Amp Handle Replacement first attempt

[akindle]

Hi, Here is two pics. The leather is a little to wide. My measurement wasnt off! But will send sample to get another one made.
 What do you think any interest or suggestions on this project?
Strange that some of the speaker cabs have two styles. Screw on and bolt on for the same models. I guess production of different years. The original model T is slightly longer and the concert radial horn cabs that i have are an overall length that is in between all others.

[wildbill96]

Check out the "Hiwatt Style" handles that are out there.  This is the closest thing I could find to the originals but might be a little longer.

[akindle]

The Hiwatt style handle is what the chrome hardware is in my pics. They can be bought for 7.99. But the flat spring steel inside the handle is 3/4" .780 wide. I would like to use the original size sunn steel 5/8" .596 wide to slide into a leather handle. It has to slide in between the 5/8" stitching on the original handle.  I can mill slots at the ends for any length. I should get another leather handle soon. It needs to be 1" wide to look right. And the first handle i had made didnt have the padding to give it the right feel. The hiwatt handle are made by  Penn Elcom part#H1195. I have called them to buy just the hardware. You can guess what response i got.

[wildbill96]

I know exactly what you mean.  Since I have all of my original handles (they are cracked but functional)but not all of the end caps I searched everywhere to see if I could just buy the caps from these "Hiwatt Style" handles.  In the end I had to order the complete handles and the best price I found was $10.95 each so it sounds like the guy a purchased them from made $15 on the deal since I needed 5 total.  Now my dilemma is do I replace the entire handle or try to use these new caps with the originals?  Sounds like these caps may not fit the old handles due the the difference in the width.  I'm expecting these in my mailbox today so I should know soon.  Can you tell me if I'm going to need to get inside these cabinets to replace the handles because there are nuts ont he inside that are not attached to the cabinet shells?  I'm hoping that this is not the case but I'd like to know before I start backing these screws out.

[wildbill96]

After I purchased the "Hiwatt Style" handles and used the hardware only from these to replace the missing end caps on my speaker cabinet handles I discovered that the existing hardware was stamped "American Handle Company".  When I Googled them I found their website and It appears that they still manufature this style of handle that was used by Sunn.  I placed a request for quote for both the complete handle assembly and for the end caps alone.  I'll post another update once I receive their reply.

[Jeff Troy]

Hi, Wild Bill,

Nice job. Please let us know if the American handles are what we need.

Conrad might be planning for a new handle order in the future, but I have no idea to whom or for which style handle.

Regards,

[wildbill96]

American Handle is the original supplier.  Unfortuantely it appears that they do not sell direct.  They referred me to Reid Supply Company and to order their part number AHC-1 ($20.50 each).  This is definently the handle (imitation leather) however the version that Reid Supply carries has black trim and end caps instead of chrome like the originals.

[wildbill96]

Very nice job.  Looks great!  I have the same end caps on my cabinets now with my vintage handles (cracks and all) but they still look better than the old handle hardware without the end caps.  Don't know what I'm going to do with the rest of the Hiwatt handle parts since they were too long to use with the existing holes in the cabinets.

[Jeff Troy]

Standard answer is, "Take 'em to California and start a religion!"

Nice looking handles, and WAY better than capless end pieces.

[wildbill96]

Were you able to order them from Reid with the chrome hardware instead of black?  What kind of price did they quote you on the complete assembly and on the extra end caps?  If you made yours from leather my guess is that you"ll probably be disappointed in the imitation leather that they're made out of.

[nobraon]

will these do


http://www.fliptops.net/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=56

[akindle]

I am selling the original handle used on Sunn later 80's amps and cabs. It is a rubber handle with end the caps that are the same type as the sewn handle caps,except they are a lower profile. Not interchangeable. Again i will sell these to the guys here on the forum for 17.00. A full description and more pics on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140515442679&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
  

[Greg_M]

What is the mounting hole measurement?

[akindle]

They are aprox 7 3/4".. Center to center of the mounting bolts. There is still some slot left and by trimming the rubber. The center to center can be 7 1/2"