Unbelievable but true!! I think a major Altec find.

[Bdbras84]

Hello all,
Ok first let me say this, when it comes to Altec Lansing I don't know a whole lot. I do know that some are highly sought after and that it is the typical to each their own on certain models for ones they like an don't like. I've drooled over countless threads an images of big an beautiful Altec setups an heard opinions on how great their sq is. Beyond that, I can't tell you much like the best models or the ones to look out for. Heck, I've never even heard a pair myself! Yet ...that is.... Until now!!!
Ok so the story cause I know this is going to sound crazy and not true but I promise you it's exactly how it happened. After I do the reveal I desperately need some help and advice on these speakers.
Ok so me and my father attend and setup a booth once every few years at an automotive swap meet here in town. We just had one this past weekend an it turned out great profit wise. I love these types of things because it's all older stuff an a multitude of older, rusty gold type parts to antiques etc. So as the day went on I decided well I'm gonna walk around an see if anything catches my eye. Of course the only thing I'm really looking for is some silver sticking out and the I see this
See first pic.
On top it had $60 obo an at this time I still wasn't sure what it was. So I asked for a screwdriver an took a peek inside. This is what I found
Even after seeing this I knew I had something amazing but wasn't absolutely sure if it was what I thought it was, then the guy said tell you what give me $40 for them both an their yours, saves me from luggin em home. In a flash I whipped out two twenties an the next thing I know I'm all hyped with adrenaline taking the to my car.i couldn't believe I've never even seen an Altec like this personally and now I'm a very proud owner of two of them. All original except the fact someone painted the cabs black an from what I can tell have never been opened until now! Unbelievable I know but true. All drivers tested perfect I couldn't believe that either was so worried that they were beaten to the point of no working. I plan on hooking them up tonight and see what you guys have been talking about for all these years. But wait....... It gets even better. Next day, me and my wife were walking around the other side where we couldn't check out the day before and under neath a table sat this black box that resemble a stage speaker. I took a look at the front an noticed the silver dust cap an saw the crossover. I about fell over from shock!!! Inside the port holes I could see the back of the horn and the driver and bought it immediatley!! Oh did I mention this one was only $40 too and the guy selling it said he threw the other one out years ago due to flooding in his basement. Said they were his fathers when he was younger and new they were expensive when new but now just outdated. Fine by me!!! In the truck it went!! I haven't pulled the driver yet and can only make out the part of the magnet shown, any help in identifying??? I put my multimeter on the crossover points an everything checked perfect!! I'm in awww people, both of these super scores in one weekend and I still have so many questions. I'll get some more pics tonight when I get home from work including the front of last speakers with the 808-8a driver in it. Thanks in advance and sorry for such a long post!!

 

[sanford12]

Nice. Just keeping your eyes open you'll find those treasures. Let us know how they sound.

 

[Bdbras84]

Nice. Just keeping your eyes open you'll find those treasures. Let us know how they sound.

I definetly will! I have some really nice speakers at home but nothing ever at this level. I've always been a firm believer in educating yourself in anything especially things that interest you. I still can't believe that out of all the people there they didn't snatch them up. Given most were looking for car parts and to some they're just another old pair of speakers but damn do I feel lucky!

 

[toxcrusadr]

Very cool!

 

[Bdbras84]

So I will find out shortly how these sound, but does anyone have experience with the 615a model? Also,I'm assuming the caps are in the crossover box but is it suggested to replace those as well like other vintage speakers? Any ideas what the third driver maybe? I've scoured so many pics but none resemble one with a silver dust cap and a flat back magnet.

 

[dcreek]

You're doing a great service!

Think about it; had they not sold, they might be landfill...

Great find, great story.

 

[GD70]

You had a hell of a weekend! Love that adrenalin feeling when you make a great score!
There's plenty of treasures still out there!
I missed one a couple weeks ago, a set of JBL 38 Barron's for 25 bucks at an estate sale. My wife texted me pics but I was at work and missed it! I went the next morning, they were gone!
Keep us updated as you learn more and we expect a full sonic report!
Congrats

 

[sanford12]

I definetly will! I have some really nice speakers at home but nothing ever at this level. I've always been a firm believer in educating yourself in anything especially things that interest you. I still can't believe that out of all the people there they didn't snatch them up. Given most were looking for car parts and to some they're just another old pair of speakers but damn do I feel lucky!

I went to a estate auction and bought a pair of Heathkit water damaged speakers for 5 bucks. What others didn't know was they had big Altec horns and 15" Altec woofers. Sometimes it's just luck.

 

[Leland47]

Congratulations!

Super great find!!!

 

[audiomagnate]

Rock on!

 

[Bdbras84]

Rock on!

View attachment 1031230

That's an awesome picture!!! It's cool to own something as iconic like these. So last night I finally had a chance to listen to the duplexes last night. The sound was amazing!! Now I still need to freshen them up abut and go through the crossover and attenuators but first impressions?? These speakers are amazing sound, quality and looks!!!! It's hard to believe that it's just one speaker in there! I know it's a coaxial in there , it sounds very refined in the top end and very intense, deep, an precise in the bottom end. I do feel the midrange was lacking a bit but I believe better placement may help with that. I didn't get a chance to listen to the third , but from my research the cabinet is an original offering from Altec during the mid to late seventies. I pulled the driver an have had no luck at all identifying it. Even with the numbers across the back I can't pin down the exact model #. I guess I'm doing something wrong or overlooking something. I'm almost certain it a low frequency driver for stage reproduction but what model?? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! An yes!!! Thank god they didn't end up in the landfill!!! I'm bringing these beauties back to their original glory. I am curious about value as well but I'll start a new thread in dollars an sense later on that one. Thanks again for everyone's encouraging words!!

