The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench 1950 - 53 stock am 6v radio question

Purchased an AM radio off Ebay a year or so ago. The individual told me it came out of his 53 pickup that he purchased new. He said he tested the radio and it hummed or vibrated. He said although the push buttons were operable and will move the tuner indicator, the tuner rotary switch would not. Switch will rotate but indicator does not move. From what I understand in reading some of your tech tips the rotary tuner switch assembly may be frozen or dry. Is there a way to loosen or work some lube into that assembly to correct this? The radio is in really good looking condition and its still 6volt. I purchased a converter and have been too busy to try this unit under power up to this point. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

The radio that is for a 1953 GMC or Chevrolet truck is quite distinctive. There are two models that look similar that will fit the truck. Can you post a photo or the model number?

Generally speaking the paper or wax covered and the electrolytics ones which are in a can, need to be replaced. The vibrator should be replaced also along with the associated capacitor. There is no string in that radio for the tuning mechanism. What you are describing is likely slippage in the clutch that is used in the rotary control. When you push on a button, a clutch is disengaged so that the button can move the tuner. After the button is released, the is engaged again for rotary control. The rubber inside the clutch goes hard and fails to provide proper friction. I replace the clutch disc with one made from yellow rubber kitchen gloves.

I have helped some members rebuild their radios using Emil and private messages and I would be happy to help you too if you desire to do that. They are a nice performing radio when they are restored.

I have had digital AM available in both my present modern car and the one before it. So far there is no content to tune into. I personally think that it will be a long time before analog AM goes away. When I tune into the AM band late at night, there are so many stations available that some seem to be overlapping.

A big shout out to Truckernix for his Outstanding Technical Expertise, Guidance and Patience in helping me get my original 1950 - 53 Chevy Truck am radio up and running. I could have never accomplished any of this without his help. Trouble shooting confirmed a bad Buffer Condenser, Vibrator Tube, 6SA7 Oscillator tube. Replaced the rest of the tubes out of caution. Inspected the remaining wax capacitors. Will be replacing the all of them soon out of caution. Push buttons for the tuner worked fine but experienced a problem with the manual tuner knob indicator not moving due to the finding debris between the rubber surface and plate of the tuner assembly, cleaned both surfaces with alcohol, retightened set screws to restore. The speaker was in really bad shape and almost impossible to find a speaker that would fit this unit. Sent the speaker off to have it rebuilt and reconed. Decided to leave this radio original 6v by utilizing a 12v to 6v voltage reducer.
Truckernix is very knowledgeable and a real asset to the site, willing to share his vast experience others. Thanks Fred.

Thank you and I really enjoyed working with you on the radio. It is always rewarding for me to see success in the end!

Fred

kahoys,

"Truckernix is very knowledgeable and a real asset to the site, willing to share his vast experience others. Thanks Fred."

We couldn't agree with you more!

And thanks *very much* for making a donation to the site, as a expression of your appreciation for Fred's help!! MANY Stovebolters thank you for that.

I think I’m within my rights to ask this question since truckernix raised the topic in a post here.

I keep hearing that AM radio is going digital. I assume that a 1950s analog radio cannot receive a digital signal. (Big assumption here, I know nothing about radio signals)

Is it also fair to assume that converting a 1950s radio (like from my 1951 truck) to receive a digital signal….would involve major surgery? If it’s possible at all?

So there is nothing about those radios that could be used other than the fact that it has styling that will never be repeated these days! My last two modern day vehicles and my present one have had and has digital AM capabilities. To this point I am not aware of anything being broadcast where I live. I saw something to the affect that they were going to make it available for emergency use like road closures etc. So I am guessing it will be a long time before the analog disappears.

They did go digital but few AM broadcasters are reluctant to do anything with it since most everyone is either on FM or streaming. The range of an HD AM signal is not compromised as the digital signal is transmitted on the same frequency as the original channel. However, your radio has to have the ability to pick the HD signal out of the AM signal.