Trace Elliot cabs/amps problems HELP! anyone?

[witterth]

Hi Chaps, anyone help with this?
I recently depped at stockton riverside festival, and literally blew cobwebs off a trace elliot AH500 gp11 markv head (this I did have serviced by reputable guy reccomended on the forum prior to gig) a trace elliot 4x10 (mark v ) and trace elliot 1x15 (mark vi) I had brand new speaker cables too
All was well, and due to the very large stage/event I did crank it up a bit, but nothing daft and nothing like it had not handeled (beautifully) in the past.although the lot had lain dormant for some 8 years (apart from a service job on the head as I say)
well after 3/4 min the signal went "funny" and then very distorted. luck the engineer was very on the ball, I turned down the stage out put and he kicked a monitor my wa and via DI gave me more than enough to manage the gig( cant tell you how on the money he was!!) so DI was working.
It seems very strange to me that both cabs should so tragically die at once (MB1 has graciously tested the head through his cab and no problem there)
So any ideas? If I get some new speakers, where from? how much? can I be sure that they will fit the Baffle board/ screw locators on the old TE cabs ,can any one help before I ignorantly shell out for new/2nd hand relacment cabs?
there is an incentive gentlemen, to any one interested. currently languishing in the cellar of a pub near me are an even older 2x10 (hi-pass TE mark vi cab) and a gollaith 2x18 TE cab Im not so sure they work or are ok any more as they've been there for 10 years! (bought for me by a long dead record deal) Ive no longer the back or the space to deal with them and any one who could help me out AND collect them... well lets just say Id be very grateful,for now.
sorry about rambling too much ( BTW: did check obvious things like all cables and guitar preamp batteries e.c.t.)
Witterth