Cloth vs paper surround

What specific speaker/driver?

From my experience with vintage drivers (late 50's to mid 70's) paper surrounds survive and cloth surrounds get stiffer with age - changing the sound.

This said, I've never replaced the surrounds though I did try treating/softening some of the cloth surrounds.

DeKay

avsjerry:

I tried something a local phile gave me that (to me) smelled like brake fluid and then I tried a skin lotion my wife used (think it was lanolin based).

Also tried re-doping a pair of US made drivers (forget who originally made them as they were marketed under various brands - including Lafayette - maybe Jensen).

In all cases they stiffened back up within 2-3 months, or so, and I gave up.

I still have 2 pairs of Japanese made 4.5" drivers with porous (screen like) cloth surrounds that I have not messed with (the surrounds).

They mated OK with a Gallo TR2 sub set @ the speaker level default of 100Hz and I assume that they fall like a rock @ around 90Hz.

I own/owned "vintage" Stephens Trusonic, Coral, Elac, R&A, RCA, Foster (predecessor of Fostex), Altec and Jensen(?).

Maybe a few others I've forgot.

DeKay

Forgot to mention that I purchased the "dope" used locally from a shop on Ventura BLVD in North Hollywood.

The guy I dealt with reminded me of a creepy character from a John Connolly/Charlie Parker novel (assume that they are no longer in business).

DeKay