just a wee bit dusty and no drivers
2 Altec A 1 Cabinet from Western Electric Early 1940 Theatre | eBay
Printable View
just a wee bit dusty and no drivers
2 Altec A 1 Cabinet from Western Electric Early 1940 Theatre | eBay
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil-G
Now THAT it trully RARE!
Agree on the rarity. But, i don't see the value considering the water damage and general rough, and incomplete condition.
Incomplete? Do you mean the drivers? Were A1's loaded with something equally rare as the cabinets? The cabinets do look rough, but I've never seen the 3 woofer cabinets outside of Altec literature. With as rare as the orignal A6's are, I've owned a cabinet, and seen several on ebay. I can't say that about the A1.Quote:
Originally Posted by bowtie427ss
Honestly I wouldn't pay anywhere near that.
they are essentially widened 210's, and the dimensions are published.
I also think the price is quite high for just the cabinet.. Now if this was still in all original condition with the 515 woofers,multi cell horn, and drivers then were talking....
$3600 for $150 worth of plywood...
There's more plywood than that there...... two cabinets, plus wings. I'm not saying I'd pay $3600 shipped, but of all the cabinets I've seen on ebay, this is the one that is the rarest and most worthy to have higher dollars thrown at it.Quote:
Originally Posted by cradeldorf
Sure. But eBay in general is just stupid many times.Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill
that would be at least 7 sheets of plywood.Quote:
Originally Posted by cradeldorf
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.........................
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).Quote:
Originally Posted by bowtie427ss
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"!
the seller says there's two of them.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by voice of the theater
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?
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.
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
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Guy
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?
I gotta confess I just plain don't know. Unfortunately any witnesses to the decisions are likely no longer breathing air. But it makes sense.