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Newbie here! Just inherited my Dad's Altec Lansing speakers . Would like to learn more about what I have! One woofer is a 414-8b the other just says Altec Lansing Hollywood. See pics. Any helpful info appreciated!
Edits: 08/29/24 08/29/24 08/29/24Follow Ups:
Ok the 12" dark brown driver that says Altec Lansing Hollywood is from the 1940's it's a DiaCone model 600 should have a sticker on the side of the magnet with yellow lettering. It should have a metal dust cap DiaCone meant basically getting sound from two separate diaphragms in the same speaker. The metal dust cap plays higher frequency's sort of like a whizzer cone. If I remember I think the 12" DiaCone was 10 ohms and like 20 or 25 watts.
Whenever you see Altec Lansing crossovers the number on the crossover is the crossover frequency for example N-500 is a 500 HZ crossover point N-800 is 800 HZ N-1200 is 1200 HZ N-1600 is 1600 HZ and the N-3000 is a 3000 HZ crossover which means you have tweeters in your cabinets not compression drivers and horns like most people associate with vintage Altec speakers. The cast frame 12" the 414-8b came out in 1970 so your dad had probably blown the other DiaCone 12" and more than likely could not get a replacement cone for a speaker from the 1940's so he replaced it with the newer 414-8b.
If you wanted to restore them to original, you could probably find a 12" DiaCone on eBay from $150.00 to $300.00 and you would have a very old pair of Altec Lansing speakers great for a period correct tube amp.
As far as an actual model number or name of your Altec cabinets I don't know more than likely they were a home build. Early audio history is all DIY Frank McIntosh sold kits yes you could buy a McIntosh kit amp back in 1949. Saul Marantz started in 1948 and sold kits DIY is what started the high end audio industry. Heathkit a company that sold only kits started in 1947 and sold speaker kits with Altec Lansing drivers maybe your speakers are early Heathkit speakers with Altec drivers. Can you post pictures of the tweeters. Those old DiaCone 12" are rare and hard to find would be nice to see them put back to original. Speaker like yours are the pioneers of the high end audio industry and very cool and rare.
Thank you for your posts! I have added pictures including the Wolverine tweeter. Our best guess is that these were a kit - but more likely from the 60's-70's?
You might also want to post this on the Altec User Group. Fantastically knowledgeable people on that board.
https://www.hostboard.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=700
This is (these are?) are way too small to be a Magnificent.
all the best,
mrh
after looking again I think you're correct, there's also no top plate on the cabinet just a top side.
pictures would still help especially on the inside of cab, crossover, drivers etc.
I still wish I had the chance to buy some Magnificents years ago
In good condition, too -- at least cosmetically (dunno about functionality).
I made sincere efforts to purchase them, or at least ascertain the asking price, but got an odd runaround from the proprietor. They were either sold (but unclaimed) or on consignment from someone who didn't really want to sell them. It was kind of an odd situation.
Nonetheless, it's the one & only pair of them I ever saw in the wild. Having owned a pair of "A" series Valencias, to me the Magnficients were cognitive dissonance in the (umm...) flesh. With fretwork grilles, they look like gigantic Valencias. :)
all the best,
mrh
Edits: 09/01/24
I wanted to get the A-M's but it never happened for me, too large and heavy to ship. I bought a local pair of Altec Valentia's instead and still have them. Classic Altec Voice of the Theatre Stuff!!
Sounds like the drivers inside are not original so you'll have to post more pics. There's a lot of guys here who are Altec experts
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