Altec- Heathkit? Speakers

[capnlindy]

Hi,

I just stumbled across the site and would like to some info on some speaker my mother has had for years.

These are large cabinets with 2 15" drivers and a very large horn. These were said to sold by Heathkit and used Altec voice of the theater speakers. These however have two drivers instead of the single in an Altec. Are these the same quality as the Altec branded speakers.

I am trying to get any info on these as a search only turns up heathkit computers and smaller speakers.

Any help would be greatly received.

Steve

[speakerdave]

Yes, Heath marketed some speakers with drive units from Altec (also JBL). The "Altec" speakers were called "Legato." I believe they varied somewhat over time. I had a Heath Legato once that had the 811 horn and the equivalent of the 804 or 806 treble driver plus a pair of 15" woofers which were the equivalent of the 803.

A search on these forums for "Legato" might turn up some more information.

David

[Tom Brennan]

I have a pair of 1961 Heath As-21s which are Altec 9844 monitors but in gorgeous furniture cabinets.

Each has a pair of 414 12" woofers side by side and above them an 804 driver on an 811 horn. The crossover is a Heath version of the 800F.

[gamalot]

Heathkit speakers often used some very nice Altec drivers in both the LF and HF end.
They also made some very nice cabinets and possibly components in KIT form so you could build your own cabinets around some great drivers.
You might have some true gems and then again, if the cabinets are homemade and poorly done you could still have some nice drivers waiting for nice cabinets.
Just because they say Heathkit on them does not mean they are not desireable and could very well mean they are very desireable.
Pictures will help with IDs of your drivers.

Gary

[capnlindy]

Thanks for the comments,

The cabinets are quite well made and if they were home built they were done by a skilled wood worker. The speakers are dated looking with a light maple finish and goldish grills and a pair of triple vertical ribs. That said, the integrity of the case work is fine and they could be re-veneered easily.

The speaker themselves are not used any longer, my mother has some senile dementia and can't operate the stereo. I recall the last time I turned them on that one; perhaps two woffers had a bit of buzz. I do know that the speakers are Altec, the horn driver has altec cast into the rear cover. Here are the numbers on the speakers. The horn has two part no. the horn itself is 400-1 and the horn driver is 401-18. The woffers are 401-17 and the x-over is listed a 46-18


Thanks,
Steve