1937 Philco 1440

[KJ714]

Does anyone know how to hook one up to a 6v battery on the bench to see if it works?

Are there any good sources for parts today? Antenna or speaker?

I have the correct radio head for it.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by KJ714

Does anyone know how to hook one up to a 6v battery on the bench to see if it works?

Are there any good sources for parts today? Antenna or speaker?

I have the correct radio head for it.

[jimTN]

6v battery, hook positive to radio case, negative to lead that is not a shelded wire. Turn on with head hooked to it. Fixed magnet speakers will work fine. Do not remember if connection on antenna is a sword connection like later models or a twist connection. Antennas were originally above the windshield on closed cars and have been available from the vendors as a kit.

[Terry,OH]

voltage source and antenna connect the head cables and wires. If there is a remote speaker it too has to be installed. I believe Dennis Carpenter may have reproduced the antenna

[Zeke3]

Besides the on/off switch that is in the control head there is also a toggle switch that is mounted in the glove box to prevent unauthorized use of the radio. The toggle switch is part of the original wiring harness for the radio.

[Anteek29]

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Originally Posted by Zeke3

Besides the on/off switch that is in the control head there is also a toggle switch that is mounted in the glove box to prevent unauthorized use of the radio. The toggle switch is part of the original wiring harness for the radio.

Unauthorized use of the radio? Meant to keep the kids from playing the radio and running the battery down?

[Kurt in NJ]

The speaker would have electric magnet that is part of the radio power supply circuit, to use a modern speaker that circuit has to be modified

[Kurt in NJ]

Take the other cover off it might have the radio schematic showing the speaker connections

[Pete]

Try Sam's Photofacts. If they don't have info, sometimes they can get it for you.

[Kurt in NJ]

https://www.tubesandmore.com/sites/d...ford_pg8-1.png

[drolston]

You can find replacements for all of the vacuum tubes. However, there is a pretty good chance that most of the capacitors have gone bad and will need to be replaced. Finding replacements with the proper capacitance will be challenging, and replacing them in the circuits is best left to someone who specializes in repair of old radios.

[terry]

For what it's worth, i have an old 35-36 radio that includes the original speaker. It's all been in my basement for quite a while. As has been mentioned, it can be quite a task to get these things working again. I don't know if the same speaker, however, was used in the 37 Fords. terry

[TonyM]

Here is a photo of the glove box radio switch on 1937 Ford.

This appears to be a factory install.
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[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by TonyM

Here is a photo of the glove box radio switch on 1937 Ford.

This appears to be a factory install.
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[KJ714]

Great stuff! It's a neat old piece, I'm going to give it a chance to get going