You never know what you'll find in an old Plymouth...

[David Maxwell]

...goes by stearman_325 on this forum. Yes, he makes everything you see in the pic and is adding to that. He recently made molds for the assist strap buttons and cowl vent knob. He will soon have the ash tray knobs for both the four door and coupes. He might be making the hood release as well, but I'm not sure. I am sending him some original ash tray knobs to make molds from.

David, who is Kevin and does he make repo knobs like in the picture?

[BobT-47P15]

He seems to prefer to sell those items on ebay, has been my observation.

Don't know if he will sell direct.

[Norm's Coupe]

He seems to prefer to sell those items on ebay, has been my observation.

Don't know if he will sell direct.

There seems to be a few people like that selling old car parts. I cannot understand why those people won't sell things direct, especially when selling the same items all the time. All that does is add to his selling cost, and then that gets added to the buyers price. I will usually avoid people that won't sell direct.

[pflaming]

At first I thought you might be talking about the back seat! But then you are not from Texas!

[Captain Neon]

There's something to be said for selling through PayPal-only to guarantee that one gets paid. It's also a good way to make credit card sales.

Nowadays it is pretty risky taking a checque unless you already have a business relationship with some one. Most people want things fast and get annoyed (or insulted) if some one waits to ship until a checque clears.

Also, it is a hassle to run down to the bancque or post office to cash a checque or money order. Through PayPal, one gets clear funds and it is deposited directly into a bancque account.

[Captain Neon]

Does any one have any pictures of a '38 Plymouth's installed rear seat speaker package? I am curious what it looks like and if I can do something similar in my P15. I've got a speaker on the package shelf, but was thinking that I might mount something in back of the front seat if I could see how Plymouth did it before.

[Don Coatney]

Since we are talking radios, I thought that I'd

mention that I installed my AM/FM/aux converted 802 today and it works

better than I dreamed. My wife is so happy now that the radio that I had

setting in an ammo can on the floor is now out of the way. Now my P15

looks less ghetto!

http://www.turnswitch.com

Interesting conversion. Does it still have the distinctive vacuum tube sound?

Looks like there is enough room left in the radio case after the conversion to

store a 6-pack.

[radioguy7]

Blasphamy pure blasphamy!!

I can almost hear that old radio screaming when it's guts were torn out and discarded like so much useless junk. Old radio's were meant to live on, not die some horrible mutilated death. restore those old sets guys, if you want FM then add an FM converter to your glove box!! An original working radio in your car only adds value, and nostalgia.

[Captain Neon]

Interesting conversion. Does it still have the distinctive vacuum tube sound?

Looks like there is enough room left in the radio case after the conversion to

store a 6-pack.

No more adjusting the tuner after every turn, and no more annoying snap crackle and pop. The unit is much lighter after conversion. I was able to hold it in place with one hand and get a much better fit than I had with the heavier tube radio.

Now if some one would make an aftermarket radio that fit into our dash like just about everyone else has available, one wouldn't need to find a basket case radio and convert it for AM/FM/aux.

[radioguy7]

No more adjusting the tuner after every turn, and no more annoying snap crackle and pop. The unit is much lighter after conversion. I was able to hold it in place with one hand and get a much better fit than I had with the heavier tube radio.

Now if some one would make an aftermarket radio that fit into our dash like just about everyone else has available, one wouldn't need to find a basket case radio and convert it for AM/FM/aux.

No more adjusting the tuner after every turn, Gotta love it

no more annoying snap crackle and pop Lets you know the radio is still on and working and has a heart beat!!

I was able to hold it in place with one hand and get a much better fit than I had with the heavier tube radio.

If ever in a wind storm, the extra weight will keep your car planted firmly on the ground!! And, if you don't like old technology then why do you want to drive an old car?? Just run out and buy a PT cruiser, then you will have lots of light stuff to work on!!

[Don Coatney]

No more adjusting the tuner after every turn, Gotta love it

no more annoying snap crackle and pop Lets you know the radio is still on and working and has a heart beat!!

I was able to hold it in place with one hand and get a much better fit than I had with the heavier tube radio.

If ever in a wind storm, the extra weight will keep your car planted firmly on the ground!! And, if you don't like old technology then why do you want to drive an old car?? Just run out and buy a PT cruiser, then you will have lots of light stuff to work on!!

