50s radio. Probably not aftermarket

[m-mman]

This radio was found in the trunk of a 1958 Ford project.  The knob spacing doesn’t fit the Ford, but the Conelrad triangles and the connectors imply OEM. 

Edited October 1, 2022 by m-mman (see edit history)

[drwatson]

There should be a model number tag under the lid. 

[hursst]

84MA American Motors 8990494 Car Radio Motorola Inc. ex (radiomuseum.org)

 

[m-mman]

Hummmmm…..AMC…..(?) wow…..

Here is the under cover picture. 

[28 Chrysler]

12V radio, the transistor would make it early 60s.

[m-mman]

Thanks, hurrst.  The picture matches and is probably AMC, but the year isnt 57 as suggested in the text. 

28 Chrysler, transistor does direct it more toward the 60s. 

 

I know it isnt Ford, and the demand for AMC is small, so looks like it becomes a $1 table item at some swap meet. 

[Bloo]

This is a tube type radio using 12 volt tubes and one transistor. By 12 volt tubes I do not mean just common tubes with 12 volt heaters, I mean tubes that also use 12 volts as the plate voltage, so there is no vibrator power supply needed to provide high voltage.

 

Radios like this use a transistor as this one does, or sometimes two transistors as the audio output stage. That is because a 12 volt tube can not supply near enough audio output power. It was a common way to make a car radio in the late 50s and early 60s. GM cars had this 12-volt-tubes-and-a-transistor setup in 1959 for sure, and I think they first had it in 1957.

 

I don't have any idea if this is AMC or not, but I sure wouldn't rule 1957 out. A radio made in 1957 could easily be for a 1958 model. I believe in 1958 you would be more likely to see the technology this radio uses than anything else.

 

Edited October 5, 2022 by Bloo (see edit history)

[Frank DuVal]

Yes, so called “space charged” tubes. Good for low power applications , so audio out is a power transistor. 
 

GM used them from 58 to 62 on most cars, but I think Caddy had them as options  in 57 as Bloo says. I know my 57 Olds is still a vibrator/high voltage system. I have replacement tubes, but they are rarely defective.