 

[Bdbras84]

Again, if I am way off on some of this please forgive my ignorance. Like I said Altec, duplex, triaxial, etc, etc is all new to me so I've definitely still got a lot to learn when it comes to getting these things working properly

 

[audiomagnate]

That's an awesome picture!!! It's cool to own something as iconic like these. So last night I finally had a chance to listen to the duplexes last night. The sound was amazing!! Now I still need to freshen them up abut and go through the crossover and attenuators but first impressions?? These speakers are amazing sound, quality and looks!!!! It's hard to believe that it's just one speaker in there! I know it's a coaxial in there , it sounds very refined in the top end and very intense, deep, an precise in the bottom end. I do feel the midrange was lacking a bit but I believe better placement may help with that. I didn't get a chance to listen to the third , but from my research the cabinet is an original offering from Altec during the mid to late seventies. I pulled the driver an have had no luck at all identifying it. Even with the numbers across the back I can't pin down the exact model #. I guess I'm doing something wrong or overlooking something. I'm almost certain it a low frequency driver for stage reproduction but what model?? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! An yes!!! Thank god they didn't end up in the landfill!!! I'm bringing these beauties back to their original glory. I am curious about value as well but I'll start a new thread in dollars an sense later on that one. Thanks again for everyone's encouraging words!!

I wouldn't highly recommend that you DO NOT MESS WITH THEM. They are extremely collectible, and potential buyers (like me) want them in as original condition as possible. The fact that they sound great means there can't be any serious problems in the crossover or elsewhere and that does not surprise me at all, they were built to last and to withstand abuse. Those look like poly caps anyway, so there's absolutely no need to go mucking about with them. George Martin liked them so much on a trip to the US that he had a pair shipped back to England. Congrats on an incredible score.

 

[Bdbras84]

That's great to hear! I definitely want to keep them original, although I will clean them up an clean the high frequency switch. I know originally they were silver, hammered style paint and would love to sand, prep, an paint back to original as well. Including the original Altec emblem on the front, surely I can get a good copy somewhere an take it to a print shop to have a new one made. Surprisingly the original grill fabric is in great condition too, just a little dirty.

 

[Bdbras84]

You had a hell of a weekend! Love that adrenalin feeling when you make a great score!
There's plenty of treasures still out there!
I missed one a couple weeks ago, a set of JBL 38 Barron's for 25 bucks at an estate sale. My wife texted me pics but I was at work and missed it! I went the next morning, they were gone!
Keep us updated as you learn more and we expect a full sonic report!
Congrats

I can't tell you how many times I've lost out on even attempting to buy an item due to work, especially working on Saturday's.. Whether its through the week, or an estate sale I have to remember I gots to keep a job before getting that big score.

 

[GD70]

I can't tell you how many times I've lost out on even attempting to buy an item due to work, especially working on Saturday's.. Whether its through the week, or an estate sale I have to remember I gots to keep a job before getting that big score.

Hear ya there. Had I seen her text, I would have told her to grab them. It was several hours later and my wife and friends had already moved on to several other estate sales.
Oh well!

 

[audiomagnate]

.. Yes would love to sand, prep, an paint back to original as well...

I don't think I'm getting through to you. If you think you might ever want to sell them at any point in the future, collectors will want them in "as found" condition. Repainting them will definitely lower the value, and simply eliminate many if not most of your potential buyers. They're your speakers and if you want to spray paint them gold and Bedazzle them, go for it, but anything besides a little DeOxit on the LPad is going to lower the value.

 

[bowtie427ss]

I pulled the driver an have had no luck at all identifying it. Even with the numbers across the back I can't pin down the exact model #. I guess I'm doing something wrong or overlooking something. I'm almost certain it a low frequency driver for stage reproduction but what model??

417-8H (33310), basically a 417-8C without the can over the motor.

https://greatplainsaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/417-8H_lfspkr_spec_sheet.pdf

It's a musical instrument/guitar speaker. Carlos Santana loves the 417 for it's clean low distortion signature sound which also makes it an ideal LF element in a vocal monitor like the 1221.

FWIW, the horn is a 32B.

 

[Beemerdoc]

Nice Scroe!!

 

[Bdbras84]

Bow tie and audio magnate thank you! You are getting through to me I promise, I just assumed since the paint is not or ythat alone would have hurt the value but I definitely get what you're saying. As for letting them go, I'm not sure yet. Of course I would love to keep them but that's something me an my wife need to talk about. We could certainly use the money and this truly is a blessing from above. But I'm most certainly gonna spend some time with them first. Bow tie thank you for checking that out, I thought the numbers on the back meant something but couldn't pull it up. As for that one I do intend to flip but need to figure out the best way to do so after I get the thread going in D&S. For the record I wouldn't "bedazzle" anything lol, that's for our daughter to do. For the short time I had the 615's hooked up they sounded great but that was with a 35wpc Nikko integrated amp. Do these speakers really come alive with more juice! I really wish I had a tube setup to play them on, from what I've read it's a really nice match.