American tube radios...

[cfz2882]

...Canadian made also -thread for "foreign"radios coming later Guy at work has recently gotten interested in old tube radios-especially 1930s era.He bought a mid-1930s GE in working order that someone recapped and checked the tubes: in under picks of the recapped chassis,looked like all the original carbon resistors are still in place and those usually drift up in ohms when they are very old...Will see how it plays when he gets it I have dabbled in these radios since pre-teen years and have a bunch-a few in clock-radio form. Several small AA5s have found me recently and all worked well enough no repair action was done.one of these AA5s was actually a 4-tube 1957 Sears Meteor and works really well :tube rectifier in this Meteor, but selenium rectifier often used-starting around 1942 in series string ac/dc radios. American tube radios were mostly done by 1965. The guy at work was aware of the potential "hot chassis" safety hazzard and i told him about fire hazzard potential of radios with interlock cord plug if those get wet a few times too many and arc fault across the interlock pins.

 

[phillymatt53]

While it's a known fact that resistors in old equipment do tend to drift out of tolerences, and affect performance, a good repair tech will go over them during the restoration and replace any deemed faulty.
It only takes a short time to do this procedure, but the benefits and reliability are worth it.

Radios that I've restored, both for customers and my own collection, have been thoroughly gone over.
In addition, for those "hot chassis" sets, I change out the line cord to a polarized version, as well as wiring them so that the chassis is at ground potential all the time, and the "hot" side of the cord goes to the power switch.
Sometimes, if i determine it's suitable, I'll even add a fuse to the set.
It brings the set up to current Safety Codes.

Doing restorations is a time consuming process when done properly.
Yes, I'm very "picky" about my work, and consider not to have to deal with any liability suits labeling me as the culprit for sloppy work.

I've had hundreds, thousands, of pleased customers over the decades, for which I'm proud of serving, and insuring that they enjoy their vintage stuff for a long time.

This is only a PART of my "restored" home collection.....
Some of those radios are now quite valuable, judging from the prices I've seen on various websites.

 

[RCAWhirlpool]

Third shelf down last radio far right I had one best little AM FM radio lasted for years
Fourth shelf last one on the far right my parents had one. Think it was a RCA or a Zeinth. Again a great radio think the tube when out in the 80s

 

[cfz2882]

I have one like top right and like the clock radio middle shelf,and one similar if not same as big radio middle shelf :series string AMFM Japanese from about 1963

 

[phillymatt53]

Third shelf down last radio far right I had one best little AM FM radio lasted for years
Fourth shelf last one on the far right my parents had one. Think it was a RCA or a Zeinth. Again a great radio think the tube when out in the 80s

Third shelf down last radio far right - is a 4 band am/fm/mb/vhf Emerson portable that I picked up at a flea market.
Fourth shelf last one on the far right - is an RCA Victor am/fm transistor model. - I use it daily for background music in my home office, where those shelves are mounted at.
To the immediate left of it is a Zenith am/fm tube set, a fine performer too.

 

[phillymatt53]

I have one like top right and like the clock radio middle shelf,and one similar if not same as big radio middle shelf :series string AMFM Japanese from about 1963

The big white radio with the glare on its dial and 4 knobs, is a Panasonic 740 tube set - excellent sounding set.
The clock radio to its right is a rare pink 1950's GE clock radio, I've seen it going for $199 on auction sites.

 

[wayupnorth]

I still have a blue Crosley Dashboard radio that was left here when this place became mine. As far as I know, it still works.

 

[phillymatt53]

This is a 1957ish RCA Victor compact consolette that I modified years ago.
The record changer is from a 1963 stereo console, the cabinet was repainted satin black, and the mono tube amp was custom designed by me, along with the triple speakers on the front panel.
The thing KICKS butt for its size.

I still have a blue Crosley Dashboard radio that was left here when this place became mine. As far as I know, it still works.

 

[phillymatt53]

I still have a blue Crosley Dashboard radio that was left here when this place became mine. As far as I know, it still works.

They're quite popular, have it restored though.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

While it's a known fact that resistors in old equipment do tend to drift out of tolerences, and affect performance, a good repair tech will go over them during the restoration and replace any deemed faulty.
It only takes a short time to do this procedure, but the benefits and reliability are worth it.

