Need help identifying Altecs

[for5aken]

Hey everyone,

I'm new here (and to the whole audio scene) and need help identifying a pair of vintage speakers. They are Altec Lansings and measure 21" by 11.5" by 8". The cabinet is made of black wood. I'm afraid I have no idea how to remove the front mesh so I can't measure the internal stuff. On the back it says 0340 on one speaker and 0341 on the other. They also say Jun 1981 on both.

Here's a photo if it helps.

http://images.craigslist.org/010108010211010406200710085ef6c6c004518b4d760066d7 .jpg

The back of the speakers look like this:

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1493/photo0020fk6.jpg

Thanks a bunch!

[for5aken]

Anyone?

[scott fitlin]

Need a clearer shot, and of the front of the speaker, please.

:)

[00Robin]

isn't usually the mesh attached to a frame that is velcroed at the srategic points for holding them on? Like easy on and easy off? Or are those different?

[for5aken]

Sorry, I only have a camera phone so the pictures are going to be blurry.

This is the label on the front. As you can see, the cabinet hangs over the mesh, so it can't be removed.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2523/photo0024ho1.jpg

This is the back. You have to push in the pins in order to get the wires in.

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9564/photo0025mf3.jpg

This is what it says on the back of the speakers. The bottom text says, "Jun 1981."

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2647/photo0026jm4.jpg

[Don C]

The dimensions that you give don't seem to match anything in the catalogs.
http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/altec/catalogs/altec-cat.htm
They seem to be smaller than the smallest speaker Altec made in 1981. They're probably an 82 model, but we don't have that catalog.

[for5aken]

Actually, I surfed around and found this: http://dallas.craigslist.org/ele/454645792.html. It's called a Design 5, and the dimensions are almost exactly the same. The only difference is that it has a removable grill, and it's 3-way. From touching, I'm pretty sure mine doesn't have the 2-tweeter-thing on top. The year is spot on, so maybe mine is a cheaper model. I've tried looking for other "Designs," but no luck.

[hjames]

Altec went through some troubled times, buyouts, new owners and design changes before they (mostly) went out of business. The later company wasn't the same firm that built the older classic Altec Lansing speakers like the Voice of the Theatre, etc.

Some of those later years weren't very well documented, so some models made during that period may be hard to find out about.

The bottom line is - how do those speakers sound to you?

I think thats really what its all about, new or old, if they sound fine, enjoy them!