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Just got back from vacation today and check out what I brought back. Turns out that before we left I found a 4 screen drive-in that was two minutes from our hotel so I called them up an hour or so before we left to go see a movie and they said they had some and told me to stop by the snack bar when I got there and ask for someone. So I did that and the guy comes out with two speakers and said that they might actually work and they have everything on them. The only thing not there is the junction box which they did have a lot of boxes sitting on poles with nothing hooked up to them so I am going to call back and see if they might sell me one of those too. Only charged me 20 for each speaker which is not that bad and I even got to sit outside afterwards and watch some movies. It was a really clean theater and it was really fun. They still had some speakers hooked up and running. Also while waiting for the movie to start I found two of the early pop can pull tabs on the ground. Nothing too exciting but I thought it was pretty neat that they were still there and intact after being outside for about 30 years or so. (I did take them home though) And on the way back I found 6 cork lined 7up caps at an antique store for $5.00 so I had to pick that up. They were used but they are in pretty good shape and I have been looking for some for a while now.
Here are some pictures of the speakers. Took these at the hotel last night.

(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1108.jpg)
(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1109.jpg)
(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1110.jpg)
(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1113.jpg)

Congrats on a nice find ! ! !
Did he have any with volume knobs...?

Thanks!
None that I knew of but I did see on some website that they said there was a knurl on the volume controll shaft of these speakers so they did not use knobs. Not sure if that is ture or not but I did not see any speakers there with knobs. But they did have some strange looking junction boxes in the field. They had a large plastic dome on the top that was either blue white or green and some of the poles had some electrical boxes on the side of them and others had some wires cut close to the ground next to the pole which makes me think at one time they had heaters too. I am going to call them up tomorrow though to see if they might sell me a junction box too.

Also I found out that the company that made these speakers is still around and they STILL make drive-in parts. Here is their website incase anyone wants to know where to get new parts for speakers. http://www.speco-usa.com/SiteResources/Data/Templates/template1.asp?docid=518&DocName=Drive-In%20Parts

Good score. Those will polish up great. Don't recall the speakers at the two drive-ins I went to as having knobs. The lenses were for lights for before and more importantly after the movies. Never saw any heaters.
Creighton

Thanks! I actally plan to keep them looking like this kind of because this is how I remember seeing them. Never have seen new ones sitting at the drive-in but then again I have only gotten to go to a drive-in twice. I did see that they have at least 200 speaker housing backs hanging from the ceiling of the workshop part of the projection booth. I really want to find a junction box now. I just need to call them up again and see if they will sell me one and if they would ship it (shipping might be a problem though).

Here are those famous white knobs for speakers I  have a set that I'm keeping for my next set of speakers.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400122606678&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

That listing has ended, but here is a current auction - $9.95 BIN
http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-New-White-Famous-Drive-In-Movie-Speaker-Knobs_W0QQitemZ390204860926QQcategoryZ778QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D20%26pmod%3D400122606678%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7950354092623766868

Cool. I got a few over 25 years ago the hard way... drove off with them still in the car....  Around me they are re-purposing  the old (home of the Lions LOL) Pontiac Silver as Drive-In. The park lot slopes just right and it has 3 screen. It opened in 2006, but it closed in 2008 and just reopen this spring under new owners. It isn't exactly the same as the old days but to get to watch movies again on the big screen under the stars is close enough for me.

Ray 

I would love to have them build a drive-in around here. Nothing like sitting outside watching a movie.

Could always build your own. Some folks here have great setups.
Creighton

I actually have been thinking about doing that. I found a few projectors on craigslist that I might try getting and set something out in the drive way. Be fun to wire the speakers up to work with it too.

I've been doing backyard theaters for 3 years now... Its a blast. I have a 12' inflatable screen with 2- 12" powered DJ speakers for sound. I started out using my Xbox for the dvd player and we used to play games after the movie was done... Now we just use a regular dvd player... May have my first showing this summer Sat night.

There is a Drive in that opened up near us a few years back, very cool, small, but it's nestled in a middle of a Pine forest, so all around you is Pine trees. nice big screen, no vintage speakers just the radio transmission through the car. but fun to watch a show outside!

