Life Imitates Humor

Saga of the Electro-Voice Model SP13.5TRBXWKRearaxial Softspeaker Data SheetBy Jim Long, July 20, 2004,for KahnVention VI Souvenir Booklet - This is primarily from my recollection and samples of three different variations of this no-doubt-famous data sheet created by the late, lamented and brilliantly clever Dean Nordquist, former EV sales and advertising man and, later, the EV rep in the Pacific Northwest. The model number is a takeoff on the EV convention of the 1950’s, in which high-fidelity component loudspeakers sported monikers such as 12TRXB, SP15B and 15WK. Figure 13 shows a line drawing of the device, which reveals it to be rather ahead of its time, being both powered (note ac cord) and evidently capable of acting as a standalone PA system (note ribbon microphone).Three Different Versions - The SP13.5TRBXWK data-sheet variations with which I have been familiar turn out to be the two later ones, identical except for an updated format for the last version. A couple of years ago, Jon Kelly, a kingpin in the EV hi-fi businesses of the 1960’s and early 1970’s, pointed out that there was an earlier, first version, different not only in format but also in copy and in the Figure 5 testimonials from satisfied customers. The four testimonials themselves are unchanged but the first three customers are different. Jon explained that the copy and customer names contained thinly veiled references to competitors of the day. According to Jon, Al Kahn, founder and president of Electro-Voice until 1968, and in my view a true audio gentleman, took offense to these references and ordered them changed.In July 2004, Jon not only sent me an original of the first version but also supplied interesting comments about the competitive references. I have reproduced the text of his e-mail message below (slightly edited):Here is what I can recall/deduce about Dean's arcane references in the data sheet, and later mods. Front side: Feathers good-luck charm and stylus pressure gauge: obvious reference to Paul Weathers, who had a one-gram-tracking phono pickup when most others were still at 6 grams or so, and a cute, simple and accurate gauge. FEATURES: lavatories instead of laboratories seems pretty innocuous, but Al must have been using his highly sensitive good-taste filter. Bob N.: it was changed so must have been a reference to someone, but I don't know who.  Maybe George remembers. Miss Myriam S.: a reference to Myriam Simpson, a factotum at Masco, amplifier manufacturer.  (My first "component" amplifier was an 8-watt Masco, circa 1952.) Walter S: not certain, but could well be Walter Stanton, the phono-cartridge manufacturer. Back side: Kensico Ave.: it was changed to North Southwestern Ave. in the revised version.  Allied Radio in its heyday was at 100 North Western Avenue.  Kensico may have been the address of someone else more "sensitive," but I don't know. Large Barrington: High Fidelity magazine was headquartered in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in those days. Faith and Charity, Ark: obvious pass at Klipsch, in Hope, Arkansas. Madglockenschpielergongenemoryclothenlab: because it is spelled "emory," it is a reference, I think, to Emory Cook, early maker of audiophile recordings.  Hope this helps.  Funny...I can't remember what happened yesterday, but this old stuff is still retrievable.