[Arran]

I've noticed that a lot of older Philco speakers had a sort of flat grey colour to them, I think it may have been some sort of plating or pickled metal treatment. Most speakers generally seem to have had some sort of cadmium or zinc plating, the Philco K series 8'' included, although some like the Stromberg Carlson ones were painted. Seeing stuff in photos is often different then in real life, the grey paint didn't look that bad to me other then being too glossy, but maybe it was too light in colour.
Regards
Arran