Hey guys how do I wire up the speakers? I want to make them work on a radio or something like that but I am not sure what to do. I do have a stereo with detachable speakers but the stereo has red and black wires and the drive-in speaker has white and black. Not sure if they are the same or not. Also I can order a brand new junction box from Speco but I really would like to get a used one because it will be weathered and match my speakers.

The polarity of the speakers won't matter much. You have a 50% chance of getting them right and if they are reversed it may not sound as good but it won't hurt the speakers. I did custom car stereo installations all through High school

Can they be hooked up to a stereo or do they need more power?

Yes they can , I will hook this set up to my stereo out in the garage for a little cook out tomorrow

That is really cool! What did you use for the base?

a old Coca Cola Base  or you can get one from gumball.com and get a base like this they work just as well.

That is a great idea! I did not even think about a gumball machine base. I will definatly look into getting one of those

I also have another question. Can the white and red RCA cables be used to wire up each speaker so I can hook it up to a TV or DVD player? I would really like to do that instead of using a headphone jack.

HI,

The white and red RCA is for the audio signal to and from a device i.e. from a DVD player to an input of a receiver, you will need some type of amplifier to power the speakers. Either a receiver, Note: if you are hooking them up to a receiver check see if there is ohms mismatch  between the speakers and the receiver.  Most home receiver have a 8 ohms output and if the speakers are 4 ohms,  what happens is at any given voltage drive level, a 4 ohms speaker will draw twice as much current as will an 8 ohms speaker.  So you don’t want to push the amp to its full capabilities if you are running a mismatch setup. This can cause too much current draw that can damage the receiver.

If you want to make it more portable take a cheap 2.1 computer speakers system and replace the two satellite speakers with the drive-in speakers. This will give you the amp to power your speakers and it will sound better with the addition of the subwoofer. It can be easy to convert from a 3.5mm jack to red and white RCA jacks  

3.5mm to RCA adopter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882021058&cm_re=.5mm_jack_to_rca_adaptor-_-82-021-058-_-Product

A cheap set for $19.77 but low watt output 4Watt RMS per speaker
 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836113025&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Speakers-_-Altec+Lansing-_-36113025

A better set for $44.99 with higher watt output 20Watt RMS per speaker
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836110037&cm_re=2.1_speakers-_-36-110-037-_-Product


Ray

Ok I think I am going to go with the headphone jack then. I found these instuctions on how to wire them up with the headphone jack http://www.driveinmemories.com/images/wiring.htm and from the picture they are using the same speakers that Speco sells for replacements for drive-in speakers so I am going to wire it up like that. Thanks for letting me know about the RCA cables though.

What do you guys think about using these as a base for both my speakers and my parking meter? http://omaha.craigslist.org/for/1777360105.html They both use the same size pole and all I would need to do is cut the pole to the heigth I need and then I can display the speakers.

I'll measure  my speaker stand, but I think all you'd have to to is remove the top cap and the rope grommets.
If it's the same size, it's a great idea. I was originally looking at an outdoor umbrella stand, then having to buy a 2" pipe to weld  on.
 
I'll have to check the local  restaurant supply store next time I need a stand

That is what I was thinking of doing anyway because the junction box seems to go over the pole so I don't need to worry about the cut part as much. I just thought it would be perfect and from what I saw on the internet the pole is 2" in diameter and that is what I was told I needed for both the meter and the speakers.

I tried out the speakers and found that the one I could test did not work and the other has a busted cord and theft proof screws so I could not test that one but I did order some parts from Speco and should be getting it fixed soon. Just going to get two new speakers, two new cords and a screw driver for the theft proof screws that the one speaker has. I don't want to drill it out because I worry about getting the screw stuck in the housing so I thought it would be easier to just get the driver.

I located a junction box today. There is a drive-in 100 miles or so away from me and I gave them a call and they said they can send me one for 10 dollars plus what ever it costs for shipping. I am pretty excited now. I'm not sure what kind of box it is but I think it may be the older style RCA junction box from what I can see from pictures online.

I'm looking for one as well. let me know how it turns out.

Thanks,
Ray

I will be sure to let you know. If you are looking for one you should call the closest drive-ins to you and see if they have any and then if they do ask them if they would be willing to ship it to you if you pay the shipping if it is too far away for you to drive. Thats what I did. I'm also thinking of sending them a picture of the speakers when I get them mounted on a pole and everything. I know they would like to see that. I also am going to put a little tag or something like that in both speaker housings and in the junction box telling where they were from so that years from now I will still remember where they came from.

