My other vice (beyond a certain 58 Belair) is restoring old pre-war tube radios. First photo is post war, a 1948 Zenith 7H920 which has the new FM band in addition to AM. Restored this for an old friend. Second photo is of a 1940 Philco 40-150, which has the standard AM band plus the old police band (1.5MC to 2.5MC) and shortwave from 5.5 MC to 18MC. Third is a 1939 Philip 39-25 with AM and one shortwave band from 4.75MC to 18MC. Just a few from my collection. Two of these likely were playing that Sunday when the bombs fell on Pearl Harbor. I just like preserving these bits of history so they can be enjoyed by my children and grandchildren (presuming that radio is not extinct by then!) Sent from my LG-H820 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Before this thread gets deleted. I'll show you what I like to do. Make them into bluetooth speakers. Here's one example. Sent from my SM-G950U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Nice! Yep, I have often thought of doing that as I restore these, and as the conversion process is not difficult, I may do that in the future to extend their usefullness. Sent from my LG-H820 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I have twenty or so pre-60 radios. None of em work... here’s one I gutted and then filled with the guys of a Sonos. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
This is something I have been been wanting to get into! Seeing all of these is making me think its time to finally pull the trigger
It's a slippery slope. I was in the broadcasting field for about 10 years, and they just sort of accumulated in my house. I finally had to thin the herd, and concentrate on one type. Got rid of the big Zenith and Philco floor cabinet models, got rid of the even bigger RCA Hi-Fi console, got rid of the wooden Atwater-Kent battery radios, and settled on the bakelite table models. Have a few left, and they all work. I can post pictures of them if anyone is interested.
If you can read a schematic and can run a soldering iron successfully, it (usually) ain't rocket science. Tubes and other parts are fairly available, and there is nothing like saving one of these from the dumpster.
A beautiful old Sparton, don't see too many of those. Most of mine are table tops, but I do have one Philco 40-190 that I completed last winter, and agreed that those floor consoles have a nice sound to them.
This vintage radio was powered by a 6 volt battery that was kept charged with a small wind generator and made popular in areas that didn't have access to electricity. The radio is in my living room and the dial is lite up with green LED lights. The Windcharger generator is hanging in my shop and is what was used to keep the batteries charged to run the radio. It has a 4 foot wood prop that is attached to the pulley end of the generator.
my in laws were going to throw this out, belonged to an uncle of my father in law Photo is same kind not actually mine Mine is in my living room The Victrola is the same as I have in my dining room Belonged to my great grandparents