Car Radio Restoration

[bob duffer]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good quality person to restore a car radio?

[Marty Roth]

Bob, I've had excellent success with :

 

RETRO RADIO RESTORATION

AM/FM Stereo Conversions and R3storations

Mike & Chris Frenchek

707-367-1428

5524 Ridge Road

Elizabethtown, PA 17022

www.retroradio.biz

mfrenchek@retroradio.biz 

 

Mike has done several radios for me - all with excellent results, including my '34 Buick made to AM/FM, my '41 Cadillac, and parts for my '54 Cadillac.

I believe he is also related to Doug Seybold - the 40 Buick guy (brother-in-law?)

[Guest AlCapone]

Even though. I am usually a bit of a purist my suggestion is get a modern radio built inside the old frame with all original exterior parts. It looks and plays wonderful and you are the only one that knows. Wayne

[nick8086]

I KF member in MN works on them also...

[Guest]

Bob Rosengarten of Antique Auto Radio Repair just did my radio for my '38 Plymouth. Excellent work, two week turn a round time and very affordable.

Call him at 937 231 5033 or e-mail at rrosengarten1@woh.rr.com

Greg

[JamesBulldogMiller55Buick]

Even though. I am usually a bit of a purist my suggestion is get a modern radio built inside the old frame with all original exterior parts. It looks and plays wonderful and you are the only one that knows. Wayne

I disagree 

The tube radios have a certain tone that isn't shared with transistor radios. And the tube radios put off a certain aroma that is unmistakeable

[Guest AlCapone]

I disagree 

The tube radios have a certain tone that isn't shared with transistor radios. And the tube radios put off a certain aroma that is unmistakeable

I Agree and include a certain lack of clarity, lack of distance capability, lack of FM signal and dependability. Fir all that I will give up the sell ( aroma )! Wayne

[Curti]

I Agree and include a certain lack of clarity, lack of distance capability, lack of FM signal and dependability. Fir all that I will give up the sell ( aroma )! Wayne

 

I agree with Wayne. I have dealt with Mike at Retro Radio for years. Most all of my Auburns have radios and when we are out touring FM comes in loud and clear with no static. 

I think there will be a time in the near future when AM radio is no longer around. Those frequency's will be used for other things.

[jpage]

I've been thinking of restoring my Motorola  60 radio but upon searching on my modern radio for AM channels there is not much offering. I've only found some local sports stations, a few religious channels and some lousy talk radio. Here in the mountains nothing comes in very well. Might be a good idea to convert it to a modern radio after all!

[bob duffer]

I've been thinking of restoring my Motorola  60 radio but upon searching on my modern radio for AM channels there is not much offering. I've only found some local sports stations, a few religious channels and some lousy talk radio. Here in the mountains nothing comes in very well. Might be a good idea to convert it to a modern radio after all!

Will the Modern Radios work on 6 volt ?

if so , 

Will they drain the battery?

[Alfre]

the converted radio can be equipped to run on 6v.

Al 

[Curti]

I have many 6V cars that have modern AM /FM radios. They do not drain the battery, but the polarity is must be right.  

[Hudsy Wudsy]

I think that I would miss the wonderful hum of the vibrator. Listening to it while waiting for the radio to warm up is such great anticipation. Stations at great distances late at night are also part of the charm of tube radios.

[Beltfed]

Mr. Wudsy is correct. AM modulated signal travel further 'around' the earth. Not because they are AM but because of the transmitter frequency. Commercial AM broadcast frequencys start around 550 KHz or 550,000 Hz and go up to around 1.8 MHz. FM on the other hand starts at around 88 MHz. As frequency goes up the nature of the transmitted frequency is to go straight and not follow the curvature of the earth. Not to much further up the frequency scale and it become 'line of sight', microwave frequencies are in that area.

There is something else called 'skip' which uses the earth and ionosphere as kind of reflectors. As a youth I use to listen to a very powerful AM radio station in Texas with it's transmitter in Mexico, to avoid FCC rules. Rock and Roll at a 1000 miles. Ever hear of Wolfman Jack? Cool!

Edited February 4, 2016 by Beltfed (see edit history)

[Marty Roth]

Living in New Jersey in 1959, at night, the radio in my 1949 Pontiac convertible was great at pulling in WWL 870 in New Orleans, WBZ in Boston, and also WOWO in Ft Wayne, Indiana.

 

Years later I lived in those far-off locations, and returned to New Orleans.

 

Still listen to WWL !

[Hudsy Wudsy]

Beltfed, I can recall radio enthusiasts of my youth saying to one another, "the skip is in!" Which meant that conditions were right for some exotic radio listening. I can remember getting a Regina, Saskatchewan television station (both audio and video) here in Minneapolis one late night on a little old Philco B&W TV. I'm not sure that anyone ever believed me.

