Bringing back History

[papatoad]

Those are some beautiful examples of the pride and craftmanship that used to be...

I work on radios for a living and the sure don't look like that anymore!
In fact the phone just rang and I'm headed out to make some overtime. More fun chips for my

PAD/TAD issues! ::

 

[aaronbrill]

That looks great, I'm glad you were able to bring it back from the dead! I'm into tube electronics myself, but mostly on the guitar amp end of it. I get a lot of satisfaction out of reviving and getting to use a 50-60 year old (or older) piece of history.

 

[colcolt]

I wish someone would restore this 60+year old piece of history. :mrgreen:

 

[fnord]

Whoa!
Colcott, those Atwater Kents are amazing! Does that Model 46 have a wet cell battery?
I have nothing but respect for this particular hobby of yours. The old radios are a wonderful link to the last century and so many of the shows/dramas that were written back then still carry water today. (Talk about theater for the mind.)
As a shortwave listener, one of these days I want a 75 plus year old fully refurbished console that not only has AM but a range of SW frequencies where the cities are listed on the dial: Berlin, London, Paris, Buenos Aires, etc.
Man, what a great evening: a couple of fingers of bourbon in a glass, a good pipe and the world of 1935 ahead of me for an evening.

 

[voorhees]

I have my grandparents 1959 Admiral Console Stereo. It's in great shape and still works. I don't use it much as its in the spare bedroom. But I could not part with it.
Jason

 

[crazypipe]

I was going to ask how and were do you get the parts to fix them.

But i see you posted that , great hobby.

 

[bentmike]

Nice radios colcolt! "Boat anchors" as we call them affectionately in amateur radio. I don't know much about working on them but I love using them and admire those that do fix up the old gear. As you say preserving an important part of history.
I hope to one day build a simple receiver and low power transmitter, maybe a one-tube design. I have built a high-frequency transmit antenna. Although I've barely scratched the surface in understanding it antenna theory is one of my favorite aspects of radio. Pictures of my antenna and a short bio of my radio activities can be found at qrz.com callsign database Can't link directly to my page but just put in my callsign "W8MDE" into the serch block in the upper left corner under the qrz logo and it will come up.

 

[ejames]

Nice radios colcolt! I like the older radios and the console stereos from the 50's to 70's. I have an old (1937 I think) Philco radio/record player. It's quite large, a floor model. Bought it off Ebya and then drove about 250 miles to pick it up.Didn't want it shipped. Radio worked when I got it,it has several different bands and I've listened to European radio a few times.Never tried the record player as I didn't have any of the old records.

 

[photoman13]

Ejames did it play 78's?

 

[ejames]

Photoman,yes it plays 78's. At one time I had some but traded off my album collection before I got the Philco.

 

[colcolt]

fnord-The Model 46 uses a transformer but the Model 30 operated off thee batteries...an A, B and C battery from which you got several different voltages for the plate, filaments on the tubes and a higher voltage for the speaker...usually 90v.Here's a shot of the Model 46 with the transformer...big enough to choke a horse.

This is the guts to the Model 30(sans tubes). Notice there is no transformer. Power came from batteries.

This speaker goes with the Model 30(no transformer)

This one is for the Model 46

It's a good hobby but one that can sure eat into your time.
crazypipe-There are many places to get components. I can get the capacitors and resistors right here in town but if I need some tubes I have to get them elsewhere. Unless they loose their vacuum tubes lasted a long time. I remember my Dad taking me to the hardware store and he'd have a bag with probably 8-10 tubes in it to test in the tube tester to see if they were good. TV's and radios had tubes back then. Usually, and many will remember this, it took 10-20 seconds for the audio to come on as the tubes heated up to operating voltage.
mike-That is some more antennae!! Fortunately I don't need one that large and elaborate but it's a super job to say the least. I can string 18-22 gauge wire up the wall and back and forth on the ceiling to get a decent "aerial" as they use to call them. Ground is just as important as radios from the 20's and 30's wouldn't operate good without them.

 

[colcolt]

This is one of he most beautiful and pristine radios I've seen. I'd say it will bring well over $300.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281007675823?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649