I can't help you with the serial numbers but I just love the looks of those duplex speakers. The main problem with the recommended enclosure is that it's an enclosure. Can't see it. I'd love to find a cheap one to serve as a shelf queen.
BillWojo
Being new to the Altec scene (and unable to find anything about it online) I'm wondering what the deal is with this driver I've got. It has some sort of number - starting with 601 instead of 391 - where you would normally find the serial, but no other numbers anywhere else. It's clearly an Altec, but I'm just wondering what the significance of this number is, and with there being no "391" anywhere.
Thanks in advance!
Last edited by Basplin; March 1st, 2017 at 02:47 AM.
I can't help you with the serial numbers but I just love the looks of those duplex speakers. The main problem with the recommended enclosure is that it's an enclosure. Can't see it. I'd love to find a cheap one to serve as a shelf queen.
BillWojo
I know, right??? I was thinking the same thing tonight. I guess that just means that the enclosure has to be at least this beautiful!Originally Posted by BillWojo
I just saw one of these on eBay with the cone ripped out go for damn near $200...
Thick plexiglass has been used as an open baffle [OB]...........
GM
Loud is Beautiful if it's Clean! As always though, the usual disclaimers apply to this post's contents.
How was the serial number presented on 605As over the years?
Opinion is only as valid as its verifiable supporting evidence.
Generally 605As had no serial so to speak. Somewhere should be a 391xxx date code, but that 601111 number is in the same font.
I really only recall seeing designated S/N's on early red white, and blue typewritten decals, and relieved/stamped in aluminum foilcals on drivers produced from the late 60's on. There may be other methods, but i don't recall them.How was the serial number presented on 605As over the years?
Note that on that early 515 the S/N is also stamped in the edge of the motor front plate. That may be a clue to look for on other models.
In the case of the 601XXX stamp, i think it's some sort of "in house" inventory, production control, or chaser number.
Here's one on a 755B, an earlier "600xxx":
And another on a 402A:
Last edited by bowtie427ss; March 1st, 2017 at 10:20 AM.
Not all vegetables make good leaders.
Thanks for the info everyone! Bowtie, I remember we had talked about it being some sort of control number on AK, but I did not know that not all speakers had the 391 designation. I have a soneaky feeling that I would find a 391 inside and under the back HF cap for the voicecoil (I think? Not sure on the topology of these yet) but I'm not all that eager to start taking it apart to look quite yet.
I do remember seeing numbers in the motor plate edges, but alas, nothing in the one I've got.
An observation, my 605 has this reddish colored rubber on the surround, whereas others I've seen are just black. I saw another 605 with the 601xxx serial on eBay and it had the same reddish surround. Those 755 and 402 you posted have got it too. Is it possible that this 600xxx/601xxx designation could be related to that? Does the red surround signify anything? I am an Altec n00b, so this could totally be a dumb question. I find this stuff really interesting though!
Last edited by Basplin; March 1st, 2017 at 01:06 PM.
I have found the 391XXX stamp on the inside of the basket spokes facing the back side of the cone in a couple instances indicating they were stamped with the RETMA/EIA code and date prior to cones being installed in those instances.
Also, i don't think Altec started using the EIA type ID until the very late 1950's, maybe 1960ish.
Not all vegetables make good leaders.
That I did not know, and is probably the answer as to why I haven't got one. I did look on the inside of the basket - good idea, but nothing there on mine. They only made 605's for a few years, yeah?
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