Valencia 846B foam grille question

[robertbartsch]

I bought some factory Velencia 846B cabs recently that are in need of restoration.

The factory foam grilles are missing but the cabs do have the factory removable baffle plates that are secured against the cab using factory velcrow strips. These factory baffle plates are 1/4 inch thick, have cutouts for the woofer, horn and bass ports, are covered in a open weave cloth and are painted black.

I recently found some new replacement foams grilles for sale that are similar to the originals.

Question: How do the new foam grilles attach to the factory removable baffle plates? From the inspection of the factory baffle plates, it appears the original factory foam grilles were attached to the baffle plates using glue.

Anyway, is this correct; if yes, what type of glue is used? It is possible that the foam grilles are not attached to the baffle plates, but mearly sit inside the cabs but I'm not sure.

Thx.

[Mustang Marvin]

I bought my 846B Valencias new in 1975. They had the foam grills you speak of. After about 10 years they deteriorated so badly I had to remove the foam grills. They were in fact glued on 1/4" masonite frames. I replaced the foam grills with black acoustic cloth. I know of no one supplying replacement foam grills. I think they sound better with them off anyway.

[robertbartsch]

Marv:
...So you built a wood frame around the factory baffle plates and covered them with standard speaker cloth?

I was thinking of doing that but I do like the original factory foam look.

[GM]

Question: How do the new foam grilles attach to the factory removable baffle plates?

3M Super 77 Multipurpose Spray Adhesive: strong-bonding, fast-drying glue that you just spray on. Think it up, glue it down!

Our plant would have had to shut down in later years without this glue and no self respecting DIYer should ever be without it IMNSHO.

GM

[robertbartsch]

Yeh, I have used contact cement and a warm iron for most of my speaker cloth and grille rebuilds.

With this method, you can tack it down over 100% of the frame and then pull it up in sections and stretch it tight and then fasten it again with some more heat. I thought the contact cement method was used most often by the factories.

Anyway, I think I will try the foam replacement this time.

[Mustang Marvin]

Marv:
...So you built a wood frame around the factory baffle plates and covered them with standard speaker cloth?

I was thinking of doing that but I do like the original factory foam look.

The foam came off the original 1/4 inch masonite backing very easily. I removed the remainder and stretched the cloth over the masonite. I then used 1 inch square pieces of card board and stapled them on the back to secure the cloth. The original velcro pieces stayed in place. This has remained in good order for more than 20 years.

The original foam did look good, but didn't last. It actually came off in fine pieces. Much like black sand on the floor. I don't think I would go back to the foam even if it was available. But in your case I have heard of someone that is making the foam grills for the Model 19. I don't know if they make them for the Valencias but, you could give them a call. I don't recall their name or number, but someone may jump in and give it. Or, you could search for the thread. Sorry I can't be more help...

[robertbartsch]

OK, thanks.

My first pair of VOTT was a Heathkit 101 with 416a and 806, 811 components. Compared to the Valencia 846B cabs, the 101s were more friendly to the eyes. However, the boxes were not constructed as well and at high SPLs, they vibrated a bunch.

In comparision, the 846B cabs are a tad drab being very boxie looking. But the cabs are much stronger and do not exhibit vibration at higher SPLs. Part of this relates to the large cross bar brase on the back cover and non-removable rear back plate.

Anyway, since the 846Bs are kinda drab looking, I think I may go with the foam grilles in
royal blue which was a factory color, I believe.

[GM]

Oh really?! I thought that was strictly a JBL grill color during that time, at least I only recall seeing it on JBLs..........

GM

[robertbartsch]

Really?

The new grilles are advertised as OEM-type foam replacements and come in three colors; black, brown and royal blue. Apparently, the ads says the foam is manufactured by the original OEM provider. Hmmm..

My memory from the mid-1970s recalls a pair of factory Valencias with royal blue foam but I could be wrong. I thought the factory foam also came in brown too. ...again I could be wrong, however.

I thought the whole foam grill design for the Valencias was to advert attention away from the pretty square-cut orange foam in the JBL L100 grills which were selling very well to the retail crowd at the time.

The seller is responding to questions, so I will pose the factory OEM color issue to them and see how they respond.

Thx...

[bfish]

846Bs in the '75 & '76 catalogs offered black foam only.

The advertised foam might well be from the OEM mfr, just in different colors than Altec used. Blue was definitely a JBL color at the time.