dkloehn
Member since Oct-21-02
828 posts (A true Triumph-aholic if there ever was one)
Nov-22-09, 01:51 PM (PST)
"Check out this great Radio!!"
I won this great Triumph Faceplate radio on e-bay last week. It is a pre-preset am mono tube radio with a beautiful chrome front. It is in amazing condition, and it actually works!
Since its so old and since it works, I think it would be a shame to rip the guts out and put in modern, so I think I would like to install it as it is and someday put a modern sound system in the trunk.
So here are my two questions:
1. Does anyone have a faceplate or a blanking plate? I think I could best fabricate a faceplate for this radio starting with a blanking plate.
2. Does anyone have anything resembling a connector for the speaker? This thing has a two pin female connector on it. The larger hole is a tight 1/8", and the smaller is 3/32". They are spaced 7/16th center to center. Nothing like that at radio shack
Does anyone want to see pictures?
David Corona, CA Freshly Restored '68 Spitfire Mk3
Jeff McNeal
Charter Member
7230 posts (Someone who doesn't have as much free time as he used to)
Nov-22-09, 03:02 PM (PST)
1. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #0
Wow, I'm astounded that it has tubes! Must be a late 50's or early 60's model. That's stupendous.
I very much doubt that you're going to find the speaker connector that you need. If it were me, I'd probably just get some rolled pins, solder the speaker wires into the correct sized ones, and just shove 'em in.
My guess would be that the larger one is positive and smaller one is ground. But then again, just a guess.
And you tested it? It is 12v NEGATIVE ground, right? Is that switchable, by the way?
dkloehn
Member since Oct-21-02
828 posts (A true Triumph-aholic if there ever was one)
Nov-22-09, 06:28 PM (PST)
2. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #1
I hooked it up with a negative ground and it played.
Have a look at this picture:
The arrows are pointing to nothing. I can't tell if its saying to use positive for positive ground and negative for negative ground (meaning it doesn't matter?) or is it telling me about some switch that I don't see?
David Corona, CA Freshly Restored '68 Spitfire Mk3
John R Davies
Charter Member
2555 posts (A TTN governor, governor)
Nov-23-09, 06:44 AM (PST)
4. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #3
David, Are there any transmissions on the waveband this receives? Be sad to go to a lot of trouble and find you can't hear anything.
As to connectors, I'm sure you can find one. A Google for "60s radio parts" got over FIVE MILLION hits! And eBay has lots of 60s radios for sale, so you could get lucky. Especially if you can get it to play "Blue Moon".
dkloehn
Member since Oct-21-02
828 posts (A true Triumph-aholic if there ever was one)
Nov-23-09, 08:19 AM (PST)
5. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #4
Tony -
I grounded the radio by the threaded terminal sticking out of the top.
John -
Yes, this radio receives the standard AM band. I was able to tune in several local stations, especially after I touched my old antenna to a electrical conduit in my garage.
Didn't hear Blue Moon, but I listened to some of the Redskins football game.
I must admit John, I was hoping you had the old speaker connector I need in a jar in your garage Jeff is right though, I should be able to fabricate something pretty easily.
David Corona, CA Freshly Restored '68 Spitfire Mk3
tonymrfixit
Member since Dec-25-02
2633 posts (A TTN governor, governor)
Nov-23-09, 11:44 AM (PST)
6. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #5
Then I guess your car will need to be negative ground too.
I once tried, in my youth, to fit a Neg ground radio in a Pos ground car. I though that if I just isolated the radio, I would be OK. Unfortunately, I forgot that the antenna grounds to the car body.
Tony M 74 Spitfire 1500 84 Toyota Pickup 03 VW Golf
dkloehn
Member since Oct-21-02
828 posts (A true Triumph-aholic if there ever was one)
Nov-23-09, 02:05 PM (PST)
7. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #6
LAST EDITED ON Nov-23-09 AT 02:05 PM (PST)
Pretty sure my car is a negative ground too In fact, I'm POSITVE it is :-P
Still don't understand exactly what the label on the radio is trying to tell me. I THINK it is saying that the radio can be run either way. But I don't think I will test that.
