Hello to all (now) Old Friends

[Wes Dayen]

Just a quick hello to any/all folks I may have known or had the pleasure of working with back in the good ol' Altec 70's.

I first started working at Altec in 1970 as assembler in Mary Aruda's aread in the far back corner of the rear building. Graduated to Test Tech in the speaker assembly area under Jerry Deck / Dave Holt. Moved up to Bench Tech afterwards under Claude Gosslin / Cal Callahan in the rear building. Was then approached by the plant manager, John Taylor and accepted a position as Foreman of the Microphone Department under Arnie Pitts, in which position I remained until 1979 when I left for a position with McDonnell Douglas Corp. Also met my lovely wife Marie there (formally Marie Rojas) who was an Inspector (and it is now 6 kids and 22 grandkids later!). You may remember the air conditioned room in the far back of the rear building, where Richard Donaldson, aka "The Hippie" also used to work, and from which would periodically emmanate high volume stereo sounds whenever a "good" song wotec uld hit the airwaves on mine and the Hippie's receiver. Had sooo much fun with "my ladies" who would build and repair all the mics, HF horns, cables and misc other items.itable carrear Nothing but fond memories.

After leaving Altec for McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing Aerospace) in 1979, I then had a very proffitable career there as Electrical Test and Measurement Specialist, Qual Test Engineer for the Delta IV Launch Vehicle (yest Rocket Scientist), finishing up in Test Project Management on the C-17 Transport plane. VERY THANKFULL ! God is good ! I am now retired, and am a full-time RVer with no particular home anymore.

Anyway, enough about me. If anyone's out there that remember's me, drop me a note. Would love to hear from some old, "old" friends and their stories.

Sincerely,
Wes Dayen (aka "Red Neck")

[DSauro]

Wes, I'm not sure many will remember the little air conditioned room in the back building, if any. Many of the great folks here were out in the field, and most of the other affiliations are from the Oklahoma City facility, mainly after you tenure. I, however, was in Anaheim from 1968 to 1981 (with the exception of my field trip to Viet Nam in 1970 to 1971). So, that would include your intire time there.
I remember you, and Richard, and all the other names you mention, with the exception of Claude. Also, the only Rojas I recall was that crazy guy, Ralph, in the seperated carton warehouse in the back corner of the rear parking lot.
I will keep this short, as this is more of a tech board, and if we care to chat further we can do that via private message.
Oh, I do remember something somewhat technical. Back before you could walk into a Radio Shack, or other electronics store and get a cable with 1/4" on one end, and RCA on the other, I visited that little room one day. You were nice enough to solder two of them for me, so I could cable my new 9440A amp to my home hifi preamp. I don't recall many people using that amp for home applications back then.
Oh yeah, my name is Dave Sauro. I worked in the Anaheim stockroom for Dick Gauthier, and also at the warehouse/shipping facility on Main St., in Orange.

[voice of the theater]

Just a quick hello to any/all folks I may have known or had the pleasure of working with back in the good ol' Altec 70's.

I first started working at Altec in 1970 as assembler.....

Wes, I'm not sure many will remember the little air conditioned room in the back building, if any. Many of the great folks here were out in the field, and most of the other affiliations are from the Oklahoma City facility, mainly after you tenure. I, however, was in Anaheim from 1968 to 1981 (with the exception of my field trip to Viet Nam in 1970 to 1971). So, that would include your intire time there.
I remember you, and Richard, and all the other names you mention, with the exception of Claude. Also, the only Rojas I recall was that crazy guy, Ralph, in the seperated carton warehouse in the back corner of the rear parking lot.
I will keep this short, as this is more of a tech board, and if we care to chat further we can do that via private message.......

Welcome aboard Wes! Great to have another former Altec employee here on this forum (I never worked for Altec, but we have several members here like Dave Sauro, who did).:welcome: I would just like to chime in that this board is for ALL things Altec (not just a "tech board")--and there are many here who I'm sure would love to hear about the old Anaheim plant--any stories/photos you guys may have about Altec back in the 70's. Yes, Dave, I would agree with you that "Many of the great folks here were out in the field, and most of the other affiliations are from the Oklahoma City facility, mainly after you tenure." The valuable contributions we've gotten here from those folks are immense--I have the ultimate respect for those who kept the Altec "torch" alive at the Oklahoma City facility and of course for those who "were out in the field" as well. The fact that we don't have many (maybe a grand total of two now--counting you two guys--Dave and Wes--or possibly more?) people who worked for Altec in the 70's in Anaheim here on this board makes any info you guys can share about those days very valuable. After all, Altec continued to make great strides during that period with (for example) the introduction of: the "re-tooled" Valencia (846B), tangerine phase plug, N1201-8A Crossover, Model 19, Model 14 to name just a very few. As a current owner of Model 19's and Model 14's, I (and many others here I'm sure) would love to hear more about Altec in the 70's. ANY insights, photos, recollections, stories, etc. you two guys may have would be "pure gold". For example, was there a "buzz" around the Anaheim plant when the tangerine phase plug was invented, or when the Model 19 or Model 14 were first introduced (or when Altec won the Design and Engineering Excellence Award from EIA for the Model 19 and later for the Model 14)? Or was it just another day at work (I'm sure the perspective of people who were actually there is of course a lot different than what someone who is a huge fan of Altec would imagine). These are probably lame questions but any light you guys could shed on what was a very important time in Altec's history (an era which it would be great to finally have some first hand insight/info about) would be invaluable. Any funny stories, recollections of what that facility was like both physically (layout etc.) and as far as the people/mood/tone of the place would be amazing. This is info that is in very short supply.... Any little trivial memories or memories of bigger events etc. would be "pure gold". You get the idea--it would be great to hear ANYTHING about the Anaheim plant/Altec in the 70's and to see any photos you guys might have.........

