Airchief radio question

[Rabbitoh]

When installed, my radio continually shows a tiny red light in the top left hand corner of the dial face. Have I got the power wire connected to the wrong terminal of the light switch? (I thought I correctly followed the wriring diagram in the workshop manual)

[RET]

Is this the foot-operated job you mentioned previously?  Because most of the regular A/C radios have only a regular dashboard globe in the bottom right corner under the bakelite face.

cheers
RET

[Rabbitoh]

No RET it's the standard one (as far as my restorer (Nostalgic Wireless Co.) reckons??).

[mcl1959]

You need switched live rather than constant live.  Nothing on the light switch is switched, you need to hook up to the back of the ignition switch.

Ken

[Rabbitoh]

Thanks Ken, I thought that was the case but the manual definately shows hook up to a light switch terminal -go figure.

[mcl1959]

Is it a "Diamond Dot" FC radio or an FE or early FC radio?
All the FE and early FC radios that I have seen dont have a power light in them so that they can be connected to permanent live.
Diamond dot radios have a power light and I think the installation instructions were reviewed to suit this model.

Maybe Nostalgic radios put the power light in themselves.

Ken

[Rabbitoh]

Thanks Ken,
From the outside, looks like a standard Airchief to me. Has a large superstructure (valves, various metal boxes etc. mounted on top of main body) though?
Maybe right about Nostalgic putting a power light in.
How do you pick a Diamond Dot?

[RET]

"Diamond Dot" is the name for semi-transistorised A/C Radios, introduced in 1959.  These replaced some (but not all) of the valves from the older style, and did away with the 'vibrator' component (which was a fairly crude DC-to-AC converter). It's identified by a small jewel set in a bezel on the right hand side (hence the name).

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Note star on the lower two pics

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See this page for a bit more detail.

cheers
RET

[Johns]

Hi Fellas.

My wagon has an HMV "Airchief" radio,. but it looks like an accessory. Does anyone know more about it?



Sorry to hijack the thread.

Cheers
John

[craiga]

Hi John,

Yep, I know something about it ;-)

This radio was definitely fitted from new, as told to me by the original owners wife. The radio wasn't working when I got it, and was quite rusty on the external case. A couple of new capacitors and resoldering and it goes, but still not that great in the amplifier area. I think it needs all the caps replaced - very common for the electrolyte to dry out over time. Either that or one of the valves is on its way out.

It would be interesting to hear if anyone knows more about this radio.

Cheers,

Craig

[COL58FE]

my fe has this type of air cheif radio
in it,a orangey/red light come's on
only when it is switched on if it help's.
http://www.fefcholden.org.au/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=album;action=display;num=1123727979