It's always an adventure working in old theaters because of what you can find in the attic or nooks and crannies of the projection booth,behind the screen (backstage)
This was a backstage find : 1 - RCA HF unit MI-9458 with throat MI-9497
All made in USA a treasure to see and touch. Photos to follow.
Last edited by Altec Best; March 20th, 2012 at 10:52 AM. Reason: Off Topic ....
Yeah, I'm sure there are many treasure troves like this out there. Not to mention that many theaters and live music venues/auditoriums/etc. are dumping their old (and often classic vintage) gear. They often time have no clue what they're selling or it's "worth", which can be a good or a bad thing depending on which way they "err". Here's an exapmle--the Arie Crown theater in Chicago (which if you check their website "the theater has been acoustically and architecturally rebuilt". Apparently, part of this process involved dumping their Altecs. BTW, this thread is no longer exclusively off topic. Looking forward to your pics......
Vintage Altec Voice of the Theater A7 500
Being of "Sound" Mind
You can also count on the fact that there are more than a few EBAY sellers who make their living finding this old Altec stuff by somehow searching out these theatres and getting access to this stuff way ahead of the casualy interested parties (like most of us folks).
AEP30 here in Portland comes to mind. Can't complain too much though, he delivered my 8184 subs that I won on EBAY. $350 total price.
I'm still waiting to stumble on an unopened case of Western Electric engraved base 300B triodes.
Ron
Last edited by RonSSS; March 20th, 2012 at 06:14 PM. Reason: spelling of course
Enjoying Altec Speakers since 1972
RCA's are interesting birds...higher response than most phenolics. They sound pleasing even without tweets. Not as rugged as 290's though.
Your neighbors called. They like your music.
That would be a good one. My fantasy is finding many NOS 755As...... WE or Altec, either one will be fine :-)Originally Posted by RonSSS
Audio_by_Goodwill
Michigan, USA
Bought a vintage ocilliscope about twenty years back with intentions of learning to use it, well it sat collecting dust for a long time before I opened it up to check the innards, low and behold seventeen Amperex BugleBoy/Telefunken 12ax7s. Straight over to the brother's place, his CD palyed has a tube output, spent a Saturday afternoon tube rolling. Lots of fun discovering the sound variations between tubes, all excellent by the way, blew away the stock tubes.
I've got two scopes....... had three. I sold the tubes from one, to a guy that offered me more than I'd want to pay for untested tubes. He said there was still room for him to make money even if they didn't all test good. The two I have left, one is functional and has the cart, and the other I've never plugged in.
I hate the idea of scraping the one that I know is working....... ok, powers on, as I don't really know if it's fully working/adjusted. They're just built to well, they're a marvel just to look at.
I should probably sell one/both, but I've got other crap......er, I mean fine merchandise..... that I should worry about first.
Edit...... I almost forgot. One of them I got for $10 at auction, out of a barn!
Audio_by_Goodwill
Michigan, USA
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks