Western Electric Beach Master info?

[Mister Tawny]

Okay, first off, mods if this isn't appropriate, please move as needed. I figure WECO was the daddy of it all so this should count.

Anways... I just picked up a full Beach Master system, amps, speaker array and spares to keep it up and working. The problem is there is so little information out there I am taking this to multiple boards to see what input you may have. I have many pics if you need them. Please let me know what info you have?

[mikebake]

Awesome!
http://www.smecc.org/war_radios_radar/beachmaster1_smec3.jpg

[mikebake]

Having fun with the Beachmaster;
"Hey Frank, yer ass is on fire!! Got any smokes?"
http://www.smecc.org/war_radios_radar/beachmasterlarge.jpg

[louped garouv]

too fun......

:)

[Mister Tawny]

Got all the drivers functional and it has potential.

Anyway, is there anyone here with information on Western Electric D173246 2"+ horn drivers? These are the main drivers in the Beach Master. I can't find an appropriate civilian model.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y127/mistertawny/DSCN4317.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y127/mistertawny/DSCN4318.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y127/mistertawny/DSCN4314.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y127/mistertawny/DSCN4310.jpg

[boputnam]

Got all the drivers functional and it has potential. Er, for... ? :dont-know

[mikebake]

Er, for... ? :dont-know
Fer damn raucous confusion of amphibious landings, for heavens sake!!

[JeffW]

To tell them dang kids to get off my lawn!

[Mister Tawny]

Gonna use a Dyna Stereo 400, a mixer and a microphone to play reveille tomorrow morning at sunrise. Should be fun.

Actually I am still debating on keeping the system or letting it go. Getting info is like pulling teeth though. The drivers are Western Electric D-173246 and they all are functional and measure between 4.9 and 5.1 ohms. After a trusty 9 volt battery test, then an iPod test, I can assure you these are LOUD.

[Steve Schell]

Mister Tawny, you've got some extremely rare equipment. I hope that you will keep it all together instead of parting everything out. I see you've already got some of the spare tubes up on ebay. My guess is that the right collector, if you could find that person, would pay you considerably more for the intact collection than you might receive by selling things piecemeal. Your 250W air cooled tube amp is the only one I know to exist these days. This stuff has a certain appeal to vintage audio hounds who would enjoy the tubes and speaker drivers, but a WWII military collector might really go nuts over your find.

Below is a link to a site that describes portions of a Beachmaster system installed on a college building rooftop. At the bottom of the page is a link to another Beachmaster site, possibly the one where mikebake found the neat scans. You might write to the people at these sites to see if they know of any potential buyers of this gear if you want to move it along.

http://www.calpoly.edu/~pwoodwor/bigvoice.htm

[sonofagun]

And keep us posted...interesting!

Where/how'd you get it if I/we may ask?

For those who need a louder alarm clock?

[Mister Tawny]

As far as where I got it? It was posted to a CL ad here locally (Colorado Springs) for about 2 weeks. No one was interested, and I eventually picked it up.

I did get all the drivers firing and ran the entire setup off the headphone output jack of an iPod yesterday. That ran the whole unit at normal table radio volume with no strain. Makes me wonder what a dedicated amp would be like.

I know about the rarity, which is why I am feeling torn right now. I love this thing and want to put it back together, and hear it. But there are realities of life too. Let's just say life is fiscally tough right now. The people I have talked to all want me to donate it or sell it for a song. Not something I can do, unfortunately. So here is the dilemma. Also the one tube that is up on ebay was an over packed spare, not listed as part of the spares complement. The other 2 Sylvania were from the system as spares maintenance, I don't know why since the original spares were there and sealed. Maybe they just happened to be thrown in????

I also still am curious as hell about it. I am thinking about borrowing a variac and bringing it to life. I have enough spares to repopulate all but the 836 tubes. So it's very tempting to give it a go.

BTW I saw the "Big Voice" and the SMECC sites. They are about the only places with any information on the unit.

[Mister Tawny]

After a lot of research and realizing I am not going to get this thing up, I decided to post it on the "national auction site". I hate them with a blue passion, but the exposure is pretty valuable. We'll see how it goes though. I did get offered a terrific deal on some McIntosh, Marantz and Altecs so it's a reasonable trade off.

[Mr. Widget]

After a lot of research and realizing I am not going to get this thing up, I decided to post it on the "national auction site".Thanks for sharing... being unaware of their existence I found the info posted by you and others quite fascinating.

Good Luck with your auction.

Widget


BTW: We are currently stalled in our discussions about "What is it worth?" posts. I for one find threads like this one an excellent example of why we would not want to limit access or dissuade folks from posting their questions here.

[sonofagun]

Some Hollywood director or studio might want it for their next war movie.

How about a link to your auction listing?

[Mister Tawny]

I'm use to not linking or even mentioning an auction. Sorry abut forgetting this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=300298255116

I dunno what is going to happen. It kind of sucks that it is prolly going to Asia. There is the reality that most Americans don't appreciate our stuff. I have been in contact with a lot of museums and if I was in a fiscal position I would love to donate it. The cold hard fact is that I am not able to and it makes me feel awful. They definitely encouraged that feeling too.

For the most $$$ parting it out would be the best thing. I just can't bring myself to do that though. Man, this economy is really hitting me hard. The other stuff I have been offered (the minimum bid will cover this) makes it a little easier, but still not great. He's in the same position, and if I can't come up with the money these will also see an auction.

[Earl K]

Hi,

- If you relist / I suggest that you consider making Beachmaster into one-word ( as in the original copy ) and then add the word "speaker" into the header ( you'll get more hits this way , IMO ).

- You can also sell many of those spares individually / as far as I'm concerned . There's a whole DIY crowd of amplifier builders who need some of that stuff ( or so they think ) .

>< cheers

[Mister Tawny]

Well I am going to part it out. I know I am doing the equipment a disservice, but the bills do need to be paid.

Anyway some more foraging has shown the drivers (2") will fit, and possibly were even directly mated with the Altec 1505. A pair of the drivers went for just under $700. I do know all 9 of mine are working, and actually sound damn good. So that will be the first thing to go I suppose. Then comes the parceling out of the spares. That will be a big job.

[Ken Pachkowsky]

Well I am going to part it out.


That is a shame......a real shame:(

[Mister Tawny]

Here's a link to the last "complete" auction of the system. I did find the drivers were the same used in the 1505 and several other horn applications too.

As far as parting it out? I don't want to for many reasons. Not the least is that this thing could be made to work again. Also it turns out to the final output it is all FULL RANGE. So here is the link, tell me what you think of it this time.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=300300658244

[Mister Tawny]

Today is the sad day she starts getting parted out. I am listing the drivers separately on the unnamed auction site. Then the amp, and finally the spares. I figure the wire, resistors, not to mention the sealed NOS tubes will garner some attention. Still it makes me pretty sad. I do have a reason now though. My GF and I just purchased this and need money to get her back to perfect shape. I am even going to be selling my beloved EV Georgians. They are too big for her and the money would be better spent on the new "toy".

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y127/mistertawny/TugReadyFirstSailingApr2009021.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y127/mistertawny/TugReadyFirstSailingApr2009017.jpg