Altec speaker purchase today

[Tim Nordella]

What in the heck are these? Dated 1951 and stand 47 1/2 inches tall. I did get a pair, and they sound good. Tag on the side says 4684. Look like theater speakers. Any help would be fine. Thanks

 

[grillebilly]

No idea but...

 

[lokerola]

I don't know. But anytime you buy speakers so big that they have instructions about fitting through doorways, you've done well.

Looking forward to your listening impressions of them.

 

[mvandyke]

Major Score! Not sure of the model # but those are highly prized speakers!

 

[toddalin]

Altec 820Cs. Quite a score! Their most expensive offering for the home market at the time. Maybe even from the year I was born (1954).

http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/altec/catalogs/1954-home.htm

 

[superdog]

Nice score getting a pair.They are usually found in singles.Details??

 

[Tim Nordella]

They where in a machine shop. Not sure but where there in 1980. He like big bands. Might be from the old movie theater that closed may years before 1980. I heard them play Metallica on them and sounded good (not into Metallica) I am more 60's and some later good stuff. They are very dirty and will require a good cleaning. There is another pair of smaller wood speakers on the wall, will check into them next week.

 

[SleeperSupra]

Nice, $550 each in 1954 dollars is equal to $5,254.12 in 2020...

 

[elitopus]

Nice find!

The smaller speakers on the wall might have some WE 755a in them. You never know.

 

[Tim Nordella]

The other speakers are Electro voice Sp12

 

[Ezd]

Very nice score....

 

[Drugolf]

803's and 802's ! Sweet! Going to be well worth spending whatever it takes to get those back to great condition.

 

[totem]

Was it a pair?

 

[swechsler]

Was it a pair?

OP said he did get a pair.

 

[twiiii]

Put the latest diaphragms in the drivers, recon the woofers and rebuild the crossovers and you will be right up to date. I would coat the horns to cut out some of the coloring and change to a 1285 crossover after updating the woofers. Further improves the midrange. The question becomes is this a 16 ohm speaker system with 8 ohm woofers wired in series, or an 8 ohm system with 16 ohm woofers wired in parallel.

 

[Tom Brennan]

If the speakers are 820As they'll have the model 808 multicell horn rather than the later 811 radial horn.


An interesting feature is that in typical Altec fashion the horn loaded woofers are also bass reflex loaded, in this case through floor facing vents in the bottom of the speaker.

 

[elitopus]

Pls open them up and show us some pics of the drivers/horns.

 

[Johnny_Law]

Congrats!! Hope the drivers are OK!

 

[Dswankey]

What in the heck are these? Any help would be fine. Thanks

Hopefully this helps

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?13503-Altec-820A-Corner-horn

http://www.itishifi.com/2010/08/altec-lansing-820.html

 

[Tim Nordella]

I will open them up and get some pictures, right now I am installing new breaker boxes to the building were these are stored. I should have power up tomorrow if FedEx can get there act together.