Leather handle - plastic handle transition

[bigobassman]

Any ideas on approximately when the change occurred?  Was it leather to plastic or plastic to leather?  My recent Sunn acquisitions have a '69/70 200S cab with plastic and a mid '70's 215 SH cab and Coliseum head, both with leather.  All appear to be original.   

BTW.  With all of the snow etc. here in southern NC, most everything will be closed Thursday, so looks like I'll be continuing the rehabbing of the 215 SH cab.  I've done a good bit and have mounted the JBL D140F's.  They sound great with the exception of a speaker rattle on certain high volume notes.  Appears to be a gasket/seal issue. 

[Isaac]

Sounds as though you've pretty well answered the question. I have several 60's products, and all have plastic handles. I also have one of the first second generation Model T's, and it has leather handles. It's vintage 1974 or thereabouts. The mid select switch hadn't even appeared in the catalog, and it doesn't have the red knobs. The guitarist in my band ordered a Model T based on the first generation amp, and this is what he got.

[bigobassman]

Thanks Isaac.  I kinda figured it would be the other way around, but it's hard to argue with original stuff on the gear in my possession.  Thanks for the info and confirmation.  As I've said before, I learn something new about gear all the time.  Another interesting thing that I didn't know until the 215 SH,  Sunn used only 7 speaker mounting bolts since the horn fold didn't leave enough room for the eighth.