Vintage speaker woofer repair

MagicPigDetective

I’ve picked up my Dad’s 70’s turntable and speaker system, trying to get it back to it’s former glory. The turntable, Tandberg TR200, works and I’ve put in a new stylus. One of the two Tandberg speakers distorts badly in the bass range. I took off the front grill and found the foam around the 8 ohm 8 inch woofer has completely disinegrated leaving a gap all the way round.

 What to do; replace woofer? Can you replace the foam? Any ideas? 

https://i.imgur.com/yHSt5Px.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xBtGFI6.jpg

Phil_aka_Pip

Try Wilmslow Audio (except I think they're in Leicester now). They probably won't be able to sell you exactly the same bass driver so if you want the speakers to match you'll probably have to get a pair. The replacements will be a tolerable electrical match to the originals.

EDIT another possibility is reconing but that might be more expensive than it is worth, especially if you fix one then find the other also needs doing soon after.

MagicPigDetective

Thanks, their website looks good I’ll get in touch with them. 

I haven’t checked the other one yet but Im sure the 40 year old foam will be on the way out. 

maltingsaudio

I would have thought it’s worth a try to replace the cloth edge using something like this http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=MON123010

MagicPigDetective

Thanks for the suggestions. Both speakers need surrounds. Found foam surrounds in Germany on e-bay, pretty expensive but at least it's for the right speaker, with glue and instructions (though probably in German). 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tandberg-TL-2510-passende-Lautsprecher-Schaumgummi-Sicke-Set-foam-surrounds-S205/272977136410?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20160908105057&meid=f48a0cb2918d46948bf33f0e0883dccb&pid=100675&rk=1&rkt=9&sd=272977136410&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A59d0f45c-de77-11e7-80a1-74dbd180f302%7Cparentrq%3A45c45bdd1600ab15e9ec47b1fff2b083%7Ciid%3A1

But there are much much cheaper 8 inch foam surrounds out there, but I don't know if they would fit my speakers, are they all a standard size or do different speakers need specific surrounds? This world is new to me and a minefield!  

Phil_aka_Pip

You'd think that an 8" speaker is an 8" speaker, but the distance between internal and external diameter of different foam rings might vary. Chances are you could cut a bigger one down to size.

rocktron

Check for Cerwin Vega, and JBL rubber surrounds. 

I'm not sure that these would fit, but check anyway:- 

  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cerwin-Vega-8-inch-Refoam-Kit-for-Speaker-repair/382195231453?hash=item58fc9c6add:g:2osAAOxywXFSbA8f

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Speaker-Repairs?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

I knew of a place in London which refurbishes old Celestion Ditton (44, 25, 66), speakers to their former glory. Unfortunately, I don't have their contact details. 

rocktron

Here is the URL for Retrotech Audio which I had forgotten about:-   http://www.retrotechaudio.co.uk

They are in Caterham, Surrey.

Check under the Servicing tab for speaker repairs.

MagicPigDetective

rocktron said:

Here is the URL for Retrotech Audio which I had forgotten about:-   http://www.retrotechaudio.co.uk

They are in Caterham, Surrey.

Check under the Servicing tab for speaker repairs.

Thanks @rocktron ; they have quoted £80 -100 to refoam both speakers.  I will think about it, but I might give it a go myself as there at plenty of videos on youtube. If it goes wrong I could still send them to retrotech or get new speakers (which would be cheaper). I don't know if these speakers sound much better or different to modern speakers therefore worth keeping?