Is Hal Cox, Acousti-Craft??

[Cooljjay]

So heres a question. I have always tried to figure out who acousti craft was, they made some really high end console in the day mono and stereo, I have had a few. Anyways, I picked up this beast the other day and before it goes away for ever. I wanted to share it and see if there is a link between him and acousti-craft. It has the acoustic craft label but in at least a dozen places the cabinet is marked Hal Cox. Anyone know the connection between him and acousti craft? or is this just a coincidence?

Just because I am sure everyone will wonder about the cabinet, its nice but god awful ugly and the speaker compartments are filled with rat droppings and nests....so no room for a 8ft 300lb console...I will let the parts go to other peoples projects.

[bean_counter]

Hal Cox was most likely the name of the dealer or store that ordered the unit. I have an Acousti-Craft set, and it is marked in an identical manner - mine is marked "Radio Doctors", followed by a number, which was probably the order or job number.

Radio doctors was the store in Champaign, IL where the original owner purchased it. From the paperwork that came with the unit, it looks like it was a semi-custom job; the customer selected the console and speaker cab style, finish, and grill cloth, as well as the components. Mine came with BL LE14C's (yuk) and Scott 299C and 333 AM/FM Mpx tuner. Miracord 10H TT.

Seems like there was definately a link between Acousti-Craft and JBL, at least at the dealer/distribution level, and perhaps HH Scott as well. Many of the hi-end Acousti-Craft console sets I have seen were stuffed w/ Scott & JBL.

[DavidF]

Acousti Craft was a contract supplier for JBL for cabinetry. I understand they also supplied cabinets under their own brand to fit JBL part kits and components of which this system for dealer Hal Cox is likely to be an example.

How many hands did it take to get that onto the bed?

[Cooljjay]

How many hands did it take to get that onto the bed?

Not to many, we left one end on the street and two of us picked up the other end and sat it on the tailgate then shoved it in. This is the third one I have gotten this month.

This one took four people to lift


This one was the lightest.


This one is the winner....Ampex consoles are some of the heaviest I have encountered.

[Molly]

Do you still have the ampex? I have that same machine. Bought new and still looks like the day it came. Also have the schematic.

[Cooljjay]

Do you still have the ampex? I have that same machine. Bought new and still looks like the day it came. Also have the schematic.

Sadly I don't, I lost everything in a fire and what wasn't damaged was looted I would like to hunt consoles again but I am not sure I will ever find consoles like I had, specially where I am now...

[Molly]

Sadly I don't, I lost everything in a fire and what wasn't damaged was looted I would like to hunt consoles again but I am not sure I will ever find consoles like I had, specially where I am now...

I am so sorry to hear this and I hope you get back to where you were. I got such a kick out seeing your ampex photo. I married and moved into a very old small house on a ranch (built 1867) and we are just now getting ready to make room for some of my things. I had to purchase a shipping container to keep my things safe from the weather, mice etc. The stereo was working very well when I stored it (and not even one scratch on the finish) but I am sure that I will have to find someone to go through it and and tune it up when we bring it into the house.

We had a close friend who was an engineer at Ampex and he worked closely with the team that designed the stereo. He could not justify purchasing one, so we got it on his employee discount for $3,500.00. I think it was about 1961. The development team gifted one to Liberace, one to Bing Crosby and one to Frank Sinatra (I think, I may have Sinatra confused with someone else). Ampex also did a special promotion on national TV in which they hired the Boston Pops to put on a special nationally televised concert in front of a live audience and at the end of the concert, the symphony members stood, bowed and then stood aside and the curtains in the back were opened to show the ampex stereo hidden there. They had never played at all and the stereo had performed the entire performance. It was a lot of fun.

Take care and best of luck.