Can anyone date this cab please?

[Ronnie S]

Hello, I’m new to the forum and was wondering if anyone could help to date my 4x12 Hiwatt cab.
I bought the cab for £40 around 1980 (it was advertised in a newsagents shop window)

I have to say I knew nothing about Hiwatts, apart from The Who using them. I joined a band in 1983 and used the cab, powered by a 100 Watt Selmer head. The sound was always O.K. but nothing really special I thought, I did however use a lot of distortion, so I couldn’t really hear if the sound was clear.

Anyway to cut a long story short I stopped gigging in 1995 and the cab was stored away in the back of my outhouse. A few weeks ago my wife was searching for something in the shed and she said to me
“Why don’t you chuck that old speaker thing away, it’s been in there years and you never use it.”

Well, I thought, I’ll get it out, check its o.k. and have a look on the internet to try and find out about it.
In all those 32 years since I’ve had it, I’ve never had the back off and when I removed it, I was a bit surprised to see that one of the speakers was missing.

The markings on the back plate read.
HIWATT SPEAKER ENCLOSURE.
Made in England by Highlight electronics (Hiwatt amplification) limited
Type AP
Model num SE 4122
Serial num 1812
Rating 100 watts
Inpendance 16 ohms
The labels on the 3 purple Hiwatt speakers read 17,000 gauss.
50 watts
15 ohms
122142
And the number on the speaker cones is 15102008.
I would really appreciate any info on the cab, particularly the year it was made.
Thank you.
Ronnie.

[Dr.HI-TONE]

It should be a 1969- 1970 based on the info provided. I would even guess an early 1970, but it is hard to pinpoint with much accuracy.
Are there any other numbers on the speaker decal? There usually is a manufacturer date code on the bottom of the specification decal
something like 12/70 or 43/71
very cool!
Welcome to the Vintage HIWATT forum!

[Ronnie S]

It should be a 1969- 1970 based on the info provided. I would even guess an early 1970, but it is hard to pinpoint with much accuracy.
Are there any other numbers on the speaker decal? There usually is a manufacturer date code on the bottom of the specification decal
something like 12/70 or 43/71
very cool!
Welcome to the Vintage HIWATT forum!

Thanks very much Dr HIWATT I'm at my daughters at the moment, but i'll have a look tomorrow.
I'll try and get my daughter to post some photos if anyone is intrested?

[Dr.HI-TONE]

pics would be great!

[Stu_R]

In all those 32 years since I’ve had it, I’ve never had the back off and when I removed it, I was a bit surprised to see that one of the speakers was missing.

I guess that means that one of the other speakers isn't working either (series-parallel those in the know??) so, IME, when you used it you only had two actually making sound (which would explain your lack of enthusiasm of the sound) ; either that or whoever removed the speaker reconnected the wiring to give God-knows-what resistance to the amp.
I've got one of these cabs too - from '75 - they're made for guitar or bass - and it would be well worth (though not easy) hunting for a matching speaker before off-loading the whole cab.

[Ronnie S]

In all those 32 years since I’ve had it, I’ve never had the back off and when I removed it, I was a bit surprised to see that one of the speakers was missing.

I guess that means that one of the other speakers isn't working either (series-parallel those in the know??) so, IME, when you used it you only had two actually making sound (which would explain your lack of enthusiasm of the sound) ; either that or whoever removed the speaker reconnected the wiring to give God-knows-what resistance to the amp.
I've got one of these cabs too - from '75 - they're made for guitar or bass - and it would be well worth (though not easy) hunting for a matching speaker before off-loading the whole cab.

Thanks for the reply Stu.
I never understod the tecnical side of things so you're probably right.
My daughters gonna pop round and put some photos on in the next couple of days.
I dont use the cab anymore and if anyone wants to give it a good home i'm open to any fair offer.
Thanks again.

[Ronnie S]

It should be a 1969- 1970 based on the info provided. I would even guess an early 1970, but it is hard to pinpoint with much accuracy.
Are there any other numbers on the speaker decal? There usually is a manufacturer date code on the bottom of the specification decal
something like 12/70 or 43/71
very cool!
Welcome to the Vintage HIWATT forum!

Ive had a look in the back Doc and i can't see any date markings, should they be on the label on the speakers?
Thanks.

[Dr.HI-TONE]

yes, on the label.

[Ronnie S]

yes, on the label.

No nothing on the label. There is a blank space at the bottom of all three, but that says 'serial num'.

[Ronnie S]

Some pics of the cab. Sorry they are not very good. I will try to get some better ones.

[Dr.HI-TONE]

that should be an early 1971 cab.
If you are patient enough to find a good working driver that matches the other three, it will be worth considerably more if you try to sell it.
Patience will be the key!

[Ronnie S]

1971 sounds about right Doc. You can’t see it on the pics, but the words LAZY JAKE are stenciled on the back of the cab. They were a Sheffield band who I first remember seeing on the Sheffield pub circuit in the late 60s.
I did a bit of research and found out that the band formed in 69 and disbanded 72, so the dates match.
As I said I am open to any fair offer for the cab as it is.
Many thanks for your time.
Ronnie.