Dating 604e's and 288C's

[magnarc]

Hi

Just curious to try to date various 604e units I have.

I've seen two differing labels and 'names'.

ALTEC
Model 604e
Duplex

With codes of(under HF cover) 391505


and


Altec
Lansing
SuperDuplex
604E

With codes of 391949, 391239, 391648


These date codes seem to cross over each other in the 60's.


Also with 288C's, some I have the larger writing on the rear cover with ALTEC, then Lansing Corporation under it. Others have smaller writing ALTEC and Lansing.

Can anyone shed some light, especially on the 604s.

Nat

[bfish]

The 6-digit 391XXX numbers are your EIA date codes.

391 means Altec mfr

4th digit is the last number of the year. 9 could be '59, '69, etc, so you have to know approximately when the model series was made.

5th & 6th digits are the week of the year.

[Old Guy]

Hi

Just curious to try to date various 604e units I have.

I've seen two differing labels and 'names'.

ALTEC
Model 604e
Duplex

With codes of(under HF cover) 391505


and


Altec
Lansing
SuperDuplex
604E

With codes of 391949, 391239, 391648

1962 would be too early for a 604E. Has to be 72. The others are easy, since the "E" was way gone by '76. And of course no way 56.

Altec Lansing Corp is older. Altec then became Altec Division, LTV. Then Altec Corporation. Then Altec division of Musical Chairs Corporation.

[magnarc]

Ok then does that mean the Model 604E labelled one with 391505 is 5th week of 65 or 75? It is then either the oldest or the newest, so to speak.

The crossover(original 604e ones) on the 391239 has 72 marked on it, 7211 i think, so 1972 fits there.

The crossover for the ones labelled Model 604E are 7423 making them either the later one, or a mismatched Xover.

Any info on the 288 writing?

[Old Guy]

Ok then does that mean the Model 604E labelled one with 391505 is 5th week of 65 or 75? It is then either the oldest or the newest, so to speak.

The crossover(original 604e ones) on the 391239 has 72 marked on it, 7211 i think, so 1972 fits there.

The crossover for the ones labelled Model 604E are 7423 making them either the later one, or a mismatched Xover.

Any info on the 288 writing?

Way gone by 76...way gone by more than a year. I think Altec was doing "G" or maybe even "H" models by then. So IMHO just plain no way 75. I'd bet a portrait of Ben Franklin on it...

In the early 70's I was flying back and forth..I liquidated a lot of stock for Altec, they had hundreds of surplus 290E's from Vietnam, sadly thousands were probably left there...

The crossovers were not put with speakers when they were made. Remember Altec was emerging from the LTV bankruptcy. It is not uncommon to see late 60's speakers with early 70's crossovers.

I have not used many 288C's but let me look again at what you posted and I'll be back to do an addendum.