p15 radio speaker

[Young Ed]

Yesterday was the March meeting of our POC chapter. Got good news that my radio is almost done being restored and I will get to pick it up at the april meeting. So now I need either a source for a new speaker or to have the old one restored. Anyone had this done? Does one sound better over the other? I would think a new speaker is cheaper but I wonder if you lose the vintage sound that way? While we're at it I might need a good source for an antenae too.

[Norm's Coupe]

Ed,

Whether you use a modern speaker or a good used one, the radio is not going to sound any better than it's output. So.........don't think it really matters which speaker you use as long as its a good one.

For an antenna, you might check out this place.

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Antenna-Xperts

If you don't see what you need on their ebay listings, go to their web site and/or contact them.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Impedance matched..?

[BobT-47P15]

The original speakers have the coil on the outside of the thing,

with a 3 prong plug.....but I can't think of the term right now.

The new speakers do not have that. But people say they work

OK anyway. A very old speaker would probably need re-coning.

[DonaldSmith]

The didn't have the permanent magnet technology that we have today.

The big, heavy thing at the back of the speaker is an electromagnet, powered by the car's 6 volt battery. Modern speakers have permanent magnets so they don't need that third wire. I took a speaker out of an old stereo set the kids left here. It works without the 6 volt power.

[Young Ed]

Not reaching much of a consensus here......

[Norm's Coupe]

Ed,

That could be because none of us thinks it will make a difference. After all, we are talking about hooking the speaker up to an antique radio. A modern speaker probably won't make any difference as to the sound you get out of it. The sound is only as good as the quality of the radio.

[Young Ed]

But the reverse is also true. You can hook a bad speaker to the best sounding radio ever made and still get poor sound.

[james curl]

I have been told by knowledgeable people that tube type amplifiers produce superior sound quality. That is why good quality, old tube type ,stereo equipment and amps for musical instruments are in big demand or so I have been told.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Ed,

Ed griffin gave a company name in Florida who does speaker re-cone work...

Antique Automobile Radio, Inc.

700 Tampa Rd.

Palm Harbor, FL. 34683

# 800-933-4926

Bob

[daddyo23]

Tube amps give a warmer sound. One of the big reasons the old amps are in demand, mainly for Blues musicians, is the old speakers. I have an old Silvertone amp I use when playing harp that has an old 10" speaker. They have very small magnets on them which makes it real easy to overdrive them. That's how you get that "dirty" sound. If I were you, Ed, I'd pick up a decent new speaker. With the road noise and everything else, you'll probably have the radio cranked abit. The bigger magnet will help give you a clearer sound. Wayne P.

[55 Fargo]

Just a question for you guys, especially in the more populated areas. How many AM radio stations that play 50s, 60,70s music do you have. We have 2 such stations here, nice to listen to when you drive these old cars, there are many other AM stations but there not that interesting.........Fred

[Young Ed]

Fred we have the true oldies channel. However they only broadcast during daylight I even listen to them online at times. www.trueoldieschannel.com

[martybose]

When I very cleverly put a screwdriver throught the cone of my original speaker, I just went down to Radio Shack and bought a speaker from them and wired it up to the original connector; worked just fine.

Marty