HELP! I think I've found an original 604 in a 605 Cabinet..

**Alien_Shore** · April 2nd, 2013, 01:03 PM

glad you waited until April SECOND to post this. Otherwise I would've said...hahah nice try buddy.

Otherwise, I'm saying nice find there! Yes, that appears to be an original mid-40's 604...a rare find and hopefully it will bring you what you need.

**Bobdrfl** · April 2nd, 2013, 01:41 PM

Dear Alien:

You know, I hadn't even given the date a thought! I agree, had I posted it yesterday it might have looked a bit sketchy. It's funny how things can work out if you keep trying; we just wanted to find a table or something we could use. Going together with him was more important than finding anything. I still feel that way.

If this is indeed what I think it is; I know how important they are and that it should be kept well and preserved. I haven't totally decided yet on how or what to do, but my guess is that eBay is probably the best bet. Maybe even wind up in Abbey Road studios, where it can be put to more good use.

Thanks for the reply and the vote; it's already a better month.

**cradeldorf** · April 2nd, 2013, 03:05 PM

I'd keep the speaker and get rid of the family...but that's just the kind of guy I am.

**juniper** · April 2nd, 2013, 03:13 PM

Welcome aboard Bobdrfl, great find!!! clean it up and send it to the bay, would make a great mono system!!!! If it works properly? it should bring close to 4K.. use some howards products on the cab,it it will do wonders. Just be very careful with that speaker! Good luck, remember we are all just stewards...

**Phil-G** · April 2nd, 2013, 03:39 PM

wow that's beautiful. sure would go a ways on gas and mortgage

**RonSSS** · April 2nd, 2013, 03:58 PM

You should tell us how much you paid for it so we will feel really bad........

**kinomat** · April 2nd, 2013, 05:39 PM

To me you've hit the lottery (Altec History). I would ask Todd W White for his advise, or if you need any Altec speakers, parts, or labour talk to Bill at Great Plains, they should be interested in wanting a great piece of Altec history from the 1944 - 1948 era. You can then do some bartering

**Bobdrfl** · April 2nd, 2013, 06:04 PM

What a wonderful posting board; so many quick responses. I'm certainly grateful.

I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the next steps; if I list on eBay or how I list or what manner are all to be decided (auction, buy it now, time period, etc.). We've been on eBay quite a bit lately, selling items we no longer need and anything I can gather or pick up that has some value. This kind of a find never figured into what we've been doing (china, porcelain, old oddities, etc.). I know a few good shipping/crating/house-hold moving concerns so delivering won't be a problem (probably could even deliver it myself if someone wanted that), but I suspect in a few days it will be much clearer as to how to go about this.

For now, I'm just very relieved that it's being well received and it wasn't just me that was optimistically thinking it was real. I had an idea about the tri-color labels, and it seems like a good low number, but I wanted to be dead sure it was for real and not just an altered version. It's all padded up (I don't want anything to happen to it), especially the very intact and perfect shape front grill.

Any, thanks again to all of you who've written; both my son and I thank you.

**Alien_Shore** · April 3rd, 2013, 07:43 AM

It will be necessary to pull the speaker out of the cabinet and inspect it closely if you intend to put it up for auction and get top-dollar for it. Collectors will want to see high-quality close-ups of the speaker and cabinet to know if they are bidding on an original. Here is a good example of some of the details that you'll want to look for in an original "RWB 604"

Owned Played by Les Paul Altec 604 Hollywood RWB Speaker All Original | eBay

You will want to check the functionality of the speaker as well. Using your DVM, set it for ohms (DC Resistance) and check both sets of speaker terminals. You'll want to take pictures of those readings as well to show the voice coils are in-tact. As you mentioned, you can hook the speaker up for a listening test, although the crossover is likely to be in pretty terrible shape; anything around since WWII probably has some "issues"

Let us know if you want help in how best to hook it up and conduct a listening test.

As far as the cabinets go, someone already mentioned using Howards on them - look at your local box store for Feed-N-Wax. It's great to revitalize a beautiful old hardwood cabinet like that.

Also, for fun, here is one of the original marketing pamphlets of this speaker from the mid-40's:

Altec 604 Introduction Brochure