As a radioguy I must assume you know a bit about the invention of the transistor and the first transistor radio that was ever made.

[Reg Evans]

Speaking of transistor radios. I have one of these in my 58 Sweptside pickup.

Radioguy7......can you repair these ? If so what's a ballpark price ?

[radioguy7]

As a radioguy I must assume you know a bit about the invention of the transistor and the first transistor radio that was ever made.

Sure do, how many do you want to buy?? I have a box of about 50 pocket sized transistor radios and oh about 25 portable shortwave sets. I've been collecting and restoring antique tube radios, TV's, shortwave recievers, victrola's, record players and even some old wire recorders for about 12 years now. Along the way you learn to respect how well these old sets were made and the care that went into building them. Not like the throw away crap you find today, all made in china.

[Don Coatney]

Sure do, how many do you want to buy?? I have a box of about 50 pocket sized transistor radios and oh about 25 portable shortwave sets. I've been collecting and restoring antique tube radios, TV's, shortwave recievers, victrola's, record players and even some old wire recorders for about 12 years now. Along the way you learn to respect how well these old sets were made and the care that went into building them. Not like the throw away crap you find today, all made in china.

What can you tell me about the very first battery powered pocket sized transistor radio. Do you have one?

[Plymouthy Adams]

Dad carried home a very early Arvin radio, seven transistor, want to say that was 1960, their 4th year in production...that thing was built like a tank..don't know whatever happened to it..but I want to think it got left on the beach in Charleston one trip behind a sand dune at the Sanddollar beach of I.O.P.'s

[Norm's Coupe]

Sure do, how many do you want to buy?? I have a box of about 50 pocket sized transistor radios and oh about 25 portable shortwave sets. I've been collecting and restoring antique tube radios, TV's, shortwave recievers, victrola's, record players and even some old wire recorders for about 12 years now. Along the way you learn to respect how well these old sets were made and the care that went into building them. Not like the throw away crap you find today, all made in china.

If you like old "Real Originals", this is probably as close as you'll get to one. My wife's uncle owned it since new prior to his passing away. When we got it, it back in 94 it had that many years of furniture polish on it, a sticker plastered on the front from some radio repair shop, missing one or two tubes and the power cord had been cut. The finish you are looking at is all original. The new wires that were put on are reproduction cloth braided wire and the radio workings are still all original, and I had it repaired so it plays just like new. The speaker is also original. The speaker cloth is new reproduction to match the original material and pattern. It only ran about

$150 to repair the radio itself by a radio shop, and I did the cleaning up and replaced the speaker cloth. The radio was made in 1937. Was this radio worth fixing. Well.........yes and no. Was worth it because my grandparents had one like it and this belonged to my wife's uncle. So, in this case it was worth it simply due to family nostalgia. Was it worth it to listen to it play. No. It does play nice but we only turn it on for about an hour or so a couple of times a year. Not really worth all that trouble just for that small amount of playing time.

Now, would I have my P15 radio repaired like I did the Philco. There's no way I'll waste the amount of money the old car radio people charge to repair them. Especially, after seeing the low cost of having the Philco restored. So........my P15 radio sits in a drawer in my workshop, where it will stay until I sell my coupe someday. Then it will go with the coupe.

If you are into old radios, I'm sure you do know that some old radio's have to be destroyed, simply to get parts for another one. Just like we do for the old cars.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Norm..still have not even plugged in that 1941 Philco I bought...been waaaaay too busy...I got it mainly for the beautiful cabinet, it is in great shape

[Norm's Coupe]

Tim,

I'd plug that thing in just to see if it works. You will have to wait a little for it to warm up before it plays though. You'll also need an antenna to get any stations on it. Temporarily just use some bell wire hooked to the antenna screws on the back. Then hold the wires up in the air about 6 or 7 feet high. That was my antenna for years. Had the wires running along the baseboard and up the side of the door molding to the top of it in that room. A few years ago we bought a new CD/Stereo and I took the antenna from the old modern stereo and used it. It's a small plastic one that sits on top of the radio now. It's not in the picture I posted because the picture was taken not long after I restored the radio. You also have to turn the station selector real slow. If you get a lot of static keep working the knobs. The radio guy that fixed mine said they get dirty from sitting around and working them will clean them and help get rid of static.

