My 618c cab is definitely factory. The decal shot I provided for the decal project came from this box. It is an early 50s model. Very thin wood, like 3/8 ply on the sides and back. You can see that the fiberglass brackets are pained the same as the inside of the cab. I saw another one just like it on ebay that had an early 400B in it. I should have snatched it up but hesitated and lost out. I'll probably see that one in in Korea next trip.
I'm having a pair of these thin wood 618s built as I speak. I intend to experiment with damping techniques using archaic materials--cotton, rigid mineral board, Kimpak, etc.
I had other later 618 cabs that were thicker plywood, gray, and had pink fiberglass on the back wall and bottom panel. The silver one in the pic has nothing on the back wall.
The old 612 box I had was darker gray instead of silver hammertone but it had an old fashioned Altec decal on it as well. That was real early 50s too with a gray Hollywood coax and it had the diagonal damping panel, so I'm wondering if that wasn't factory also. This was a long time ago and I don't remember the minute details. Actually, it might have been a 614...really can't remember. I had a lot of premium junk piled up at the time.
Clearly, many of the well known utility cab designs evolved over time. The earliest Altec versions were more resonant and minimally damped by later standards. Some of them ended up particle board and heavily damped.
When I was talking with Mr. Mukai of Western Sound Inc. about this he said the Japanese like the old boxes because they are more "easy listening" and the later ones are more "dry" or "severe."
Yes indeed that 1508 must be rare. I never saw one before, not even a picture. Did Altec make these or it is only a Lansing Mfg. Co item?
Originally Posted by GM
Bookmarks