Thanks. I';; buy the soundlab as suggested by Galu and once I've installed it get back. I guess I'll let my ears be the judge. Any other suggetions I'm happy to consider. best wishes, Craig
So the replacement 8" driver arrived and I eagerly fitted it. I have to say, the sound is pretty good. I've attached a link to a vid with the speaker plying some Mingus. Quite an acceptable sound. I intend to replace the other 8 inch with a replacement so the speakers are balanced. The original lamintated chipboard tops are a bit naff, so I'll cut some solid wood ones as replacement, probably pitch pine or oak. Not sure if this link will work but here goes:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ydcH4LD6WGmZqB1F7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ydcH4LD6WGmZqB1F7
Well, Dr Smith, it would seem that the stars have aligned for you, and all for minimum financial outlay!
I'm wondering about the solid top and whether at the seated listening position the speaker sounds best with it on or off.
Experiment may suggest replacing the solid top with an open wooden frame covered in speaker grill cloth.
But then, where would you sit your aspidistra?!
I'm wondering about the solid top and whether at the seated listening position the speaker sounds best with it on or off.
Experiment may suggest replacing the solid top with an open wooden frame covered in speaker grill cloth.
But then, where would you sit your aspidistra?!
Keep the aspidistra flying as George said! New driver arrived. I'll fit it and bob's your uncle. Better order another aspidistra.
Our Gracie would be proud of you!
I wonder what the future holds for these Sugden-Smith omnidirectional Master Enclosures?
I wonder what the future holds for these Sugden-Smith omnidirectional Master Enclosures?
Ha, Ha! I'll give the Sugden's a 'deep' listen over the festive period. Rotate some amps to get a clear sense of how they sound and then decide what to do with them. Thanks for all your help Galu, the project wouldn't have gotten this far without you. I'll raise a glass to you come Yule.
ps another forum member who has a pair of Sugdens and who is local just got in touch - looking forward to exchanging notes.
ps another forum member who has a pair of Sugdens and who is local just got in touch - looking forward to exchanging notes.
Thought I'd ask your opinions on new tops for the Sugdens. I cut tops out of laminated birch ply and pitch pine ( an old church pew I had laying around). I'm leaning to the ply.
I prefer the ply. The speaker doesn't have any unfinished or irregular wood pieces, and the black ply blends better with the rest of the body.
Merry Yule, I just wanted to share some pictures John Kelly kindly sent me of his Sugden's.There are some interesting differences between the pair I have and John's. Most strikingly the tweeters in John's are pointing upward cf in mine they point down. The cross over caps are the same and the Richard Allan 8" drivers are as mine (one of my speakers had a replacement rechard Allan 8")
The little brass dome into which your downward pointing tweeter fires is intended to reflect the tweeter output horizontally through the open mesh grill surrounding the top of the column, and hence add to the omnidirectional effect.
I wonder which of the two arrangements came first?
I thought the same Galu. The drivers are stamped 1964, the same year as the one Golden 8 I have.
Wouldn't it be interesting to compare the sound of the Smith-Sugden Craftsman Major with that of the Kelly-Sugden Craftsman Major?
My money is on Dr Smith, the Yorkshire Triangle's leading driver transplant surgeon!
My money is on Dr Smith, the Yorkshire Triangle's leading driver transplant surgeon!
Morning, been a while. Wanted to post that the 'restoration' job was complete and here are the finished beauties. Unfortunately, the Boss (read wife) isn't keen on how they look despite my suggested use as a plant stand. Therefore, I'm going to have to sell these. If anybody on here wants um PM me with a reasonable offer. Collection from Yorkshire would be best or can discuss shipping options. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all who helped in my restoration journey, in particilarly Galu, I have learned much. Best wishes, Craig
Thank you Craig.
You've done a fantastic renovation job on the Sugden columns. As a doctor might say, they look in tip-top condition!
You're to be congratulated on preserving a rare piece of hi-fi history, and I hope these blasts from the past find a loving home.
All the best to you.
You've done a fantastic renovation job on the Sugden columns. As a doctor might say, they look in tip-top condition!
You're to be congratulated on preserving a rare piece of hi-fi history, and I hope these blasts from the past find a loving home.
All the best to you.
Slightly off topic I attach a picture of a very similar Richard Allan driver as used by Be Yamamura back in the 80s when he lived in London.
the baffle was mild steel with the driver sandwiched between a similar mild steel plate behind the magnet by extra long bolts. The 'topping' was
a 2,5cm piece of carbon (fine grain, not carbon fibre). The enclosure was 1" Medite high density fibre board. The speaker was sandwiched unto a tripod stand - again using carbon blocks. The diaphragm was given 2/3 coats of pure white shellac to increase stiffness. I had a pair for quite some time and found them to be superb. (The R.A. unit used was I believe designed for use as an in ceiling speaker) The Xover was a simple
capacitor and resistor, the tweeter I think was a San Audax (with ferro fluid). [I also had a pair of 1/4 wave horns using the same driver set-up]
You will have to search Be's name to see the speakers which came next after he moved to Italy. The results require a really big room and a blind wife!
the baffle was mild steel with the driver sandwiched between a similar mild steel plate behind the magnet by extra long bolts. The 'topping' was
a 2,5cm piece of carbon (fine grain, not carbon fibre). The enclosure was 1" Medite high density fibre board. The speaker was sandwiched unto a tripod stand - again using carbon blocks. The diaphragm was given 2/3 coats of pure white shellac to increase stiffness. I had a pair for quite some time and found them to be superb. (The R.A. unit used was I believe designed for use as an in ceiling speaker) The Xover was a simple
capacitor and resistor, the tweeter I think was a San Audax (with ferro fluid). [I also had a pair of 1/4 wave horns using the same driver set-up]
You will have to search Be's name to see the speakers which came next after he moved to Italy. The results require a really big room and a blind wife!
Attachments
Richard Allan made a module for DIY cabinet makers that had the drivers and crossover pre-mounted on a metal baffle.
A metal plate at the rear of the mid/bass driver was associated with the long bolt fixing you mention.
You can just about make out the Hammerite paint finish on the metal baffle of this 1966 RA Minette speaker.
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Further research reveals that the Minette module consists of a 5" mid/bass unit, a 4" tweeter and crossover.
A unique feature is that the synthetic rubber surround of he mid/bass unit is mounted directly on to the rectangular aluminium alloy plate which forms the front panel of the enclosure.
Sealed enclosure size: 29 x 18 x 16 cm (h x w x d).
A unique feature is that the synthetic rubber surround of he mid/bass unit is mounted directly on to the rectangular aluminium alloy plate which forms the front panel of the enclosure.
Sealed enclosure size: 29 x 18 x 16 cm (h x w x d).
Well, well, well! Here's a sight and a rare one at that! Two sets of Sugdens in the same space! John K brough his pair over to meet mine. I replaced the crossover caps for him and got his pair sweetly singing. We tried them with Chopan, Yabba Yu (Dud) and Bud Powell...I was pleasantly impressed at how they handled this brod pallette of sound. In fact, I it persuaded me to keep the pair I refurbed and get rid of something else instead!
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