[woodscavenger]

I like the radio in the headliner. I was thinking of doing the exact same thing with my truck.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Norm..this radio has one super nice antennea that is connect and runs the entire perimeter of the cabinet..I am still working on the remodel..doing the 9-5..few trips out of town thrown in..taking its toll on my time..

[radioguy7]

What can you tell me about the very first battery powered pocket sized transistor radio. Do you have one?

The very first?? wish I did, would be worth a mint, they were actually around since the 1940's but not very pratical and only experimental, the old tube sets still outperformed them. Wasn't until the early 50's that the first practical mass produced transistor radio came out. Basically the earlier the radio you have the more it's worth, and condition is everything too.

[radioguy7]

Speaking of transistor radios. I have one of these in my 58 Sweptside pickup.

Radioguy7......can you repair these ? If so what's a ballpark price ?

Tube radio's are my thing really, but let me ask a few guys I know to see who they recommend.

[busycoupe]

Tim, if you do want to restore that radio you may not want to just plug it in to see if it works. Check with radioguy, but from my experience with tube jukebox amps I would recommend not turning it on if it hasn't played for years. The old capacitors in these sets decay over time. If the filter capacitors are shorted then you can burn out the output transformer in minutes. It would be better to have the capacitors replaced and the rest of the set checked before plugging it in.

[radioguy7]

Tim' date='

I'd plug that thing in just to see if it works. You will have to wait a little for it to warm up before it plays though. You'll also need an antenna to get any stations on it. Temporarily just use some bell wire hooked to the antenna screws on the back. Then hold the wires up in the air about 6 or 7 feet high. That was my antenna for years. Had the wires running along the baseboard and up the side of the door molding to the top of it in that room. A few years ago we bought a new CD/Stereo and I took the antenna from the old modern stereo and used it. It's a small plastic one that sits on top of the radio now. It's not in the picture I posted because the picture was taken not long after I restored the radio. You also have to turn the station selector real slow. If you get a lot of static keep working the knobs. The radio guy that fixed mine said they get dirty from sitting around and working them will clean them and help get rid of static.[/quote']

Norm, no radio HAS to be destroyed to fix another, only sets in declined condition are classified as "Parts sets" and are stripped for parts. I have 7 console model radio's like you have Norm and I play them all regularly. If you don't they will get finicky on you like you stated and start getting all scratchy and staticky from non use. I listen to many talk radio shows and as well as our local AM station for sports broadcasts. The use of a wire antenna is a must to pick up any long distance stations. I also use an AM transmitter connected to either a cd player or cassette deck to broadcast the old radio shows thru them. Nothing like sitting there at night with the lights low listening to Jack Benny. Btw Norm, that's a gorgeous Philco and your repair price was bargain basement pricing, it's far more costly now, at least around here.

[Norm's Coupe]

Norm, no radio HAS to be destroyed to fix another, only sets in declined condition are classified as "Parts sets" and are stripped for parts. I have 7 console model radio's like you have Norm and I play them all regularly. If you don't they will get finicky on you like you stated and start getting all scratchy and staticky from non use. I listen to many talk radio shows and as well as our local AM station for sports broadcasts. The use of a wire antenna is a must to pick up any long distance stations. I also use an AM transmitter connected to either a cd player or cassette deck to broadcast the old radio shows thru them. Nothing like sitting there at night with the lights low listening to Jack Benny. Btw Norm, that's a gorgeous Philco and your repair price was bargain basement pricing, it's far more costly now, at least around here.

Thanks for the compliment on the radio. Actually, probably the real reason we don't play it that much is because we don't play any radio much. If we're lucky, maybe the radio in the kitchen will get turned on about once or twice a month, if that. I can't even begin to guess the last time I listed to a radio in the car, or a CD player. Christmas is probably when we play the most music. But.......we play our own CD's for the most part then and still don't listen to much radio.

As for the cost on my radio repair. Yes that was cheap, even back then when I had the work done. Back then the shop was a one person shop, who also loved old radios. He also did work for factories. Met the guy in the lobby of a plant one day while we were both waiting for our contacts to come get us out of the lobby. He said he'd rather work on an old one like mine than a modern one because it was fun. So........he didn't charge me his regular rates. In his store, he had several old radios in the show window too that he had repaired and were for sale. He's since expanded and moved though and opened up a more technical operation for industry computer controlled equipment. He was just getting into that type of stuff when I met him in that lobby. Guess I got lucky that time.