[DSauro]

Voice Of The Theatre, There's nothing, even remotely lame about being curious of older Altec history.
I was 19 when I first started working there as a shipping clerk. I didn't even know what they did there.
I recall a "buzz", but as an employee, it wasn't about the many new products that were introduced. It was always expected, and business as usual.
Personally, the buzz came when I would spot a VOTT A7, or other Altec product in a movie, or TV show, Saturday Night Fever, Woodstock, and many others. Or, the many venues, Astrodome, LA Coloseum, Rose Bowl, Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theater, all of Disneyland, etc. I used to look behind everything during all the Disney rides to spot the 604's, or A7's, etc. There was a circular movie theatre in Orange county called Century 21. I spotted two Magnificents behind curtains in the rear. VOTT's, 1202's, 1203's, 1204's & 5's were everywhere, in every club back then.
Many thanks to the emense technical knowledge of the members here, to Bill & Steve at GPA, and especially to Todd. It's a fountain of youth for all the old vintage equipment.

By the way, VOTT, I see your in upstate. I was born in Niagara Falls, NY.

[voice of the theater]

Voice Of The Theatre, There's nothing, even remotely lame about being curious of older Altec history.
I was 19 when I first started working there as a shipping clerk. I didn't even know what they did there.
I recall a "buzz", but as an employee, it wasn't about the many new products that were introduced. It was always expected, and business as usual.
Personally, the buzz came when I would spot a VOTT A7, or other Altec product in a movie, or TV show, Saturday Night Fever, Woodstock, and many others. Or, the many venues, Astrodome, LA Coloseum, Rose Bowl, Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theater, all of Disneyland, etc. I used to look behind everything during all the Disney rides to spot the 604's, or A7's, etc. There was a circular movie theatre in Orange county called Century 21. I spotted two Magnificents behind curtains in the rear. VOTT's, 1202's, 1203's, 1204's & 5's were everywhere, in every club back then.......

Nice--makes me wonder how much of that classic gear has survived, and how much of it is still in use in one form or another today....

Many thanks to the emense technical knowledge of the members here, to Bill & Steve at GPA, and especially to Todd. It's a fountain of youth for all the old vintage equipment.

By the way, VOTT, I see your in upstate. I was born in Niagara Falls, NY.

I'd like to second that thanks--GPA (with Todd's help), have done an amazing job keeping some of the best speakers/drivers ever manufactured alive and well. This forum, thanks to Todd and many of the members here, shed important (and often times updated) info on this classic/vintage gear (and great audio in general).

Yes, I'm in upstate NY--suburbs of Rochester to be exact--just over an hour from Niagara Falls. In the summertime, my wife and I love to visit Niagara Falls (both the Canadian side and the U.S. side) as well as Toronto (3 hour drive), St. Catherines and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.....

Does anyone here have any photos of the old Anaheim facility (Dave or Wes or anyone who worked there?)......

[Altec Best]

Just a quick hello to any/all folks I may have known or had the pleasure of working with back in the good ol' Altec 70's.

Hey Wes, Welcome to the board ! :welcome:

I will keep this short, as this is more of a tech board, and if we care to chat further we can do that via private message.

Hey Dave, I always enjoy hearing about any kind of Altec History ! Especially from the Anaheim plant.Where most of Altec's product history was produced ! :2thumbsup:

[bfish]

For you old alumni, there's plenty of name-dropping in the many articles on Altec in the old Billboard mags. Here's a Google books search for "Altec" in past Billboards;

altec nineteen intitle:billboard - Google Search

Pick issues from "your" time, and see who pops up.

(I wanna know more about this "Hippie" character...

[Wes Dayen]

Thanks for the welcome guys.
The "Hippie" I referred to was Richard Donaldson, one of the engineering techs that watched the stuff coming off the line. He did a lot (I believe) to help perfect the 9440, working closely with the lab guys up front. He was also a blast to me to work (indirectly) with. Always something enjoyable going on back in that back room.

