JJ62 Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Hello all, I was wondering if some of the more, uh, "mature types" would know what this is. There's a transformer, tube and what appears to be a capacitor inside, and power resistors outside wired to a pushbutton under the dash. Thanks, Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 GOOD QUESTION???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crowvet Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 (edited) Total guess, but maybe a reverb unit for speakers? Edited June 8, 2019 by crowvet (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KongaMan Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Looks like a label in the first picture. Can you read anything on it? Is there a cover? What does the button look like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ62 Posted June 9, 2019 Author Share Posted June 9, 2019 The label is not readable and there are no other markings except the date "Nov 29, 1955" on the inside panel of the other half of the box. See picture. The output of it must have something to do with the terminals on the top of the box. There are only 3 wires, one for 12 volts and the other 2 went to the switch. The silver can is a "vibrator", not a capacitor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric's.64.Superwildcat Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 An early flux capacitor. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KongaMan Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 If I had to guess, I'd say it's a power supply for some higher voltage widget. The vibrator creates pulsed DC or AC. The transformer jacks up the voltage. The tube is a rectifier tube which converts the voltage back to DC. Or not. What's the number on the tube (e.g. 6X4)? Do you have a picture of the switch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 On 6/8/2019 at 5:12 PM, JJ62 said: I was wondering if some of the more, uh, "mature types" would know what this is. It could be an early travel vibrator. The new ones plug into the cigarette lighter. I think there are four plugs in the back of a new Buick Enclave. In 1955 only one would probably been the talk of the town. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caballero2 Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 (edited) Could it be? "keep your mitts off my '65 Riv, or I will light up your eyes like they were neon". Edited June 9, 2019 by Caballero2 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 2 hours ago, 60FlatTop said: It could be an early travel vibrator. Hmmmm, and I thought texting while driving was dangerous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 Very simple.....this was an early gas mileage improvement device. The microwaves created by this device caused an atmospheric inversion at the carburetor throat that enabled your Riviera to get 30 miles to the gallon.Somebody at Exxon bought the company that made it out because it was bad for bidness.! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
first64riv Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 do you have a picture of the "push button"? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ62 Posted June 11, 2019 Author Share Posted June 11, 2019 Sorry for the delay, I've been busy. It's a 12AU7A tube. Attached is a picture of it and the switch. "This tube finds use as a phase-inverter/splitter in push-pull amplifier circuits in ac/dc radio equipment and in many diversified applications such as multivibrators or oscillators in industrial control devices." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 My guess is it is a power supply for some sort of 2-way radio the the owner installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsgun Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 I think 2-way radio too. Maybe early CB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
first64riv Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 I'm going to send this thread to a coworker. He's a ham radio guy. Maybe he can confirm. Stay tuned... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockinRiviDad Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 On 6/9/2019 at 7:30 PM, Seafoam65 said: Very simple.....The microwaves created by this device caused an atmospheric inversion at the carburetor throat that enabled your Riviera to get 30 miles to the gallon.Somebody at Exxon bought the company that made it out cuz it was bad for bidness Yes…very simple… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
first64riv Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 I got a response from my co-worker...I took out the images he had because they did not show in when i cut/pasted. Chris, It might be the high voltage power supply for old tube radios (but I don’t understand the push button unless it had a latching power function. If that “capacitor” is really a vibrator, which is a mechanical device to make and break electrical contacts to create a varying voltage to be used in the transformer to boost the output voltage to achieve the high voltages for what was called the B+ voltages to run vacuum tubes. Here is a typical schematic: The tube (the full wave rectifier shown in the middle above) could be what is now rep[laced by high voltage diodes. Here is a link to more information: https://radioremembered.org/vpwrsup.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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