Art & Inspiration Just bought RARE Radio Head Unit

I just purchased this unique Arvin 1930's Radio head for an old car. I have been restoring and collecting antique radios for a long time. This one is quite different. I've had several from this era before but nothing quite like this. Does anyone have any additional info on this. Please feel free to comment.

 

Sorry, no info, but that sure is cool!
Key slot to turn it on/off? Crystal or is there a place for a tube or 2?

 

I've never seen one like that,but it does have a beautiful art deco look! HRP

 

It is missing a key that locks or unlocks the unit so it cannot be turned on. The large knob around the dial changes the stations and the small knob in the back adjusts the volume. There is a clear plastic window covering the dial. There is a large metal box that mounts on the firewall under the dash that contains the tubes and speaker. It would be controled by long cables. I have several boxes that would work for this Radio control head. I might place it on my steering column and hook up a lamp so it lights up. It will definately bring on a conversation. My wife said that I should hook it up to Sirius radio! How cool would that be!

 

Hooking it up to Sirius would be a great way to have the coolest satellite radio anywhere. HRP

 

Looks like about a 1931 model:

 

Thanks Bajones. You guys never fail to know everything about old cars!

 

Arvin also made car heaters.

 

so cool.

 

Nice score raprap...

 

I have never seen anything like it....it is WAY cool! Thanks for sharing.

 

I like it a lot-very art deco look to it-never have seen one like that. Like the idea of making it control something modern.

 

Nice, I've never seen one like that before.

 

Way cool! I have a couple of vintage radiosne is a Firestone Air Chief that uses a separate power supply but the tuner is a more conventional under dash mount with push buttons.Don't know what the era is;I picked it up at a yard sale for a couple dollars.
The other one is a Zenith portable that operates on either house current or an oddball battery and has an imitiation leather case.That one is from the early 1940's.

 

I've seen their art deco heaters but didn't know they did car radios either. Reminds me of the later 40s Chevy column stalk radios, have you got the rest of it?

 

Not for this particular unit. I do have other makes that will work with this control head. Unfortunately, this is wired for a 6-volt system. Yes, I could use a 12v-6v reducer, but it still is a scatchy AM reception through a small electro dynamic type speaker. The sounds are like an AM radio from a car in the 50's. See Chassis box photos above. We'll see what happens.

 

Any new info on this unit?

 

You might check the Patent #? It's looks like the # is on the Back Side
Of the Radio Head Arm. Regards
BigDTexasKid


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I love looking at it. Thanks!

 

that key can't be too complex so maybe you can make one and see if it works.

 

So do you change the radio station by turning the key?

 

The key is on and off. You could lock radios to the off position so that people on the street couldn't listen to your radio and run the battery down. A ton of cars in 1931 were open cars, so this prevented someone from standing next to your car and listening.

You change the radio station by rotating the outer large dial. You turn the volume up and down with a knob on the back side. This is just a remote control for the large box that would be mounted above the passenger's feet on the firewall.

 

Thanks for the explanation.

 

That is so cool

Pics of the interior and car please !!
That dashboard looks snazzy !!

 

WOW, that is too cool!

 

Rap rap what are you driving now? Saw you sold your coupe.

 

That Arvin head is beautiful! I found this Chrysler radio head in a De Soto I'm parting out. I believe it's a 1938 unit.

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Here's the whole set-up.

 

Glad to see another out there! I couldn't find a second example. Very nice!