Car Radios
 

Who's the Go-To-Guy about the car radio's for this era?

Re: Car Radios
 

Jack Benny

Re: Car Radios
 

I have a Grigsby Grunow 110 introduced in 1931. The 111 is for the 32 Ford.
There were very few other car radios available.
What are you trying to do?
There is a special water inlet for the larger generator available in 31 for radio equipped cars.
also used on passenger bus.

Re: Car Radios
 

Water inlet?

Re: Car Radios
 

"What Are You Trying To Do?"
There used to be a company that would take the control head of say -- 1931 Philco Transitone and fabricate a new receiver for it, I have one in my '31 Budd Cab. The owner pasted away and the company folded. I'd just like to find out if someone took this service on.
TKS


Yes, I know this is not original equipment -- neither am I as just had a hip replacement and a pacemaker -- so there!!

Re: Car Radios
 

I didn't know if you were looking to restore one,or convert one.I see now you want to convert one.(the smart thing to do)I had a few done years ago,I used two different places,and I just picked the names out of Hemmings.I had one done about eight years ago for a 35 Ford,but never installed it.I found the whole setup to be in my way in an A,so I took it out.I just throw a satellite boombox in the A if I want music with me.I can't remember the places I used before,it's been a while.The special water inlet was to clear the bigger generator.

Re: Car Radios
 

This is from the service bulletins.
I have a generator that I found at Hershey that is the same style brackets as original A generator but is longer and larger in diameter.
I also have found 2 water inlets.

Re: Car Radios
 

In case you just want the look of a vintage radio (and don't mind that it's actually modern), here's what I did - it's a Crosley CR-82 AM/FM battery (4 AA) powered radio - they show up on ebay regularly for around $25-$40.

I feed a MP3 player (filled with period music) through an FM transmitter to it.
It's mounted to a wood tray I made with scraps that were laying around.


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1662397319

Re: Car Radios
 

I don't think I need music in my car that bad.

Re: Car Radios
 

I am not sure that music could be heard over the noise of the wind and the car. I once played period music from an MP3 player at a car show. The MP3 player was connected to speakers.

I have a CD changer that came out of a 1979 Jaguar. Make me an offer. I think it holds 10 CD's, but I have not looked at it in years. A modern radio would fit under the seat with knobs protruding into the passenger compartment.

Re: Car Radios
 

I have a radio installation manual from the early 30s and it says to make the rotor gap .005.

Re: Car Radios
 

I’ve considered getting a compact wind up Victrola that folds closed into a small “attaché case”. Good for car shows amongst the Lamborghinis. The 78 rpm records only play for between 3-5 minutes per side so it would not be constant.
Here in Texas folks used cactus needles when the steel ones wore out.

Re: Car Radios
 

Not Model A, but a least a Ford. I have a hiden stereo system controlled by the original 1955 Ford radio head by remote control in my Ranchwagon. I forget now the name of the company that used to do the conversions.

Notice the Conelrad points on the radio for emergencies during the Cold War. (By the 6 & 12).

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1744827382

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1744827926

Re: Car Radios
 

I never knew those little Civil Defense deltas had a name. Learned something today!

Re: Car Radios
 

There is not enough room in an A dash for a radio. Hanging a knee bumper under the dash isn't the answer.

I toss a bluetooth speaker on the back shelf of our Coupe and feed it from my phone.
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Blue...b=hilltop&th=1

Re: Car Radios
 

[email protected] might be the place. Now there's a bracket that allows the Control Head be mounted on the steering column, and the receiver elsewhere. I have an extra Philco Transitone Control Head and bracket, but there's a lock that I'm trying to get a proper key for
TKS

Re: Car Radios
 

post a picture of the lock and control head please.

Re: Car Radios
 

It's the Philco Cathedral design. I'm just not capable posting pictures - if you'll pm you email, I can do that.
TKS

Re: Car Radios
 

The music of the road and motor is all I need to enjoy the ride! GD

Re: Car Radios
 

I've heard the name Thomas Edison mentioned. :)

Re: Car Radios
 

So how do I contact this Edison guy?
I realize the A makes listen to a radio very difficult -- still !!
Tks

Re: Car Radios
 

Now days, folks can blue tooth right off their phone to a speaker set up where ever a person want to put them in portable fashion. With a phone music app, it's easy to set up a playlist of stuff to listen to. Its all self contained and removable. Some blue tooth to an updated car radio if that's what a person wants. There is generally always a radio geek around that can do stuff like this.

Re: Car Radios
 

+1 - I even put a link for a $35 bluetooth speaker in my post. Easier and cheaper than any of the other options.

Re: Car Radios
 

I'm wondering how an original tuning head (cables), would mate up to completely new

guts in the radio case. This sounds like a very expensive undertaking.

Re: Car Radios
 

I have a 1937 Crosley Fiver Romeo in my 29 Roadster. I have a 6 volt positive ground RediRad connected to the antenna input. The RediRad will convert input from your phone to an AM signal into the radio. It works pretty good. For some reason I don’t get any ignition interference from the engine.

Re: Car Radios
 

I saw a gag photo from a very early car magazine (fromEngland?). It showed wires strung from masts fore and aft, and a wire leading to a potted plant mounted on the running board. This was the ground (earth in England).

Re: Car Radios
 

I just bluetooth connect a portable JBL micro speaker that I keep under the driver's seat to my iphone and play 1930s music when I want to show off. As long as I am within about 50 meters of my 'Henry' the sound quality is great...and the source is invisible. Having the speaker under the seat seems to make it sound like the music is coming from 'Henry's' heart. Volume can be adjusted remotely as well.