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Acoustic Research AR 3a and related electronics

I've been a forum reader for some time, but this only my second post. I may not even be in the right topic area with this.
When moving several years ago I found an old system in the back of a storage closet I had kept (for some sentimental reason) and had long forgotten about. It found its way into another closet in the new house, but now the wife says its time for it to move on. I'll be looking to sell soon; I just need to discern wether to sell 'as is' or get it all checked out and restored first. 

The speakers are AR 3a in cherry wood. Also found was an AR receiver and a Nakamichi 700 cassette deck.  All purchased in 1973 and hasn't been used in at least 35 years.

I know the speaker controls on the back are not working, and I haven't even pulled the electronics out to plug them in.  Who in the Houston area would be best to check this stuff out? (In researching on this forum I discovered a thread from 10 years ago mentioning a gentleman in Pennsylvania, Bill Legall, to be 'the' speaker restorer... that sounds like a significant shipping bill.)

I would assume most collector/tinkerers would advise to sell as is and for practically nothing.  I just need to see if there is value in restoring first.

Any advice would be appreciated.
basilfudge
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Forget them give them to Salvation Army Thrift Shop.To restore them would be to much money to waste.
jl35
3,977 posts
 
restoring is expensive but sometimes vintage gear sells for high prices...it's a gamble unless you want to spend money to keep it and use it for sentimental value...try some Pro Gold on the control in back, many actually bypass it, that's the only easy potential fix
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
There's a pair of nicely restored AR 3A's listed here on Agon. $1200! So they are worth something to somebody! Give yours a good cleaning, oiling the veneer, get inside and spray the pots with Deoxit, treat the rubber woofer surrounds with Armorall. That's all you'll have to do to prepare them for sale! An hour's work! Then take some photos and list them here on Agon. 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
The AR receiver can be cleaned on the outside and go inside and spray the pots with Deoxit. Then use a Variac to slowly power up overnight to give the caps time to warm up and form. Afterwards connect a dipole antenna and hookup a pair of speakers to check for functionality. If the receiver is working fine take some photos and list it here on Agon. Ask $200 - $300 + shipping. 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Back in 1970/71 the AR receiver with the AR 3a's would have been a real nice system to have at college! And the AR TT with the Grado FTE cartridge for LPs, of course! 
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