Altec Hammertone Green vs Matte Green 802 drivers

[jmyres]

I have a pair of matte green Altec 802D drivers, that differ from the Hammertone drivers you normally see. Does anyone know where the difference came from? Are the matte green drivers made at a different time, or were they possibly meant as OEM/plain label, where the Hammertone green units were for display/retail? Wondering if anyone knows for sure.

[Earl K]

I don't think anyone will ever know for sure ( it sure the heck is not documented, as far as I have seen ).

Like many other wags, I usually attribute visual differences like this, to Altec's spate of 60s era, cost cutting measures.

[jmyres]

I usually attribute visual differences like this, to Altec's spate of 60s era, cost cutting measures.

I agree, there is a good chance it was due to cost cutting. I have have a set of Hammertone green 802C's, so that finish existed before the 802D, and it would make sense, especially for units going directly into cabinets, that they might cut costs with the finish before moving on to other areas.