05-16-2021, 03:47 PM | #1 |
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Radios
Were there any Dealer-Installed radios in the Model A Era?
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05-16-2021, 04:37 PM | #2 |
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Re: Radios
Not really, if the era is 1928-1931.
In 1930 the Galvin brothers’ expensive $130 unit (a Model A Deluxe coupe cost $540) was the first commercially successful car radio, and the first product to wear the Motorola name. In 1933 Crossley Motors offer a factory fitted car radio. By the late 1930s, push button AM radios were considered a standard feature. |
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05-16-2021, 04:49 PM | #3 |
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Re: Radios
You'd have to have mighty young ears to hear a radio in MY Model A. How about yours?
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05-16-2021, 05:19 PM | #4 | |
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Re: Radios
Quote:
Well. actually I had Turnswitch company take an old radio controller and build me one -- mounted the 'box' on the right-side kick panel, the controller is mounted on the steering column. I was having problems hearing it, so I bought a Motiograph Drive-In Theater Speaker, wired it in and installed it overhead in my Budd Cab. Sure helps, tho, I must wear hearing aids anyway. I'm retired airline mechanic with this hearing loss- Thanks |
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05-16-2021, 08:04 PM | #5 |
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Re: Radios
In 1997 I drove my Tudor from Jacksonville Florida to Dayton Ohio for a national meet.
Took a side trip to see an old Ohio friend. When he looked the car over he asked "How can you drive this far in a car with no radio?" I told him listening to the engine run was music to my ears.......
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05-16-2021, 08:38 PM | #6 |
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Re: Radios
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A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
05-16-2021, 10:08 PM | #7 |
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Re: Radios
Exactly what I would have told him too........LOL.
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05-16-2021, 11:52 PM | #8 |
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Re: Radios
With my hearing loss, music just isn't as enjoyable as it once was. I am perfectly happy with no radio.
The Model A ignition system is particularly prone to ignition noise on AM radio frequencies as it wasn't designed for a radio. Since there was no radio that Ford offered for the Model A, none would be period correct, so a great way of listening would be to tie your smart phone into a small amp and speaker which these days can be small but mighty in sound. That way you aren't going to have to try to mount some great big box under the dash. |
05-17-2021, 06:40 AM | #9 |
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Re: Radios
I installed speakers in the kick panels and behind the seats. No problem hearing the radios.
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05-17-2021, 07:11 AM | #10 |
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Re: Radios
If its music you are after, I bought a small blue tooth speaker to hook up with my phone. I paid $30 for it (JBL) although it sounds great on my desk my car is a bit loud (much louder than a model a) and it kinda gets drowned out. I am going to upgrade for the $70 version and see if its any better. Another thing I saw at best buy when I was getting the speaker was a pair of sunglasses with bose speakers built in. Those things were awesome, and expensive at a little over $200, but they did sound really good. I put out fathers day hints!
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05-17-2021, 09:36 AM | #11 |
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Re: Radios
A friend joined me for a ride in my A a couple years ago, and brought a portable music device of some sort to listen while riding. I had to ask him to turn it off, becuase I need to listen to my car. A change in the sound of the car while driving can indicate potential trouble. For example: A fella in our club once heard a strange ticking sound while on tour. He stopped, opened the hood, and found his original fan blade was coming undone. Recently on a short drife my coupe set up an awful rattle. It turned out that one of the bolts that holds my manifold heater cover on had taken flight. I found it on the engine pan, reinstalled, and went on my way. Driving a Model A in today’s traffic requires all of my attention. I don’t want any distractions. Even conversation can be a problem.
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05-17-2021, 11:44 AM | #12 |
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Re: Radios
Grigsby Grunow 111 was the radio for 1932 Ford, I have a Grigsby Grunow 110, introduced June 1931, it has a steering column clamp that is made for the exact diameter of A steering column, I also have some installation instructions for early radios with detailed modifications for operation in model A
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05-17-2021, 04:07 PM | #13 |
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Re: Radios
My solution is to throw this on the back seat. Lasts for hours on a full charge.
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05-17-2021, 05:15 PM | #14 |
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Re: Radios
Those real early Grigsby Grunow radios were complicated sets. There were multiple components that had to be mounted.
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05-17-2021, 05:28 PM | #15 | |
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Re: Radios
Quote:
Yes. 1. Firewall Mounted Box (held all the electric stuff) 2. Steering Column Mounted Controller 3. Carter Genometer (i have no idea what this is/does) 4. Speaker not to mention all the cables too |
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05-17-2021, 05:33 PM | #16 |
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Re: Radios
Good idea MISTER MOOSE. I have one like yours.
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05-18-2021, 12:12 PM | #17 |
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Re: Radios
They hadn't started using a vibrator circuit yet to step up voltages with the pulsating DC into a transformer. They used a DC Dynamotor that works a lot like an inverter to step up the low DC voltage to a high DC voltage to make the tubes work. These were used clear up and into WWII and later for long range recievers on aircraft and ships.
The Carter Genemotor was one of the brands of the day. Pioneer, GE, Black & Decker, Electrolux, and other motor manufacturing companies made Dynamotors. Last edited by rotorwrench; 05-18-2021 at 12:21 PM. |
05-18-2021, 03:37 PM | #18 |
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Re: Radios
School time , please... how did the Dynamotor work? Really a spinning motor flip-flopping the voltage to AC going to a transformer ? ... my guess
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05-18-2021, 07:30 PM | #19 |
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Re: Radios
I can't explain for all of the different types on how they function other than they have a housing with two sets of fields and brush sets on both ends. The armature has commutators on both ends. The low voltage side turns the armature as a motor and the high voltage side generates the output voltage. The output voltage is likely multiplied from the input voltage in the way that the field coils are designed. The amperage output is likely not that high on these units even though they can have 400 to 500 volts generated. The input and output is always listed on the unit's data plate. This is a good link about them.
https://www.instructables.com/revivi...dios-went-mob/ This is a neat old catalog on Carter stuff: https://www.abaa.org/book/844540590 Here is another link to a Carter model: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-736602410...e/n71/mode/1up Last edited by rotorwrench; 05-19-2021 at 11:17 AM. |
05-22-2021, 07:04 PM | #20 | |
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Re: Radios
Quote:
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