Need help identifying Altec horn driver

[bowtie427ss]

FWIW, all model 806 drivers are built from rolled plate steel and pipe welded together. The exception being a small quantity of 806-8A built on the 23746 motor, and identified by a foilcal. Most 806-8A will be of the pipe and plate variety. This could actually be what the OP's drivers are since there are no traces of a part number stamped on the covers. But, it seems unlikely that both foilcals would be completely missing.

Some examples:

If you tune up your vision and look close, you can see the seams and other attributes to the pipe and plate construction on 806's.

The 23746 was the first small format Altec driver of it's kind using a one piece CAST STEEL motor/magnetic return pot. Some 23746 drivers have annular slit metal phase plugs, some have tangerines. Within a year of the 23746 introduction, the 802/808 driver would begin using this kind of construction and the last versions of small format alnico drivers would be introduced as 802-8G/16G, and 808-8B/16B.

If you look closely at the driver in the OP you will notice that it has a slight taper along it's diameter, and it has a semi-rough surface texture from the casting process with no visible seams, parting lines or welds.

Note the seam and straight smooth sides of this 806A, if you think you see a slight taper, it's an illusion caused by camera/lens angle:

 

[andersons11]

The driver is a 23746, it is unique to only one speaker system that Altec made, was used with a 1500hz XO, and it is a delicate driver in original stock form and should not be used down as low as 800hz without judicious care if the original diaphragm is intact.

It's an early one with the old style rear cover, and the 50th week of 1974 date code verifies this.

If the original 23744 "light" diaphragm is still in it and working, you got a bonus.

I just bought another pair of 98498D speakers the diaphrams are open. They have the tangerine cores. No labels but has 23746 on the back cover. Diaphram has 591802 on the metal and 18587 and 23744 around the inside of the VCR. Can you confirm the diaphram # I should be looking for?

 

[bowtie427ss]

I just bought another pair of 98498D speakers the diaphrams are open. They have the tangerine cores. No labels but has 23746 on the back cover. Diaphram has 591802 on the metal and 18587 and 23744 around the inside of the VCR. Can you confirm the diaphram # I should be looking for?

23744 is the original light diaphragm, they were discontinued sometime in '76. It may be possible to repair the 23744's if the open is the result of fractured lead in conductors. However, if the leads are work hardened to the point of fracture, the extra thin diaphragm material might not be far behind.

The only viable replacements available today are a 34647 from GPA or a Radian 1228-8.

FWIW, 23746 drivers with tangerines are very uncommon, and likely only found in 9849's made during a narrow range of time.

 

[andersons11]

23744 is the original light diaphragm, they were discontinued sometime in '76. It may be possible to repair the 23744's if the open is the result of fractured lead in conductors. However, if the leads are work hardened to the point of fracture, the extra thin diaphragm material might not be far behind.

The only viable replacements available today are a 34647 from GPA or a Radian 1228-8.

FWIW, 23746 drivers with tangerines are very uncommon, and likely only found in 9849's made during a narrow range of time.

 

[andersons11]

Thanks. I'll have to keep a look out. Any suggestions on possible sources?

 

[elitopus]

You might see some pop up on eBay eventually. But I would just get a pair of new diaphragms from Great Plains Audio and call it a day.