Thiel Owners

unsound - there is always more than is obvious behind product development decisions. As I have alluded previously, the company supported Jim's design aspirations. Kathy, the marketing director, supported Jim's design aspirations. Drivers and electronics were Jim's primary interest. Cabinets played a supporting role as a necessity.

Developing that baffle was a major undertaking. I made the mahogany patterns with late night CNC time stolen from day time production requirements. The convoluted baffle would have been a far larger undertaking, in design, pattern-making, casting and production finishing. The company did not have enough confidence in the product's projected sales to invest in that larger baffle cost. C'est la vie.

Such dynamics are the stuff of small, self funded entrepreneurial companies. Given the luxury of capital to invest, including more staff, and the confidence that a market would emerge, I believe that flagship product(s) could have been developed which would have leap-frogged Thiel's market niche.

The cabinets are indeed serious functional elegance. Thanks for that.

tom,

I remember way back when I had the CS6s at my place, they were the most luxurious speaker in terms of fit and finish I'd ever had.  The wood finish was simply gorgeous, a fairly dark brown with strong grain - I forget the name of the finish (macassar ebony?)


Did you do that work? 


Also:  Weren't Jim and Kathy married at one point?

tomthiel, sorry if I pulled on a scab.

No apologies required or sought. I am merely shedding light on the back-story because some of you guys are interested. No scab, really, just some story that usually gets politely ignored.

Prof - yes, the CS6 and 1.5 were my last products before leaving in 1995. The machinery and manufacture processes all continued until the sale in 2012 when the factory was dismantled.

That Macassar Ebony had no stain, that was the natural color of that South Seas species. 

Also, No. It's not that simple.

Tomthiel, Because Thiel; I expected a technical explanation. I completely understand the dynamics of business and personal decisions. I didn't mean to pry, but your candor is appreciated.