The best example I can tell you of are GOODMANS OF ENGLAND -
"AXIOM 80" Loudspeaker driver. We are talking mid 50's to very early 60's. Every senior loudspeaker engineer and audio entrepreneur from the early days of high quality audio equipment design and manufacturing, that I have ever had the pleasure of making their acquaintance, agrees on one subject when it comes to loudspeaker design. The AXIOM 80 10" full range speaker was the most unique design ever invented. I could go on for pages describing the incredible sound produced with this driver. Unfortunately in those days, there we only a handful of companies worldwide that designed and manufactured complete loudspeakers packaged in carefully designed cabinets. Goodmans never attempted to go that far in the US market, only selling the drivers themselves.
The first time I heard one was around 1955 at MUSICRAFT on the north side of Chicago. One of my CSO associates took me up for a listen.
What I heard, considering the associated source electronics available in those days, came as close as I have ever heard to reproducing a violinist as if he were standing in the corner playing live.
In 1956 at the Chicago Hi-FI show, I heard an AMPEX demonstration of 3 track tape. The loudspeakers they were using were 3 custom made enclosures, each mounting 4 axiom 80's, for each of the 3 channels.
To this day, I have never heard anything at any price that came as close to live performance. And, I have heard and owned a lot of equipment over the years
The following week I went out to MUSICRAFT and bought (8) eight AXIOM 80 drivers with the intention of building 2 of the enclosures heard at the AMPEX demo. The cabinet plans I acquired from GOODMANS of England. Unfortunately as circumstances would have it, the project never happened. A few years later I sold the drivers for $200.00 ea. Oh, and by the way, I still have the original purchase invoice. I paid $65.00 ea.
Now, to answer your question, I have rarely seen an axiom 80 driver on the market in recent times, that wasn't used and abused beyond usefulness. I have seen, on two occasions, (2) and also (4) AXIOM 80'S guaranteed to be in pristine condition. The photo's qualified the claims. In one case, the asking price guaranteed and tested, was $3500.00 each. In the case of the (4) drivers, claimed to be mint, stored and never mounted. (Beautiful high quality photos), the asking price was $7500.00 each. This is just one example. I hope it answers and exemplifies your question.
"AXIOM 80" Loudspeaker driver. We are talking mid 50's to very early 60's. Every senior loudspeaker engineer and audio entrepreneur from the early days of high quality audio equipment design and manufacturing, that I have ever had the pleasure of making their acquaintance, agrees on one subject when it comes to loudspeaker design. The AXIOM 80 10" full range speaker was the most unique design ever invented. I could go on for pages describing the incredible sound produced with this driver. Unfortunately in those days, there we only a handful of companies worldwide that designed and manufactured complete loudspeakers packaged in carefully designed cabinets. Goodmans never attempted to go that far in the US market, only selling the drivers themselves.
The first time I heard one was around 1955 at MUSICRAFT on the north side of Chicago. One of my CSO associates took me up for a listen.
What I heard, considering the associated source electronics available in those days, came as close as I have ever heard to reproducing a violinist as if he were standing in the corner playing live.
In 1956 at the Chicago Hi-FI show, I heard an AMPEX demonstration of 3 track tape. The loudspeakers they were using were 3 custom made enclosures, each mounting 4 axiom 80's, for each of the 3 channels.
To this day, I have never heard anything at any price that came as close to live performance. And, I have heard and owned a lot of equipment over the years
The following week I went out to MUSICRAFT and bought (8) eight AXIOM 80 drivers with the intention of building 2 of the enclosures heard at the AMPEX demo. The cabinet plans I acquired from GOODMANS of England. Unfortunately as circumstances would have it, the project never happened. A few years later I sold the drivers for $200.00 ea. Oh, and by the way, I still have the original purchase invoice. I paid $65.00 ea.
Now, to answer your question, I have rarely seen an axiom 80 driver on the market in recent times, that wasn't used and abused beyond usefulness. I have seen, on two occasions, (2) and also (4) AXIOM 80'S guaranteed to be in pristine condition. The photo's qualified the claims. In one case, the asking price guaranteed and tested, was $3500.00 each. In the case of the (4) drivers, claimed to be mint, stored and never mounted. (Beautiful high quality photos), the asking price was $7500.00 each. This is just one example. I hope it answers and exemplifies your question.