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Altec Iconic-history question?
Hi, first off Im new here posting but have visited off and on. I purchased a nice pair of Altec Iconics a month or so ago and have been enjoying them very much.
Maybe someone here can help me with the history of Altec/Iconic.
Is my speaker a Altec or a Iconic or both? (dumb question but Im a little confused)
It looks exactly like a valencia but is badged Iconic. As you can see the grille fabric is not original but everything else is stock.
1-15" 416-16Z woofer, with a 811 horn with 806A driver
All thoughts and comments appreciated
Thanks
RC
Look in Altec library to check history of Iconic
A check of the Altec library will give you some history of the Iconics. The '42 and '43 catalogs show two systems labeled Iconic. Moving forward to the '71 Home catalog shows three systems using the old components from the Iconic speakers, the 846A Valencia, the 848A Flamenco, and the 871A Milano. What happened in between these times I do not know, but Altec obviously built some of at least the Flamenco and Valencia with labels on the rear panels claiming them to be Iconic. By 1971, the term Iconic was not in vogue, and when I bought my first pair in 1967, they were not so identified. Two pairs I bought from sellers on E-Bay had Iconic identification on the rear panel, so they had to have been earlier manufacture than the 1967 guys. What does Iconic mean? My dictionary says 1.Of, relating to, or having the character of an icon. 2.Having a conventional formulaic style. Used of certian memorial statues and busts. I am not sure why Altec called them Iconic, but they sold enough of them that they surely couldn't be labeled busts. They might have sold just as well had they been called Dyspeptics.
And by the way, welcome to the Lansing Heritage Forum. A great place to be.