Altec speaker purchase today

[Ken Boyd]

Nice find! It might be a good idea to rotate the bass drivers 180 degrees. I was told that over time the spiders will sag from the woofer cone weight and cause the voice coils to rub in the motor gap. Maybe someone can confirm this for you.

 

[elitopus]

I knew a 755a would show up in this thread!

 

[bowtie427ss]

Ironically?


Yeah, nice greenies. Sometimes the paper surround in those old 803 woofers is ripped.

Being green with split rims they're either late 803A or early 803B. Usually, the paper hinge on the late 803A's is doped which extends it longevity a good bit

I was told that over time the spiders will sag from the woofer cone weight and cause the voice coils to rub in the motor gap.

Depends what's in them for a spider/damper.

Earlier Altecs use a phenolic composition spider and paper hinge. They don't move around much under normal conditions.

Later Altec woofers with fabric spiders and surrounds are much more prone to sagging, particularly those that found homes in warm/hot climates.

The OP's woofers are likely out of the narrow time period where 803A's were built on the older style paper hinged cone, but with a newer style fabric spider and chemical treatment of the hinge area.

 

[billyz]

The crossovers might be potted . But, if you can recap them with film caps you will be blown away. And use a high end low wattage tube amp .

 

[Katalyst]

Are these up and playing yet?

 

[jeb98]

I was on my way to Home Depot for some pvc glue. Knew the owner at this shop had passed and wanted to get in to see the machines. Some folks were there and decided to stop.
My friend that has a thrift store in town has had a speaker i his shop for a year, I saw it about 2 weeks ago. He gave it to me, as I give him stuff to sell. Turns out it is an Altec 755A in an western Electric cabinet. I have bee lucky twice.

ok, you have to post pics of this! I wonder what cabinet they are??

Show pics!

best,

jonas

 

[sqlsavior]

Now, toot your own horn, righteously!

 

[Tim Nordella]

Are these up and playing yet?

They were playing when I bought them. I have 2 tube receivers, a Fisher 800B and a Sansui SM-80, but they are not up and working now.

 

[Tim Nordella]

The one only 755A was in a railroad wooden box that would just hang on the wall. Will take a picture tomorrow.

 

[Tim Nordella]

Here is a picture of the speaker and box. Box has seen better days.

 

[lordgarth]

Judging by the welds & few ink stamps on your speaker, it appears to have been made after 1952. Let me know when you bored of the sound of this very old speaker.