turned the stereo on to have Christmas music in the background last week, but got nothing but badly distorted sound. Pulled off the foam covers to see that the foam rings that connect from the paper cone edges to the metal rims have deteriorated behind hope.

If this was the late 1970s, I could just truck on down to Radio Shack,get a repair kit, or 2 new woofers, and be back in business within the hour. Unfortunately, this is late 2011 and Radio Shack doesn't carry these items, even at their web site. So, using Google, I'm finding repair kits from companies all over the country, but none locally. Found 2 places that are local, but both seem to have gone out of business. This morning I finally found a retired audio engineer who repairs stereos and speakers as a paying hobby. In a week I hope to be back in the recliner enjoying my classic rock albums.

Gotta call the brother since his speakers, JBL L-100s, were purchased almost 10 years before mine. He may have the same problem also.

the local retired guy charged $25 cash per speaker to recone them. Put them back into the tower cabinets and they sound great. Depending upon local weather in future years, they should last long enough until I reach the point of not caring about them anymore.

Tested them by starting our with Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky". Almost no other rock song has such a distinctive opening, except maybe Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water".) Then followed up with Supertramp's "Crime Of The Century" album - on vinyl.