JBL 150H?

[Cliff Schecht]

I was just given a 15" JBL 150H from the 60's, brand new in box. I can't find much anything online about this model and was wondering if you guys could tell me anything about it. Even if it's useless, it's gotta be worth something.. I'll post pictures later when I get home. It's got a snazzy blue housing but I haven't seen the cone at all (it's still mounted to the shipping baffle board).

[David Root]

Is this what you have?

Blast Off!
Notes from the past... 600 Acoustic Watts!

Gentlemen:

This could be a photo of one of a number of installations dating from the heyday of California Aerospace in the sixties and seventies. Fancher Murray may be able to shed some light on this, inasmuch as he described something similar to me that had been built in El Segundo, CA, for Wyle Laboratories when he was working there.

It looks like about 80 375s and 40 LFs. Assuming an input signal of, way, 25 average watts per HF driver with an average efficiency of 30 percent, we would have 25 x 0.30 x 80, or about 600 acoustic watts. The actual level would depend on the size and treatment of the receiving space. (Do you all recall that the acoustical impedance of a highly reverberant space is quite different from that of a free field?)

John Eargle

On Aug 9, 2005, at 3:23 PM, Don McRitchie wrote:

I can add that I know there was such a testing setup at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico that was recently decommissioned. Around four years ago, the drivers from that setup began showing up on Ebay. The HF drivers were labeled 375H and “Manufactured by JBL for Transducers Inc.” The LF drivers were labeled 150H with the same Transducers Inc. brand. Transducers Inc. was a private company that was wholly owned by Bill Thomas (the then owner of JBL) as separate company that built sonic and vibration simulation equipment for the military. Someone from JBL of that era (it may have been Harvey Gerst) recently told me that the 150H was nothing more than a 130A chassis with an LE15A cone kit (for the reason’s Mark cited). The drivers were all painted the same blue colour as the original LE series drivers which would date them from the early 60’s. It was comical to see them advertised on Ebay as rare hi-fi drivers. Some auctions even alluded to the 150H as being the driver from the Hartsfield, confusing it with the 150-4C. I’m not sure if there were any physical differences in the 375H compared to the standard 375. The diaphragm was still aluminum and not the later high power phrenolic version. However, I can’t imagine an LE15A cone kit in a 130A chassis having a “hi-fi” response. BTW Mark, if you ever come across photos like this in the archive again, let me know. I don’t remember seeing anything like this when we rummaged through it.

[Cliff Schecht]

Yup, those are it (at least the first pic, I haven't inspected the cone yet). Any thoughts on what I have and where it's usable?

[David Root]

I like old JBLs (I have a pair of E130s I use as reference speakers ) but early '60s is way further back than my JBL experience. I would assume they would have Alnico magnets.

The narrative does say "I can’t imagine an LE15A cone kit in a 130A chassis having a “hi-fi” response." But that doesn't necessarily disqualify it for MI use, does it?

Take advantage, it's your Daddy's taxes at work here!

[Cliff Schecht]

Yeah I'm more curious than anything. If I can't make it sound good in an open or closed back enclosure then I'm sure I can sell it for $100 or so. I'm not 100% sure of the vintage but I'm sure we can figure that out once I break it out of the box and locate the date code (if it's on there!).

[Bob S]

Cliff - I dont know about the 150's but I use a closed back 4 x 12 oversize cab with JBL D123's with my Rocket & it sounds amazing. To me anyway.
Try it before you sell it.

[Cliff Schecht]

I have no reason to sell it, it's too damn cool! How could I measure the impedance of the speaker? It isn't labeled on there. Also, the only numbers on the speaker are on the cone, it says "150201". Can I date the speaker from this?

The foam on the surround is in pristine condition, as is the cone itself. I don't know if it's easy to see from the pics but I don't think this speaker ever made much sound (aside from being set aside once for 40 years). Doesn't look like it was ever dropped or anything either so hopefully no rubbing or other issues.

Here are some pics:

[Structo]

Pretty cool find Cliff.
Looks brand new!

I don't know much about those but I know the Hi Fi woofers from that era suffered from foam rot on the surrounds.
In fact a friend has a pair he wants me to re-cone.