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>In article
>><9d6f1008-7a79-4365-9cd7-d0c533f12623@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
>> ricknielsenshat <kquickel@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
..
>>
>>Some woofer types can last a 100 years or more.
>
> That gets me wondering how old is the oldest woofer ??
Wikipedia sez the bass reflex enclosure design patent was issued in
1932 to Bell Labs; moving coil electromagnetic loudspeakers go back at
least a couple of decades earlier, which would comprise the loudspeaker
as we know it if not specifically the "woofer".
Other types including compressed air drivers were known in the late
1800s; I think Alexander Graham Bell is credited with the first
loudspeaker in his invention of the telephone but like a lot of other
things, there were multiple and nearly concurrent inventors.
Most of those early speakers had paper/cloth surrounds and didn't have
to flex very much, unlike the more common high-excursion drivers in
use since the late 50s. Rubber or rubber-like materials for the
surrounds seem to be more durable, but a lot depends on environment,
actual useage, and individual choices of surround materials.
I found my current speakers, Acoustic Research AR-11's, at a Goodwill
for $18; the only thing they really needed despite some cosmetic damage
was to replace the woofer surrounds. I'd never done one before then.
It was a straightforward procedure, but a bit tedious. It's im****tant
to ****m the voice coils so accurate coil/magnet gap alignment is
maintained.
--Damon
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