David Corona, CA Freshly Restored '68 Spitfire Mk3
tonymrfixit
Member since Dec-25-02
2633 posts (A TTN governor, governor)
Nov-23-09, 05:46 PM (PST)
8. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #4
Quote
David, Are there any transmissions on the waveband this receives? Be sad to go to a lot of trouble and find you can't hear anything.
John
John, David tell me he is receiving strange broadcasts, programs called "Housewives Choice" "Workers Playtime" and "The Clitheroe Kid" the weather forecast names peculiar places like "Rockall" and "Doggerbank"
Tony M 74 Spitfire 1500 84 Toyota Pickup 03 VW Golf
Neal
Member since Jan-19-04
467 posts (Triumphant in just about everything)
Nov-24-09, 05:51 AM (PST)
10. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #2
Quote
I hooked it up with a negative ground and it played.
Have a look at this picture:
The arrows are pointing to nothing. I can't tell if its saying to use positive for positive ground and negative for negative ground (meaning it doesn't matter?) or is it telling me about some switch that I don't see?
Great find, David. Looks to be in great condition. I like your plan, too.
My guess about the tag is that it's an indicator for a switch (possibly missing the tab?) so the radio can be changed from negative to positive ground. Not an uncommon thing back then. Can you see the inside of this part of the radio case? Maybe the backside of that piece will give you an indication of it's purpose.
Neal Clark - GearHead Geek Near Stock 1976 BRG Spitfire 1500 (restoration completed Mar, 2007) Raleigh, NC, USA
dkloehn
Member since Oct-21-02
828 posts (A true Triumph-aholic if there ever was one)
Nov-25-09, 03:34 PM (PST)
12. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #10
The brown tab at the top is some type of insulator, but it is not a switch. There is some electronic piece attached there, but I didn't look at it closely. Its not a switch.
Don't think it really matters. There is clearly a power wire. I can ground the unit from the terminal on top, it works, and it is expected to receive AM band transmissions from the late 50s
The only thing I need is to fabricate some sort of faceplate to attach the thing to the radio tower. An original blanking plate would be fantastic. I suppose I should lasso the moon while I'm wishin' for stuff eh?
Happy Thankgiving fellow (American) Triumph Enthusiasts... Happy Thursday to you folks across the pond
David Corona, CA Freshly Restored '68 Spitfire Mk3
Jeff McNeal
Charter Member
7230 posts (Someone who doesn't have as much free time as he used to)
Nov-25-09, 04:43 PM (PST)
13. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #12
Just keep watching eBay, David. And try to find out if the same blanking/mounting plates were used for other vehicles, like TR4's etc., maybe even other makes all together. That way, you can expand your search and hopefully find one sooner.
I love tube gear. Most of my serious audio recording stuff is old school valve type. Can't beat it.
tonymrfixit
Member since Dec-25-02
2633 posts (A TTN governor, governor)
Nov-25-09, 05:44 PM (PST)
14. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #13
I remember when I had a Triumph herald with a vacuum tube radio (it was Phillips) it mounted under the dash in it's own, trapezoid, metal, support/faceplate. I'm not sure this helps
Tony M 74 Spitfire 1500 84 Toyota Pickup 03 VW Golf
Ronzo
Member since Jan-28-04
928 posts (A true Triumph-aholic if there ever was one)
Dec-16-09, 11:35 AM (PST)
17. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #16
Dave I haven't forfotten about you, but I have neglected what I promised. The plate is in one of the boxes of finished parts on a shelf in my shed. I'll find it and get it pulled down.
Ronzo 1965 Spitfire Mk 2 1974 Land Cruiser FJ40 Houston
dkloehn
Member since Oct-21-02
828 posts (A true Triumph-aholic if there ever was one)
Jan-04-10, 09:11 PM (PST)
21. "RE: Check out this great Radio!!"
In response to message #20
Ronzo - That looks perfect! If you will part with it, I would like to try it. Send me a private with your price, and I will get you a payment and my address.
Scott - Thanks for the offer, let me see if Ronzo's works, and I will get back to you.
David Corona, CA Freshly Restored '68 Spitfire MPS
Printer-friendly copy
Email this topic to a friend
