Another option would be XM sattelite radio. It is said that this can be hooked
up to any radio or buy a newer radio with this feature built in. There is a
$9.99 a month charge for the programming, but it offers 100 stations of all
types of programing, much of it totally commercial free. It is said that you
could drive from New York to Los Angeles & keep the same station the entire
trip, crystal clear all the way. The one disadvantage with this is that you need
an antenna to receive the signal, telling a potential thief that you have one of
these systems on board.
John
Henry Hopkins wrote:
> Had that done on my 62 Imperial radio when I had the AM radio fixed. Lasted
> for about a year. It does work. You turn th AM off for about 5 seconds and
> look for a little red dot on the left of the dial. Then turn back on and,
> voila, FM!!! Or maybe it's the other way around.
>
> Alas, the FM quality is only fair and the tuning dial needs to be adjusted
> fairly often as the station setting wanders. That was my experience. On
> the whole, not very satisfactory. From now on, I leave the AM alone, haul
> my portable from car to car, or install a hang-on modern radio in an
> inconspicuous place.
>
> My two cents, Henry, Berkeley, CA
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Anthony Foster <monkeypuzzle1@xxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 1:42 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: Stereos in old cars.... a challenge
>
> > Thad;
> > There is an after market circuit that you can buy that that will add F.M
> to
> > an A.M only tube radio. It is a small circuit board that is installed
> inside
> > of the radio's cabinet and wired into the set leaving the original tube
> > circuitry intact. Apparently to switch over to F.M operation you turn the
> > set off briefly and then on again. I wish that I had the plans to build
> one
> > but I am already trying to figure out a substitute for the vibrator.
> > With regards to getting that warm tube sound all that you need is a tube
> > operated pre-amp before the final output if you wanted to use newer
> > equipment. You could install a completely tube amplifier system, and some
> > do, but the pre amp stage is the part that will have the biggest impact.
> > There was an artical that I read on a website someplace where they had
> > conducted the experiments and proved that this was the case. This is not
> to
> > say that a pair of 6L6 tubes, in push pull configuration, would not have
> an
> > impact on sound quality; but it doesn't have as much as a 12AX7, 6SQ7, or
> > some other type as a pre amp.
> > The easiest way to get the tube sound would be to patch the C.D player
> into
> > the amplifier of the original radio but since both of your cars have solid
> > state recievers in them this isn't much help. I couldn't tell you where
> you
> > could find a new tube pre-amp as I have no reason to buy one, for obvious
> > reasons, but I am sure that a good quality audio store could give you an
> > answer. By the way a Fender amp would no be a good choice for an audio
> > system as it is designed for a guitar pickup not a C.D player output, the
> > circuitry is different.
> > Best Regards
> > arran Foster
> > 1954 Imperial Newport
> > Needing A left Side Taillight Bezel and other trim parts.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Gentry's Garage" <gentrysgarage@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 6:13 AM
> > Subject: Re: IML: Stereos in old cars.... a challenge
> >
> >
> > > I have a "bench racing" challenge for you guys and esp. Arran (as he is
> > into
> > > tube radios). We know that tubes give a warm mellow tone to music (I
> have
> > an
> > > old Zenith AM/FM in the garage!). What would you do keeping 12 Volts,
> > modern
> > > speakers and CD to get FM stereo amplified? Adapt an old Fender Amp in
> the
> > > trunk? What would you use as the FM head unit a Wonderbar? Again this is
> > > just musing at this point (I am still working on the purple interior!)
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Thad
> > > 1965 Imperial silver/purple
> > > 1965 Chrysler Californian wagon
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Anthony Foster" <monkeypuzzle1@xxxxxxx>
> > > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2002 8:59 PM
> > > Subject: IML: Stereos in old cars
> > >
> > >
> > > > Allan;
> > > > I doubt whether a new stereo unit would draw as much current as the
> old
> > > > tube radios that came with these cars. Some of the old tube car radios
> > > drew
> > > > as much as 8 amps especially if they had an electrodynamic speaker. As
> a
> > > > matter of fact, just like the headlights, you wouldn't want to run the
> > > radio
> > > > too long with the engine off. The irony is that as charging systems
> > > improved
> > > > in cars the current draw from the radios went down at the same time.
> > > > It has always been my belief that part of the experience of using an
> > old
> > > > car is using all of the old technology that came with it. From my
> point
> > of
> > > > view that includes listening to the original radios with the original
> > > > circuitry as well. Of course I was into the old radio hobby before I
> was
> > > > into old cars so there is a certain appeal for me in repairing the
> > > original
> > > > radio and doing this. Some may not agree with me on this point but I
> > don't
> > > > think that is any reason for gutting the original workings of the tube
> > > > radio.
> > > > A more practical method is to leave the original radio alone and
> > install
> > > a
> > > > newer unit in the glove box or something. If someone wants a more
> modern
> > > > sound system in their car your way is a good method of installing one
> in
> > a
> > > > non invasive manner. Another, which I like, is to install the
> amplifier
> >
> > > and
> > > > other equipment in the trunk where there is lots of inconspicuous
> space
> > > and
> > > > easy access. There are newer systems where you can do this and operate
> > > > everything by remote control by installing a sensor on the firewall
> just
> > > > below the dash. Not only does the car look original but you don't have
> > to
> > > > worry about someone helping themselves to your C.D player.
> > > > Best Regards
> > > > Arran Foster
> > > > 1954 Imperial Newport
> > > > Needing A Left Side Taillight Bezel and other trim parts.
> > >
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------------
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> > > Only $9.95 per month!
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> > >
> > >
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