511B's with aquaplas?

**Audio_by_Goodwill** · December 11th, 2009, 02:18 PM

Is this a known thing? These 511B's have Aquaplas on them...... those are definitely small format drivers.

Vintage Altec A5/A7 speaker systems- nice matched pair! - eBay (item 380186963751 end time Dec-17-09 10:50:43 PST)

**DSauro** · December 11th, 2009, 04:07 PM

The aquaplast looks consistent with a factory job, which was never done for production horns to my knowledge. I would guess they started life as 511E's, and had the throats exchanged to the small format. Can't say that I have seen this before. Original 511E's have become few, but if someone had them and wanted to use small drivers, and dampen ring, it may be easier tha applying aquaplast effectively to 511B's.

**Old Guy** · December 11th, 2009, 04:35 PM

Gotta respectfully disagree,,,those are from way before 511E's existed.

I have no problem believing early ones might have been damped, then that went by the wayside as an economy measure, just like tar filled did.

Those aren't much newer than tar filled would be.

**DSauro** · December 11th, 2009, 04:49 PM

OG, after examining the photo's close up, I admit that there is no evidence of cut's, or welding on the throats. Also, the aquaplast looks to be a darker shade than 511E's.
What years would you think these are from, grey 803's & all? Cool find for someone.

**Audio_by_Goodwill** · December 11th, 2009, 08:34 PM

Converting an E to a B would be really out there.......... B to E you're trimming material off and welding. Going from an E to a B, you'd have to add material. That would be highly unlikely, especially to end up with something that looked anything close to factory.

The color difference is likely just paint....... or dirt

**Audio_by_Goodwill** · December 11th, 2009, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by DSauro

What years would you think these are from, grey 803's & all? Cool find for someone.

Awhile back someone (Todd, I think) mentioned those horn baffles/mounts/boards were last seen in the 50's.

**Old Guy** · December 11th, 2009, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill

Awhile back someone (Todd, I think) mentioned those horn baffles/mounts/boards were last seen in the 50's.

My guess is those are 50's which would make them early 511's. Another reason why I felt the way I did. We may never know...

Not sure when the first year was for 511...i do know 811's were cheapened up, so can believe 511's were too...

I do note the 511 in 59 is claimed to be "free of resonance or coloration", not true of the 511B's we love/hate.

http://hifilit.com/hifilit/Altec/1959-k.jpg