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Need help with RARE old Altec Lansing horn!

107.2.138.89

I've recently paired up an old, tar-filled Altec/Lansing H-808 horn, so I finally have a pair. Problem is, they're not quite matched. One is an earlier Lansing horn, designed for the field coil 801 driver, and has the three hole mounting pattern. The other one is a later version, and has the two hole mounting for the driver.

I'm probably going to have a local machinist make me an adapter so I can mount a garden variety 802D on the earlier horn, but if anyone out there can help me find a proper match for either of these horns, so I can have a matched pair, please let me know. I'm just looking for one horn, of either variety.

I realize it's a long shot, but it can't hurt to try. I've attached a couple of photos of the horns so everyone can see what I'm talking about.

Thanks!

Follow Ups:

RE: Need help with RARE old Altec Lansing horn! - broutchie 15:18:26 05/23/12 (0)
Hi,
Good luck hope you find another one. I have a pair of 32150 multicellular horns, 10 cells at 500 Hz for the 1.4" Altec 288C drivers, anxious to hear them.

Bernard
RE: Need help with RARE old Altec Lansing horn! - Qman 07:50:28 05/22/12 (2)
I've never seen 808's like yours. I've only seen the metal and plastics ones like this one. Interesting.
- RE: Need help with RARE old Altec Lansing horn! - gilmorneau 19:49:08 05/22/12 (1)
  Funny you should post that particular photo. That's my eBay listing. I decided to sell the cast H-808's when I got another tar-filled one.
  
  The tar-filled ones were only used on the Lansing Iconic and in a few small theater systems back in the 1930's. There aren't many around.
  - RE: Need help with RARE old Altec Lansing horn! - Qman 07:37:06 05/23/12 (0)
    Ah, I'd like to replace the 811's in my Flamenco's with the 808's. Problem is that the 808's are so bloody expensive.
RE: Need help with RARE old Altec Lansing horn! - bwaslo 18:55:54 05/21/12 (1)
It looks like a drill would take care of making the mounting holes you need? Or are you averse to changing the horn itself?
- RE: Need help with RARE old Altec Lansing horn! - gilmorneau 20:02:45 05/21/12 (0)
  I could probably solve the problem with a drill, but it would have to be drilling the driver to match the horn, not the other way around. The three hole mounting flange is only about 2 7/8 inch outside diameter. The two bolt driver mounting points are 3 inches on center (i.e. outside the perimeter of the 3 bolt flange). Nowhere to drill the holes on the flange. I could drill the driver to match the horn, but am averse to doing this. Not sure I could do it with the required precision anyway, even if I could figure a way to do it without damaging the driver.
RE: Need help with RARE old Altec Lansing horn! - Altec Best 10:03:59 05/21/12 (9)
This is the adapter you are looking for.It is a bit pricey but....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Altec-21216A-1-driver-1-4-horn-throat-adapter-EV-JBL-/350384269510?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item519487a8c6
- Altec large CD's are 1.6" not 1.4" (nt) - Pro Sound Guy 11:23:59 05/21/12 (8)
  .
  - I think you're mistaken - Alpha Al 16:07:27 05/21/12 (7)
    288's, 291's, 282's etc are all 1.4". At least, the older ones are.
    - RE: I think you're mistaken - Steve Schell 19:04:42 05/23/12 (0)
      I agree. The early Lansing large format drivers 284, 285, 284B etc. used a 2.5", 16 TPI threaded coupling to the horn and a 1.5" exit diameter. These dimensions were borrowed directly from the Fletcher Horn System built at Bell Labs in 1932. When Jim Lansing converted his driver to the three stud mount in about 1940 (model 287) the exit path was shortened a bit with the removal of the threaded portion and the exit then measured 1.4", as it has remained ever since.
    - RE: I think you're mistaken - Pro Sound Guy 12:54:09 05/22/12 (2)
      Mmmmmm I will get out my vernier caliper and measure, but I swear my 291's are 1.6" exit
      - You're both correct... - Coner 14:32:18 05/22/12 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I think you're mistaken posted by Pro Sound Guy on May 22, 2012 at 12:54:09
        
        Altec called it 1.4", regardless what it measures.
        
        They all measure 1.4" - djk 03:56:07 05/23/12 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: You're both correct... posted by Coner on May 22, 2012 at 14:32:18
        
        They all measure 1.4", if you remove the rubber washer there is a step that is 2" and the thickness of the washer.
        
        I have Altec examples back to the Hollywood days with rope seals, all the way to the latest ceramic units (and IPC branded drivers).
    - Thanks, but....... - gilmorneau 16:43:20 05/21/12 (2)
      This adapter is of no use to me. Both my horns are H-808's, and thus have a 1" throat, that isn't the problem. I seriously doubt that anyone has ever manufactured an adapter like I need, which is why I'll have them custom made.
      
      The problem is that one H-808 has the three hole mounting for an early field coil Lansing 801 (as found on the original Iconic), while the other horn has the two bolt mounting that became standard for the later (e.g. 802D) Altec small format drivers.
      
      With the adapters I'm getting, I'll be able to use both horns for stereo, since apart from the driver mounting arrangement they are identical. I was just hoping that somebody had a tar-filled H-808 that I could swap for one of mine so that I might have a matched pair, instead of having to rig them with adapters.
      
      Any of you old timers have an H-808?
      - Community Light and Sound - djk 17:59:42 05/21/12 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Thanks, but....... posted by gilmorneau on May 21, 2012 at 16:43:20
        
        "I seriously doubt that anyone has ever manufactured an adapter like I need, "
        
        They call it a 'C' plate.
        
        I stand corrected.... - gilmorneau 19:51:28 05/21/12 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Community Light and Sound posted by djk on May 21, 2012 at 17:59:42
        
        The Community Light and Sound adapter looks like it would work. I'm probably still going to have some made locally, since I already started the process. thanks though. Good information.

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