Radios that I've restored, both for customers and my own collection, have been thoroughly gone over.
In addition, for those "hot chassis" sets, I change out the line cord to a polarized version, as well as wiring them so that the chassis is at ground potential all the time, and the "hot" side of the cord goes to the power switch.
Sometimes, if i determine it's suitable, I'll even add a fuse to the set.
It brings the set up to current Safety Codes.

Doing restorations is a time consuming process when done properly.
Yes, I'm very "picky" about my work, and consider not to have to deal with any liability suits labeling me as the culprit for sloppy work.

I've had hundreds, thousands, of pleased customers over the decades, for which I'm proud of serving, and insuring that they enjoy their vintage stuff for a long time.

This is only a PART of my "restored" home collection.....
Some of those radios are now quite valuable, judging from the prices I've seen on various websites.

View attachment 318518

I had a friend do just that recently to my Philco 42-322 radio and it plays like new. It only gets 3 stations in though and Ive been looking for those active antennas someone used to sell on Ebay that had one or two vacuum tubes in them so it can pull in more stations

 

[phillymatt53]

I had a friend do just that recently to my Philco 42-322 radio and it plays like new. It only gets 3 stations in though and Ive been looking for those active antennas someone used to sell on Ebay that had one or two vacuum tubes in them so it can pull in more stations

That radio has a 6-tube chassis, so it's capable of picking up distant Shortwave as well as AM stations easily from far away.
I suspect that your friend hasn't done a proper alignment on it, or hasn't checked for any out-of-tolerance parts such as resistors, and capacitors.
OR - it's got some weak tubes which need to be tested and replaced.
Once any tubes are replaced, a full alignment must be done to peak its sensitivity.
Also, AM reception is "directional", meaning the radio has to be aimed towards the station by turning it for clearest, strongest signal.

Properly serviced, even a simple common AA5 tube radio can get stations from quite a distance.
You're in connecticut right?
You should be able to get AM 740 (zoom radio) in Toronto with no problem with that radio, because my old 5 tube radios certainly can.

 

[vacerator]

My dad had several Catalyn cabinet radios. I gave him a collectors book for Christmas back in the 90's when he began. One was a teal color with a gold dial. I don't know if it was a Crosley. He sold them all.
My cousins had an RCA hifi phono like the one Matt posted in blonde without legs.

 

[cfz2882]

#11,indeed a good AA5 can pull in distant stations quite well Have not put my more recent find AA5s or 4 tube Meteor to proper DX tests. I have a Philco HIFI phono similar to the one Matt posted awaiting repair: made in 1954 and decent size amp.

 

[phillymatt53]

My dad had several Catalyn cabinet radios. I gave him a collectors book for Christmas back in the 90's when he began. One was a teal color with a gold dial. I don't know if it was a Crosley. He sold them all.
My cousins had an RCA hifi phono like the one Matt posted in blonde without legs.

Mike, my RCA phono that is pictured was originally blonde, but had substanial wear and stains to the blonde finish, so, I decided to finish it in satin black.
And those gold color legs are removable so it can be used as a "tabletop" style player.
I actually have it set up as a bedside table, sometimes I'll put on a soothing record when I take a nap.
Along the front panel are 3 speakers - 2-5x7" and a 6x9", so the result is like having a 12" speaker in the cabinet, and it cranks out rich sound from the custom 10 watt tube amp that I put inside.

Catalyn radios are going for high prices among collectors.
A small table radio could sell for $1000 or more, in good condition.

 

[phillymatt53]

Last year, I decided to use an AA5 tube chassis from a Motorola that had a damaged bakelite case.
I did my magic on the chassis, some modifications and enhancements, custom round dial with LED illumination, larger speaker, etc., and got to work in the garage woodshop to make a cute "antique style" 1930s looking case for it out of 3/4" solid pine.

This is the result of my labor - being retired it keeps me occupied and "off the streets"

 

[cfz2882]

very nice and does look '30s

 

[phillymatt53]

very nice and does look '30s

Thanks!
Indeed it gives that "old" look, but with a tidbit of "modern" to it.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

That radio has a 6-tube chassis, so it's capable of picking up distant Shortwave as well as AM stations easily from far away.
I suspect that your friend hasn't done a proper alignment on it, or hasn't checked for any out-of-tolerance parts such as resistors, and capacitors.
OR - it's got some weak tubes which need to be tested and replaced.
Once any tubes are replaced, a full alignment must be done to peak its sensitivity.
Also, AM reception is "directional", meaning the radio has to be aimed towards the station by turning it for clearest, strongest signal.

