Altec Santiagos for Minnesotans

[bowtie427ss]

No affiliation and other appropriate caveats.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-ALTEC-878A-SA...ryZ50597QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[similost]

What would a person do with those little speakers?

I'm trying to decide if that is just the dope from the surrounds that has wicked like normal.. or if someone actually tried some kind of brake fluid treatment on them.. It just doesn't look like the normal surround wicking you would normally see,,

 

[Brudha]

Glue much? Doesn't look to be original grille fabric. Looks to be a non-original recone job as it's supposed to be ribbed.

 

[similost]

Now that you mention it, yep.. I would have expected pleated cloth surrounds... I thought something wasn't looking right...

Like they way the give the dividing network model number, kind of like they are using it as the Speaker model number.. even thought they already have the actual speaker model number listed first...

Flipper deluxe....

 

[bowtie427ss]

I'm pretty sure they're absolutely stock and correct.

Those are early and use the 413 woofer, it had a smooth cone, and AFAIK most had a rolled cloth doped surround. Those look to have the thick painted aluminum dust caps that were used to add mass to the woofer cone to effectively extend it's response.

The later 411 woofer has a ribbed cone(looks very much like a JBL) foam surround, and 4 inch voice coil/motor.

Occasionally you'll see 413's trying to be passed as 411's, not much info out there on 411, and even less available for the 413 which usually raises a lotta ??????'s when they do show up.

I expect they'll go low considering the seller and shipping, a local interest might get a very good deal on em.

FWIW, they're in very nice shape for being born in march of '73, consecutive serial numbers which is rare, if they were local to me so i could see em in person first i'd probably not hesitate to throw 5 or 6 bills at em.:yes:

 

[StarMover]

It could be that that is just water or windex or whatever they were using to clean those up prior to the photos... It might pay to email them with a question about that. Also ask to see a photo of the other surround.

 

[bowtie427ss]

It could be that that is just water or windex or whatever they were using to clean those up prior to the photos

Looks like typical "dope migration" to me, the single roll doesn't hold it as well as the accordian surrounds. This is why rotating Altec woofers every 6-12 months is a good practice. 90 degrees is best as it will prevent what you see on this cone in question. This one looks like dope had pooled at the bottom and somebody rotated the woofer 180 degrees so that the next time it got warm enough the dope ran out on to the cone.

Just my .02 y'all understand..............

 

[similost]

hhhhmm.. you should rotate your woofers huh?... guess it's about time for mine then...

 

[Brudha]

I'm pretty sure they're absolutely stock and correct.

And the grille cloth?

 

[bowtie427ss]

And the grille cloth?

hard to say from those pics, but it closely resembles the weave and burlap type material from that time period. As clean as the cabs look, it could well be original, but you'd really have to see the grills in person to be sure.

Please understand that these are relatively early Santiagos(878A) and are built a little differently(rear mounted woofer) than the later 878B version shown in the literature at LH. When it comes to Altec literature, it cannot always be trusted for accuracy. The 3 section sculpted grills might have been discontinued without any updates to the literature or file photos. Or, they could be replacements, they(the speakers) look very well preserved otherwise. The pair that were on a few weeks ago also had grills different from the literature photos, but i think they were indeed replacements.

hhhhmm.. you should rotate your woofers huh?

How often is really a huge variable based mostly on climate/environment, and also how much and which vintage dope was applied. Excessive dope and high heat and humidity almost guarantee some migration.

Mileage will always vary here, but in the case of many of the 413's and earliest 411's with the doped cloth roll it's common to see the roll develop wrinkles like the sidewalls of racing slicks leaving the line, this is a strong hint that some cone sag has occurred. The accordian surrounds of the 416's and 515's by nature of their shape hide cone sag rather well unless you know to look for the minutely varying width of the pleats around the circumference of the surround.

 

[thymanst]

Theres a pair of 879a santiagos for sale on ebay locally (SW florida) - The guy is a garage sale guy that throws his purchases on ebay - they are listed as altec "Hume" speakers (maybe misspelled "home"?) he has the model number wrong in the description also (789a's)- Are these speakers Decent? I might bid on them depending...

 

[MAXZ28]

Nice....my bride would have my head on a platter if I came home with those.

 

[bowtie427ss]

Theres a pair of 879a santiagos for sale on ebay locally (SW florida)

Santanas.

Just the raw 420 woofer/drivers generally bring 300-400, certainly a deal at the opening bid. The one small dent in the dustcap will turn the high bidders off a bit.

Also note the puddle of dope at the bottom on each, that should be softened with a blow dryer on low/med to attempt removal should you buy those, otherwise it's very possible to destroy the surround/cone when trying to separate the speaker from the baffle. Those cones are not replaceable, there is no source for them.

 

[Tinyelvis]

I'm local! I think I'll go for them if it doesn't get out of hand.
btw
What is out of hand?

Thanks Bowtie for the heads up on this thread.
I did a search....

 

[Tinyelvis]

I think I'm in for these. I'll fight for them. I wish I had time to go out and listen to them.

 

[Tinyelvis]

They did the mad rush at the end. Sold for $512. Bummer, I was kinda excited to listen to them.

oh well