Some 40+ years ago I bought my Grail speakers, a pair of used ESS AMT 1a speakers already in need of some work. Did this while living and studying in Belgium.
Carried those speakers with me through most of my life, happy and unhapy moves, break ups, hell and high water. They´ve been on my To do List forever.
Five plus years ago thanks to a cash karma by Dave Truong and some great assistance provided by my friend Joel97, the last factory remaining crossovers were secured and are waiting to find their way home.

Hope this wil be the year when I finally can put them together.

Now, I´d like some advice regarding the boxes restoration.

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Never had those but heard them and they were really good speakers.

I considered those when looking for speakers.

I was going to buy some Klipsch Cornwalls. I actually ordered a set. The guy was gonna call when they came in....still waiting.

I ended up getting Ohm I's. Love them still especially after I biamped them.

I remember those, Nicky. They certainly got great reviews.
There are two brands/types of speakers I kind of regret never getting:
1. Quad electrostatics: heard them at a Hi-Fi show in San Francisco, the Hilton IIRC, in 1960-61 while still in high school. They blew me away with the sheen of the violins.
2. Apogee ribbon speakers: never auditioned them, but they were said to have an electrostatic-like clarity.
Doubt my ears could tell the difference these days.

A friend won the lottery some 20 years ago and gifted me some money. Among other things I bought 2 pairs of Ohm speakers for my home theater. Loved those, my GG hated them with passion. One, she decapitated. The others she killed in different ways until she made me choose what would have to go. Them or her. I got married, no more choices for me....
The Ohms were shaped like the ESS AMT.

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quote:

ESS AMT 1a speakers

Ahh yes, I remember them well.
Those were GREAT in their day.
(Not saying they aren't now)
That would be a fun project.
The problem now days the rise of surround sound and the Wives-Cartel killed most of those great two channel ambitions.

what needs to be done to the boxes ?

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my GG hated them with passion.

what is a GG? Great Grandma doesn't seem right?

Their factory showroom was around the corner from where I worked in Sacramento years ago. I always wanted a set - just couldn't justify in the houses I had through the years. I still have my Pioneer HPM-100's. Need to get them set up again.

I have a pair of Concept CE1 speakers with the Heil transformer, sold back in the day, by Pacific Stereo.
I have been enjoying them since the late 70's.
I bought new 6ohm woofers, installed them and then re-installed the stock woofers. I had the woofers rebuilt and replaced the Heil diaphragms a few years back.
I had my GAS pre-amp rebuilt a few years back and now have been thinking of putting the re-placement woofers back in again.I might send my GAS Son of Ampzila in for an update while I'm at it.
Probably can't hear the difference anymore.
It NEVER ENDS!

Tiny phone keyboard, I meant GF.

Steven, I was an early Home theater fan. Bought a Yamaha DSP-1 in 1987. It could generate rear and front speaker channels. I still own it, never managed to use it to its full capabilities. Maybe 30% tops. It is extraordinary.

Yet, the ESS have a presence I've never heard on other speakers. While different room acoustics can blow your mind, when it comes to serious and original music studio mixes, stereo rules IMO.

SBrooks, the boxes have been exposed to bright sunlight and different temperatures over 40 years. Wonder how to treat the wood.
I apologize for the lack of proper terms. I believe the exterior is plywood since from the interior looks like particlewood.

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I would do a very light sanding of the wood and then either stain or paint. Shouldn't need much more than that. Unless they are coated with some kind of lacquer or varnish - those are harder to strip and deal with...