Properly serviced, even a simple common AA5 tube radio can get stations from quite a distance.
You're in connecticut right?
You should be able to get AM 740 (zoom radio) in Toronto with no problem with that radio, because my old 5 tube radios certainly can.

I agree 100%. I can get AM 960 WELI clear as a bell because Im literally 1/2 mile away. However I can barely even get AM 1220 which is 1/2 mile past it up a hill, and I mean just barely, like its in NM. If I aim the radio in that direction it comes in better but I shouldnt have to. I also get WFAN as well. Both those stations put out way more wattage than 1220 does though. On shortwave I get, nothing. At all. I bought this off Ebay and it was misrepresented with what it needed and the seller refunded my purchase excluding shipping which was nice. I think I need to drop it off at another friends place thats really good with these as I dont think my other friend did much. I know how to change electrolytic capacitors and also capacitors in transistor radios because I just assume they should be from age. But thats no brainer stuff reading the values and getting the nearest higher one. I dont know how to check with a meter etc so I leave that for the folks in the know. Yes Im in CT.

 

[RCAWhirlpool]

Third shelf down last radio far right - is a 4 band am/fm/mb/vhf Emerson portable that I picked up at a flea market.
Fourth shelf last one on the far right - is an RCA Victor am/fm transistor model. - I use it daily for background music in my home office, where those shelves are mounted at.
To the immediate left of it is a Zenith am/fm tube set, a fine performer too.

The fourth radio from the right we used nearly three times a week in the house. It had a great speaker system my mom and dad loved that radio. One day it just quit working. Might have been a tube and to try to find one back the 90s was rather difficult. I guess if I looked maybe at a radio shack I could of found one but I didn't but wish I had now

 

[phillymatt53]

The fourth radio from the right we used nearly three times a week in the house. It had a great speaker system my mom and dad loved that radio. One day it just quit working. Might have been a tube and to try to find one back the 90s was rather difficult. I guess if I looked maybe at a radio shack I could of found one but I didn't but wish I had now

I'm a bit confused, now you say 4th radio from the right?, but on what shelf?

 

[cfz2882]

Guy at work got his '30s GE radio and has not gone well so far: radio hums loudly from speaker,does not play,and he thought the transformer was burnt out because some black tar had oozed out around the leads(i advized this is normal to find) he said one tube got very hot right away-the rectifier,told him how to look for red-plating -but others just a little warm. He said input amps was 1 amp which sounds quite high,but line volts was around 110 ~1932 instead of the 120+ seen today. Someone had done a decent enough recap job except the two filters were Chinese... I told him i would help him do some checks and try to get it going.

 

[rp2813]

I got this Admiral AM-FM radio for cheap about ten years ago on eBay. I wanted to listen to NPR in my workshop, and that required FM. For an original tube radio, it sounds really good. Now it's in the basement for when I'm going to be down there for any length of time. It would clean up nicely for display, but for now it's serving a purpose.

I have a late-ish '40s GE clock radio that belonged to my mom when she was still single. I had it recapped about 15 years ago, but the AM band has become such a wasteland that I boxed up that set.

 

[phillymatt53]

Guy at work got his '30s GE radio and has not gone well so far: radio hums loudly from speaker,does not play,and he thought the transformer was burnt out because some black tar had oozed out around the leads(i advized this is normal to find) he said one tube got very hot right away-the rectifier,told him how to look for red-plating -but others just a little warm. He said input amps was 1 amp which sounds quite high,but line volts was around 110 ~1932 instead of the 120+ seen today. Someone had done a decent enough recap job except the two filters were Chinese... I told him i would help him do some checks and try to get it going.

Rectifier tubes are Supposed to run Hot, and so do audio Output tubes.

 

[cfz2882]

I told him no suprize that rectifier tube got hotter than the other tubes-it was a #80,quite substantial rectifier for the size of radio.

 

[phillymatt53]

I told him no suprize that rectifier tube got hotter than the other tubes-it was a #80,quite substantial rectifier for the size of radio.

Probably uses a #45 tube(s) for the audio output.