I knew a lot of the guysin the stockroom too, and I was back there alot needing this or that. Can't say I honestly remember you though Dave. Wish I could say I do. I worked alot with Dick and Bruce Johnson however. Anyone heard anything from any of these guys in years past ? I always wondered what happened to them all.

I was always kind of a hands-on guy when it came to production stuff, whether speakers, drivers, amps, equalizers, etc. I must confess I did not care for the tangerine plug when it came out. Never appeared to have a smooth response when I was testing, where the original all aluminum diaphrams always did. Course they would never stand up to the higher power the symbiotics did. They also were not quite as smooth, at least with a sine-wave sweep.

I do have quite a bit of hands-on with the mics too (if someone has a question and this old brain can still remember). Also worked alot with Bill Hayes, who I had the privilege of meeting up with at his home about 6 months back. Heck of a nice man.

Nough for now. I'll try and touch base with the forum when I can. I'm on the road quite a bit now, so it may be only once every couple weeks. What a loss the old Altec is. Was it 1981 it moved to OK. ? I left in 79.

God Bless y'all !!
Wes

[voice of the theater]

Thanks for the welcome guys.
The "Hippie" I referred to was Richard Donaldson, one of the engineering techs that watched the stuff coming off the line. He did a lot (I believe) to help perfect the 9440, working closely with the lab guys up front. He was also a blast to me to work (indirectly) with. Always something enjoyable going on back in that back room.

I knew a lot of the guysin the stockroom too, and I was back there alot needing this or that. Can't say I honestly remember you though Dave. Wish I could say I do. I worked alot with Dick and Bruce Johnson however. Anyone heard anything from any of these guys in years past ? I always wondered what happened to them all.

I was always kind of a hands-on guy when it came to production stuff, whether speakers, drivers, amps, equalizers, etc. I must confess I did not care for the tangerine plug when it came out. Never appeared to have a smooth response when I was testing, where the original all aluminum diaphrams always did. Course they would never stand up to the higher power the symbiotics did. They also were not quite as smooth, at least with a sine-wave sweep.

I do have quite a bit of hands-on with the mics too (if someone has a question and this old brain can still remember). Also worked alot with Bill Hayes, who I had the privilege of meeting up with at his home about 6 months back. Heck of a nice man.

Nough for now. I'll try and touch base with the forum when I can. I'm on the road quite a bit now, so it may be only once every couple weeks. What a loss the old Altec is. Was it 1981 it moved to OK. ? I left in 79.

God Bless y'all !!
Wes

Thanks for checking in again Wes! Sounds like some interesting and fun times for you (like working with Richard Donaldson for example). I personally haven't heard anything from/about Dick or Bruce Johnson but maybe someone else here has. Not to mention, new people are finding this website/joining here all the time including former Altec employees like yourself so maybe you'll log in and find posts from them here--after all this is THE place to be for all things Altec. If you are still in touch with Bill Hayes, I'm thinking he might appreciate being told about this website (if he doesn't know about it already).

As far as the tangerine phase plug, I think it was when they combined it with the H.F compensation in the Model 19 crossover (and other similar Altec crossovers produced in those days through the Oklahoma days) that the "magic" happened (smooth extended frequency response). This document shows the frequency response with the crossover in play (and controls set to the "optimum" position). http://www.altecpro.com/pdfs/vintage...r%20Manual.pdf
Interesting that they didn't measure very smooth without the H.F. compensation from the crossover-- this type of info from those days is "pure gold" IMHO.

To answer your question regarding the move to Oklahoma, I'm not sure when they started moving everything to Oklahoma City (there are most likely others here who can chime in about this). According to this timeline (which is probably far from "gospel"), it looks like by 1984 everything had moved there. http://www.altecpro.com/about/timeline.htm This may be of interest to you. I'm pretty sure I saw a "better" history/timeline somewhere, but can't find it today of course. Anyone else out there know of one?

[DSauro]

Wes, Dick left Altec some time in 1980. He went to I.T.T. Cannon, in Santa Ana, and I left to go there in early '81, not sound equipment related. In the later 80's Dick was relocated to Nogales, AZ. Kinda lost contact at that point. Sorry I can't provide more recent history.
Bruce and I used to carpool from Mission Viejo to the Anaheim plant in the late 70's. I met my wife, Kathie, at a party at Bruce's home in 1977. She worked with Bruce's wife, Laurie. Been together ever since.
Bruce left Altec when the Anaheim plant was closed, and I last had contact with him in 1998. We both changed employment venues a few times, but never together.
Bill Hayes is still the man for Altec Mic's, as you know. He just keeps on goin'. Same address on Cris St., in Anaheim. I lived a few blocks away from him before Altec (for me).
Roger, or any other "old Altec" alums care to share?