I did it I got them to work! I replaced the cords and speakers and they work great. Hooked them up to the stereo to test them and they sound awesome! I had to put the Back to the Future CD in to test them. I bet it has been a really long time since that music has been through those speakers. Also the origional speakers were not that bad. One of them was a newer one and it was shot but the other one was the older style that has been discontinued for a long time and even had a hole in the paper sounds as good as the new ones I bought. I almost did not want to replace it but I am keeping it as a spare.

This little speaker was still going strong even though it is in such bad shape. I did replace it but I am really surprised it was still going.
(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1134.jpg)
(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1136.jpg)

What do you guys think about making a base out of an old car rim? I can't find any of those poles I posted earlier so I thought that this might work. All I need to do is weld a pole to the center and it should work. Anyone ever try this?

you could, I've also seen patio umbrella bases used. 
The car rim may be a little bulky

I have also used farming disks. But you can get a stand for a gumball machine on ebay

Yeah but I am trying to keep the cost down and thats why I thought about the rim idea. (I all ready spent way more than I should have on the parts from the manufacturer)

Well I contacted a local welding company about making a base. I designed something today and sent them the drawings to see if they could tell me how much it would cost for them to make one. Basically it is a square piece of steel with a 2" diameter pipe welded to the center.

I found a demolition company who is selling steel for 30 cents per pound and I contacted them and they said they have all the stuff I need and they can even do the welding for me. I got a quote from the welding place before and they wanted over 150 dollars for 1 stand. I think I am going to go with the demolition company. :biggrin:

I hope you didn't toss  the  speaker, there are shops theay can recone/resotre it. I'm sure you will find other speakers   

I kept all the parts that I replaced in the speaker. The only thing I had to get rid of was one of the tamper proof screws. I bought the driver from the company but one screw was in there good and had to be drilled out.

I got the junction box in the mail today. Not sure what brand it is but it is an older one. The transformer inside is dated january of 1952.

Where did you et the junction box from and how much are the going for?

thanks,

Ray

I got it from a drive-in here in the state. They sent it to me as long as I sent them money for the box and money for shipping. They sold it to me for 10 dollars and everything is still inside. I will post pics later.

I would like to get one, do you have the info to order more?

sent you a PM

Here are the pictures. I know the wires inside are pretty bad but I only need the terminal strip to wire up my speakers and I am going to leave the other stuff just because it looks neat and I am going to figure out a way to wire the lamp up to something with a lower voltage. I think the one in there right now was one of the really old ones that had a down light that used line voltage. Also I am keeping the paint like that just because I kept the speakers old like that because that is how I remember them and I want to keep the box like that because it matches and the old paint gives it character.

Top
(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1211.jpg)

Bottom
(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1212.jpg)

Inside
(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1213.jpg)

Date on transformer
(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1214.jpg)

Got two more yesterday. An antique store had the trunk of a cadillac full of them and they were selling them 2 for 25. Got two from the Council Bluffs Drive-In which is pretty neat for me since that was the first drive-in theater that I had ever been to. They even have the volume knobs on them and they even work. I tested them yesterday and found that one is perfect working order and the other needs a new cord. Even the volume controll works like it should and is not scratchy or jumpy at all. Will have to get some pics up soon.

Got the pics
(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1388.jpg)
(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t357/ScaleBowler/DSCF1389.jpg)

Any more? I'd be up for a pair.
Thanks!!
Creighton

Actually they have a whole cadillac trunk full of them. They are selling them 2 for 25 at the store just accross the street from the place that I am fixing the pop machine for. They also have speakers from different manufacturers and different drive-in names.

I might be up for a pair as well for that price.

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

I might be able to do that. I think they have mostly projected sound brand speakers, a few Ballantyne speakers, I saw one "RCA" one (made by the drive-in manufacturing company or Speco as they are know now) and there might be a few other brands but I don't remember. Plus they are from drive-ins that were in Omaha, Nebraska and some towns outside there and most do have drive-in names on them. I also saw the bottom half of a junction box but there was no top cover.

I'd be up for a pair if any left, Thanks Bob