[Beltfed]

The hum of the vibrator (we who blow fuses for a living call them 'choppers') is not necessary to listen to AM. The loud hum from the failing large electrolytic capacitors in the power supply (we call it 'motor boating') is also not necessary. As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with those above who suggest gutting an old radio and installing a modern AM/FM radio in it's place. If for noting else the programming is much better. This is from a guy who also collects very old radios. I even have non superhydroyne types. That's the very old type of radio that you have to turn more than one knob to change frequencies.

For those who like the sound from a tube radio vs a transistor type...they have a point. The reasoning is a vacuum tube reacts slower than a transistor to changes in frequency and volumn. This makes the tube radio 'sound' less harsh. Some of those who listen to high end home stereo love the old tube style power amps and tuners. They can be hard to find and pricey when you do.

[Durant Mike]

Unfortunately there are very very few music AM stations anymore out there and also few FM stations that cover the oldies that we like to listen to in our cars. Having someone convert the guts of the radio to play FM is good but having them also have a hookup to play satellite radio or an IPod or similar device is better.  This can be done inside to work on 6 volt and still maintain the original look of the radio. For the 40's and 60's cars there are companies that make radios that look original but are modern inside and have IPod hookups and satellite radio.  Around where I live now, there are no "oldies" stations, only modern rock and  Hispanic stations. I have to listen to satellite or at home listen to stations on the Internet to get the oldie stations.  Living in lower Delaware in my teen years. my station of choice was WABC in New York but would also get WOWO in Ft. Wayne at times. I think they put out 100,000 watts of power. Also a strong station in Buffalo would come in, I don't recall the call letters. 

[dibarlaw]

I also agree with Beltfed. I have collected 1920s Battery radios and AC radios into the 1930s for nearly 50 years. A somewhat dying hobby sector. I do listen to an some Golden Age of Radio stations on AM. But AM programming, even on some of my short wave sets, is severely lacking in interest for me. But mainly I listen to CDs for the 1920s and 1930s music I like. When I first got my 1937 Buick in 1987 there were at least some Big Band stations.

[Curti]

This is an original Auburn Crosley radio box that plays AM and FM.  Additionally can be modified for IPOD.   

It comes on instantly clear as crystal.  If you want AM, turn it off for approximately seven seconds then back on, AM stations will come on. 

Mike Frenchek does all the internals.  

[28 Chrysler]

It is not hard to have a  line level audio input installed into any of these old radios. Just plug in and listen to what you want.

[Hudsy Wudsy]

I also agree with Beltfed. I have collected 1920s Battery radios and AC radios into the 1930s for nearly 50 years. A somewhat dying hobby sector.

I'm afraid that there is dwindling interest in vintage phonographs, as well. I'd be way too embarrassed to tell anyone what I sold my last Edison for. It's a little sad, but maybe not all that surprising. These are items we fell in love with when our grandparents still had them. Now, a couple of generations beyond many of us, they are mere curiosities. Zenith black dials, tombstones and cathederals and a few other desirable types of radios still seem to bring good prices, but I worry about them, too. I find myself thinking that I really should start to sell my toys so my wife doesn't have to see for herself how little they bring when I'm gone.

[bob duffer]

I'm afraid that there is dwindling interest in vintage phonographs, as well. I'd be way too embarrassed to tell anyone what I sold my last Edison for. It's a little sad, but maybe not all that surprising. These are items we fell in love with when our grandparents still had them. Now, a couple of generations beyond many of us, they are mere curiosities. Zenith black dials, tombstones and cathederals and a few other desirable types of radios still seem to bring good prices, but I worry about them, too. I find myself thinking that I really should start to sell my toys so my wife doesn't have to see for herself how little they bring when I'm gone.

 

  Hudsy,

 

    YES,  Sell all your toys and put pictures of them on here so we can have first choice.

[Hudsy Wudsy]

Bob, how about I bequeath you mine and you bequeath me yours, and we'll see who last the longer of the two? One of us ends up with all of the toys and the other gets his diminished -value estate cleaned up for free?

Edited February 4, 2016 by Hudsy Wudsy (see edit history)

[jpage]

Hudsy, I purchased an Edison disc player a couple of years ago and we love it. Even my kids age 24 and 26 got a kick out of it. Love than old time sound and there are several comic type records that are really funny! My family was enamored with the Downton Abby series and hearing original records and sounds of the era really helped them get the feel of the times.

[dibarlaw]

Hudsy:

That is what I started with. Edison Phonographs Back when they sold at local auctions for $10 or so. By the time I was a teen ager in the late 60s I could no longer afford them. But they would throw out the 1920s battery radios out at he end of the sale since they could not get a 25 cent bid. That is when I got into radios. After a while they also got too expensive. I began doing work for others in trade for sets and parts to build a nice collection. The current Idea was to sell off some of my radios and phonographs to fund the car projects.  So far it has been a lose-lose situation.

