You will probably tell me it already exists Tony but, if not, a thread on the legendary designers sounds like a great topic. I was blissfully unaware of the PWK papers you mentioned in your earlier post and my interest is now piqued to seek them out.
There isn’t one specifically, the closest being classic room threads on various brands that do in part highlight design concepts, context etc. It is a good idea, we should have one.
There are several good books too, one on PWK is out of print, but you should find one for a lot less than
Amazon LOLprice. If you search for ‘Dope from Hope’ you should find many of PWK’s writings, they were at one point well archived on the Klipsch forum, but the company has changed hands at least once since. There looks to be a
Kickstarter at present to get this properly published.
Other histories well worth reading IMO:
Quad,
The Closest Approach by Ken Kessler book is decent, if patchy. They can still be found for £50 or less with a bit of looking. Walker/Quad published many white papers both on ESLs and on amp design. These should be online somewhere.
Gilbert Briggs/Wharfedale, Briggs published many wonderful books on loudspeaker theory and design back in the 1950s and 60s, I have four I think. Well worth scouring eBay, e.g. one
here. There is also a biography
A Pair Of Wharfedales by his son, which I have, but haven’t got round to reading yet.
All the BBC loudspeaker research is available online if you google. Far more than just the LS3/5A. It is fascinating stuff.
Rega’s
A Vibration Measuring Machine is very good and highlights some very original thinking in turntable design.
There’s a very good Leak book too, but sadly out of print.
The Tannoy book is more a company history and actually deals very little with loudspeaker design concepts etc.