Any way to fix this old radio?

[coinman123]

I got this cool late 1940's radio a couple months ago for $7 from an antique shop. Any ideas how to fix this. It looks like someone cut off the battery cord. Is this salvageable? I want to hear it play again but will be fine either way. It has been sitting on my bookshelf ever since I bought it as a cool decoration.


Pre 1949 Motorola

 

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[coinman123]

I am not sure if the speaker works but I am guessing most of the internal stuff is fine, never tried it, like I said, some cut off the cord thingy and it needs batteries, the tunes are fine. Not sure though, I ca't open it today, I can only remove to back, the main problem is the cord.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

The hard part will be finding a pair of 67.5V batteries for the thing!

Here's a way to make your own.

"B" battery replacement

Tubes are still available, but you need to locate a radio shot that has a tube testor.

 

[galenrog]

I used to rebuild 40s era radio receivers back in the 70s. The primary tools I used were a quality multimeter, audio and radio frequency generators, and a good oscilloscope. Because some types and sizes of batteries used in the 40s are no longer made, I had to make do by finding something of the appropriate voltage and current ratings that was close to the correct physical size and making it fit. Because I had the specifications for the vacuum tubes, I did not use a tube tester.

Have fun!

 

[kayakpat]

they are generally repairable, however the radio has paper/wax capacitors use that go bad over time and should be replaced, you might get it to work without replacing them for a while, but time takes its toll and they might short out or worse cause a fire. I had a 1940's worldband philco that I loved listening to.

 

[coinman123]

The hard part will be finding a pair of 67.5V batteries for the thing!

Here's a way to make your own.

"B" battery replacement

Tubes are still available, but you need to locate a radio shot that has a tube testor.

Thanks for the info, any idea on how to make the two "A" batteries too?

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

According to this link you can use "D" cells. The "A" battery is 1.5v.

Here's a couple links that also have links to an antique radio and electronics supply websites.

Powering Your Antique Battery Radio

Antique Radio Parts & Repairs

When I was in high-school I was in a pre college engineering class for electronics. We studied tubes; anodes, cathodes, gates and heating elements. Who knew it might come back as handy? I had an old cloth covered "portable" radio that worked when I was a kid that I wish I had kept. It weighed about 20 pounds and was the size of a cat carrier.

 

[1320]

I'd just hide a small working radio behind...lol

 

[coinman123]

According to this link you can use "D" cells. The "A" battery is 1.5v.

Here's a couple links that also have links to an antique radio and electronics supply websites.

Powering Your Antique Battery Radio

Antique Radio Parts & Repairs

When I was in high-school I was in a pre college engineering class for electronics. We studied tubes; anodes, cathodes, gates and heating elements. Who knew it might come back as handy? I had an old cloth covered "portable" radio that worked when I was a kid that I wish I had kept. It weighed about 20 pounds and was the size of a cat carrier.

Thanks so much, any ideas on the cord.

 

[jerseyben]

A picture of the radio would be nice for reference. Also, where does the cord attach to the radio?

 

[DirtStalker]

Coinman you know that when you repair it that it will only play Golden Oldies.

 

[huntsman53]

Coinman you know that when you repair it that it will only play Golden Oldies.

and Blasts from the Past.


Frank

 

[huntsman53]

This is how they fixed radios and other things on the Russian Space Station, so it might work for you!


Frank

 

[kayakpat]

that has always been a tried and true method in the old days of switches and relays instead of todays microchips

 

[coinman123]

A picture of the radio would be nice for reference. Also, where does the cord attach to the radio?

Right under where the cord starts lol.

 

[coinman123]

Coinman you know that when you repair it that it will only play Golden Oldies.

even better!