What model and year are my A7s?

**analogmike** · July 12th, 2010, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by bowtie427ss

So, they're A7-500's, not sure that question was ever really answered.

Agree with the other posters that '68 is the vintage, green paint on the components is a strong clue, they didn't use it very many years past that point.

they do have the 500 Hz crossover, it's

N-500-G DIVIDING NETWORK

I opened it up, the 15" is a 416-A, 16 Ohms, green. It has 21184-2 on the cone and 391836 on the frame

Does seem to be mostly 5/8" plywood construction.

So I guess they are 1968 A7-500?
Is there another model # for the cabinet type?

Thanks!

These have labels on the back JOLIET JUNIOR COLLEGE
and another JC DIST 525 2005

Oh that Z Vex IMP AMP is 1 watt, proof of Altec's efficiency claims.

**Altec Best** · July 12th, 2010, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by analogmike

Is there another model # for the cabinet type?

.

They are really in nice shape, very nice specimens !!

If your talking about just the cabinet it is a 828.

**bowtie427ss** · July 12th, 2010, 06:41 PM

If your talking about just the cabinet it is a 828.

5/8 ply and half backs = 825. 828 cab was born around 1970, maybe late '69 so the OP's are just a bit early to qualify.

**voice of the theater** · July 12th, 2010, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by analogmike

Oh that Z Vex IMP AMP is 1 watt, proof of Altec's efficiency claims.

Nice decibal level for one watt! I would agree with Bowtie's estimate of approximately 1969. The last three digits of 391836 (stamped on your woofer) is the date code on your 416-A woofer. The 8 is the last digit of the year of manufacture (1968) and the 36 signifies the 36th week of 1968. So your woofer was manufactured in September 1968--your A7-500's were probably assembled around 1969.....

**bowtie427ss** · July 12th, 2010, 09:14 PM

I'd wager those A7's were in service somewhere by the end of November '68. Those are all very "mainstream" Altec components, and at that exact point in history i don't think those components saw much in house shelf time at all once the glue was dry.

It's just my WAG after all, but there sure is a lot of that vintage Altec still in circulation today which seems to indicate that "product" was sellin just fine.