Jump to content

Kenneth Carr

Members
  • Posts

    309
  • Joined

  • Last visited

1 Follower

About Kenneth Carr

  • Birthday 09/30/1949

Profile Information

  • Location
    Hope Valley,Rhode Island, USA
  • AACA #
    140013
  • Website
  • Other Clubs
    Westerly-Pawcatuck Region AACA

Recent Profile Visitors

2,703 profile views

Kenneth Carr's Achievements

2,500+ Points

2,500+ Points (4/7)

  • Very Popular Rare
  • Reacting Well
  • Dedicated
  • Collaborator

Recent Badges

124

Reputation

  1. They did this to my grandfather’s Zenith console. The shortwave bands were disabled. Nobody ever returned to fix the radio after the war. This was done because he was born in Italy. My grandfather, Andrea Calise, earned his US citizenship in early 1941 when he took his test in front of a local judge. Upon approaching the judge he told him that he had left his glasses at home and so could not read the test. The judge read the test to him and grandpa passed. Glasses were not the issue,my grandfather could not read or write. After coming to this country he eventually brought over his mother and his 10 brothers and sisters. There was a temporary home and a job waiting for each. And during the war his future son-in-law, my dad, served in Paton’s army. Hopefully we never treat our citizens this way again. The photos show gramps (original and colorized) and my parents.
  2. Neil, regarding the frequent adjustments to the radio: most tube-based radios will drift (slight frequency changes) somewhat during the first 30 minutes of operation. Having said that, with AM operation this is barely noticeable. I think the person who made the movie just asked the driver to perform as many adjustments (shift, steer, change frequency, turn corners) as possible so as to add interest to the movie. Now if he was receiving SSB (single side band) signals, he would have to constantly adjust the signal. SSB wasn’t invented until the 1950’s and never offered in a consumer radio.
  3. The vibrator on the 1941 Buick is of the synchronous type. It has one set of contacts that chop the DC to simulate AC and thus activate the step up transformer to create high voltage B+. It has a second set of contacts that act as the rectifier, thus eliminating the need for a rectifier tube. See discussion here: http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Forums/t1581.htm I was able to get the proper high value buffer capacitors from justradios.com . He is a reputable dealer who sells quality capacitors and resistors. Here is one method that sometimes restores a vibrator by burning off residue from old foam: http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/commrx/Maintenance/Waking Up.doc.pdf Another method uses diamond files to renew the contacts. There is also a video on You-Tube that shows how to repair a vibrator. If I find the link I will post it here.
  4. I have only worked on the single band version (local AM broadcast, not shortwave). There are some similarities. If the band switch does not move, I recommend treating it with PB Blaster. Do this repeatedly at all friction points. If there are ball bearings along the shaft, target that area too. Each time you apply the blaster, rock the switch slightly. Then let it sit for about an hour. Then repeat. Eventually you may get more movement until finally it breaks free. Stuck switches are usually due to dried up grease. Clean the linkage attached to each push button. They are likely sticking, again due to dirt and grease. Carefully pull each button back towards you rather than pushing in. They should eventually give. Be careful because they tend to crumble due to the poor plastic used. You can also remove them if you like. Some people will apply heat to friction points of a stuck shaft. They use a high temperature soldering iron. This is dangerous since you may damage something such as a wire, plastic, etc. A circuit diagram and some other information is available at Nostalgia Air: Buick Motor: 980660 (nostalgiaair.org) . The following tells how to set up the pushbuttons for particular station recall. The "remove button" instructions may help you get them off. Pushbutton removal: "5 buttons: Remove button by pulling spring located on bottom of button, to the right. Loosen set screw. Tune in desired station by using manual control. Push screw in as far as possible and tighten. Replace button. Follow same procedure for remaining buttons."
  5. If you send your pump out for a rebuild, insist on materials that are not harmed by modern fuels. Also, put an ID mark somewhere on your pump. The place that rebuilt mine sent back the wrong one. I eventually got mine back.
  6. There is only one of these valves in my car. All it does it prevent hot water from the radiator from flowing to the car heater(s). Otherwise the inside of the car gets quite hot when driving in the summer.
  7. This is the one I got on eBay. It fits just fine on my 1941 Buick with 3/4” hoses. The vendor has gone up in price by $6 and other sellers may have the same one. https://www.ebay.com/itm/294319079861?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ol-mic9IRwK&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=_Vi_K4SLRYS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
  8. Regarding the serial number: 1941 - 1948 - Stamped on a plate attached to the upper right side of the fire wall. 1948 vehicles will also have the serial number stamped on a plate attached to the left front door pillar. (copied from Buick Alliance)
  9. Sorry about the nameless icon, Grant. The name here is Ken Carr. Very nice to meet you. I will be following your story. If you need a reference photo of any part, I may be able to supply it. I have a 1941 Roadmaster four door sedan. The cars will have some identical items. I also highly recommend the postings by other owners. Neil Morse, for one, has been especially helpful to me when I had questions.
  10. You have taken some great photographs and displayed even greater enthusiasm! Keep them coming. I did a bunch of under dash work when putting in a new wire loom. It was cramped and I am a lot shorter than you. I only removed the front seat. I like your idea of 'taking it all out'.
  11. Try pages 12-13 and 12-14 of the online 1942 shop manual. It is also discussed in the 1941 manual. I highly recommend that you buy a 1941 shop manual.http://buick.oldcarmanualproject.com/manuals/1942/Buick shop manual/13-Electrical System/image13.html
  12. Have you tried GoJo? It’s a lanolin-based hand cleaner. I clean old radio cabinets with it. This stuff really takes out the dirt. It may allow more of the finish to shine through. Just make sure you use the original formula, not the one with pumice. You can apply and remove with paper towels. Once the towel comes away clean you are done. A quick swipe with a moist paper towel can remove any cleaner residue. As always, test a small area first. You may want to follow with wax or lemon oil as mentioned above. This is the same stuff guys use to get grease off their hands. https://www.amazon.com/ORIGINAL-FORMULA-Fragrance-Crème-Style-Canister/dp/B00065TSSO
×
×
  • Create New...