  As to my 1937 Buick's radio and checking on the price for conversion I believe I will carry my portable CD/MP-3 player. Not only are my pockets not deep enough, they have holes in them.

 

[padgett]

I'd like to have a Zenith Stratosphere or any big 10-15 tube black dial shortwave but not enough to find one.

Any more any car I drive must have handsfree, access to the 400 albums, & enough volume to hear the GPS on my phone so have a stock radio in the dash and "something else" in the glove box.

BTW a magnetic mount for the phone works better than a clamp mount if you speed-shift a Muncie.

[Hudsy Wudsy]

I think that the one Zenith that I still want is the one I probably wanted all along. I've had Zeniths with more tubes than a 9-S-367, but I find that appearance of the Zephyr haunting. Someone had an all white one, model 9-S-387 on ebay recently, but it just wasn't the same without the beautiful walnut veneer.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=zenith+zephyr&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj24Ma7md_KAhWLsxQKHd4mCkcQsAQIHA&biw=1280&bih=609#tbm=isch&q=zenith+9s367

 

Have I managed to hijack this thread completely, or what?

[padgett]

Naah if you want a total hijack you can go here. I can get fanatical about Zeniths and Howard Armstrong.

[Hudsy Wudsy]

Padgett, that simply too fun! It's great to know that some of us here are kindred spirits in other ways, too.

[padgett]

Back in my yout I did a lot of BCBDXing & collected a lot of cards with a big H-500 Zenith though freakiest one was a Tampa TV station with a roof top Yagi - in Chesterfield Indiana.

BTW if anyone cares there is still a lot of AM in the communications bands from about 1.5 to 30 MHz.

[Hudsy Wudsy]

Tampa to Chesterfield, that's some remarkable distance. Congrats!

[Jon37]

Two thoughts:

 

1. If you would mention your location, someone might know of a reputable radio rebuilder right in your area.

 

2. Why not have the radio internals restored to original specs, then buy a Redi-Rad (or similar gizmo, if available)?   That way, you'll still have your original radio (tubes, 6-volt, 12-volt, positive or negative ground) to listen to, and you have the added ability to connect an I-pad, cassette or MP3 player, CD player, satellite radio...whatever.

[bob duffer]

I am in Clinton Twp., Michigan,,, 

I would like to restore back to new , but i don't have the power and speaker connection. or the cables that lead to the controls that are already on the dash.

[Hudsy Wudsy]

I wasn't familiar with the name B-O-P, so I hunted around a little on the Radio Museum site. I came across a seven tube model #4036 made by Delco that used the B-O-P name. The site indicated that the B-O-P meant Buick, Olds, Pontiac. Perhaps some of you knew that already. A good radio man can improvise your power and speaker connection issue. The hunt for cables might be somewhat difficult, though. I don't imagine that all radio manufacturers used the same size cable connections on the ends but I can't say. Of course, lengths are going to vary, but as long as you came up with a pair that met the minimum length, a little extra length wouldn't hurt. Here's a link to the Radio Museum site, but remember yours is a different model than the one here:

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/united_1_4036_b_o_p_buick_olds_pon.html

Edited February 8, 2016 by Hudsy Wudsy (see edit history)

[poci1957]

I was considering these options and had an excellent experience with this business:

 

Robert Pacini

Precision Stereo Repair

6475 Stage Rd

Utica, NY  13502

Ph 315-797-5219

 

I have a 1957 Pontiac with a 12V tube radio and he was able to increase power output and build in an aux jack cable so I could use an IPod.  My IPod has FM radio so I get the tube type sound as original with the modern conveniences and at a lower cost (and better sound IMO) than the businesses at Hershey that put new radio insides in the old case.  Give him a try   

[bullheimer]

our local station puts out a whopping 5000W!!!! such power! underwhelming! http://radio-locator.com/info/KBRC-AM

 

the two top guys on a googyle search both add fm/bluetooth to am radios in the $500 price range after the usual S&H.  if not for the ultra powerful KBRC i would go for that. just an am rebuild is $250

Edited February 10, 2016 by bullheimer (see edit history)

[padgett]

Just an observation but if 12v then a Clarion with Blue Tooth and aux plus adapter cables plus remote to go under the seat or in the glove compartment would be under $200, possibly even with a 6v-12vdc converter. That way you could keep the original radio all stock for appearance and have modern sounds with Handsfree.

[Harold]

.....Also a strong station in Buffalo would come in, I don't recall the call letters. 

That would be WKBW (later WWKB) at 1520 on the AM dial.  It usually came in loud and clear most nights in the NYC area.

[bob duffer]

There is nothing like cruising down the road in your favorite old car and having people look at you like your crazy and wondering ," Why is he in my

way with that piece of junk car ...slowing down traffic, listening to an AM radio station" ?