2-ALTEC-A-1-cabinet-from-western-electric-early-1940-theatre

**bowtie427ss** · January 14th, 2014, 10:12 AM

They are not without a certain "cool" factor, no question about that.

I also appreciate the rarity of them too. But, they're like the Hoover Dam in terms of practicality, and there's only one of those, and it's only of any real value doing what it's supposed to do in it's designated space. The value IMNSHO, is in being able to perform their intended function in a way that is at least somewhat practical. They would be most valuable to a period theater restoration project right where they are, or very close by.

These cabinets(i don't want to call them A1, as that identifies a system, not a cabinet, there were plenty of A1 systems using triple 210 cabinets) are impractically large. You simply cannot get them thru a single door opening.

So far, of the six 210's from the original location where my pair came from, the most use has been gained from the re-use of the plywood in the three that were dismantled. Facts of life.........................

**Audio_by_Goodwill** · January 14th, 2014, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by bowtie427ss

So far, of the six 210's from the original location where my pair came from, the most use has been gained from the re-use of the plywood in the three that were dismantled. Facts of life.........................

But these aren't 210's. 210's are common in comparison. You've had six, we've seen countless on ebay. I've seen a pair in person in the Detroit area...... can't recall the members name, but he doesn't post anymore. How many people on this board have even seen the 3 woofer cabinet before? .......even in picture (speaking of modern times, not old theater pictures, or Altec literature).

Assuming the 3 woofer cabinet sounds as good or better than the 210, sayings these are worth no more than the plywood, is kind of like wanting to by a Duesenberg at scrap value.

I can't afford the price being asked, or even a quarter of it. The price seems a bit high, but he might get it. I don't blame the seller for trying, as these cabinets are truly rare. What I find irritating is when you find a seller that has 210s or 825/828s and tries to pass them off as the holy grail...... and then you find the price is "Each"!

**Phil-G** · January 14th, 2014, 08:27 PM

the seller says there's two of them.

**voice of the theater** · January 14th, 2014, 09:03 PM

I'm not impressed by sellers who are trying to get top dollar out of a rare piece and don't even bother to dust it off or at least take some decent photos of it. It's not like this guy is an Ebay rookie--did anyone see the other Altec and Western Electric stuff he's currently got up for sale? I always wonder when the Ebay photos are poor if they're intentionally poor--i.e. he doesn't want you to get a good look at how bad the condition really is.

**Audio_by_Goodwill** · January 15th, 2014, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by voice of the theater

I'm not impressed by sellers who are trying to get top dollar out of a rare piece and don't even bother to dust it off or at least take some decent photos of it. It's not like this guy is an Ebay rookie--did anyone see the other Altec and Western Electric stuff he's currently got up for sale? I always wonder when the Ebay photos are poor if they're intentionally poor--i.e. he doesn't want you to get a good look at how bad the condition really is.

Good point. When I was selling my 755A I had my cousin take the pictures...... she know what she's doing.

**bowtie427ss** · January 15th, 2014, 09:06 AM

I'm sure the overflowing garbage barrel makes some browsers feel right at home.

Those cabinets are NOT even worth their equivalent in raw plywood. Their value was always in the component load which is long gone, and maybe a bit of value in their clean and pristine cosmetics which likely left the building ahead of the components. They are EASILY reproduced, they contain no refined cabinetmaking skills, just basic carpentry.

For me, if the union seals and any other Altec provenance are gone, they're not worth the effort to even look at. The one cabinet is so uniformly water damaged that you would never get the dank smell of rot out of it.

Condition, location, condition, location, condition, location.

What would you pay?

**Old Guy** · January 17th, 2014, 08:43 AM

They ARE an historical item. But some rocks are historical items.That doesn't mean said rock is worth 2 grand.

If they had not been parted out and were complete, I would feel more protective. They may have been the last surviving set. But I feel I could build a set better than those.

**GST** · January 19th, 2014, 07:09 AM

Hello, this is a 310 cabinet, see thread of RacerExtreme from September 24th. 2008. I got from him some drawings of this cabs with used woofers, crossovers and the wiring details. In my mind, all the woofers are parallel wired together, crossover N 500 C. If I will find the drawings, I?ll send them. Regards, Gunther

**Old Guy** · January 19th, 2014, 08:57 AM

Yes it's a 310- IIRC the set I saw had 3x 24 ohm woofers...I have only seen one set, and some 30 years ago...it was still in place and in use.

**bowtie427ss** · January 19th, 2014, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Old Guy

Yes it's a 310- IIRC the set I saw had 3x 24 ohm woofers...I have only seen one set, and some 30 years ago...it was still in place and in use.

This thread got me thinking about the 20-24 ohm thing the other day.

Is it just coincidence, or did the triple parallel(and potentially quad parallel HF load) load of that system help set that early impedance standard?