Found a nice Atwater Kent type H chassis & cabinet- PICS
 

I couldn't pass up the big estate auction they had here in southern MN today. There was a lot of junky stuff but a few things sure were nice.

Does anyone have any info on this Superheterodyne radio? It says type H on the chassis but that is all I know about it.

They said they had it pluged in and working earlier in the day but am not sure if it has been worked on lately or not. I will have to take the bottom off the chassis to see what it looks like.

It looks like he did some type of modification on one of the socket tubes but otherwise looks very nice. They fixed a small tear in the speaker cone but did a very nice job with the repair. The only other flaw I can see is the dial has a few cracks in it most likely from age.

There was a lady nice enough to tell me the speaker is just hooked in the back of the cabinet. She said she had sold one like this and when the guy went to lay it on its side the speaker fell out and landed on the guys bare toe. I guess he must have been wearing sandals. Ouch!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/...40790c1e_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/...944d448f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/...13ef2f21_b.jpg

Woah !! That's Bee-Yoo-Tee-Full !! Atwater Kent went out of business in 1936, superhet sets came in around 1928-29, so that oughta give you an idea..

I second that! That thing looks mint! Awesome find!

Thats a beauty!!

Wow I didn't realize it was that old.

I even got a photocopy of the manual. Now looking at that it says type H-2, No. 16500, Super-Heterodyne Chassis. Model 72.

You found something like a pre-war Mercedes-Benz, IMHO. Congratulations!

I wouldn't be surprised if it has a couple "balloon" tubes in it-Just may be old enuff to have had them from the factory...

Very Nice... AK's are very desirable and that look like a mint example. Someone put a lot of work into it. Those chassis don't survive 70+ years that clean, its been restored. The RCA tube is not correct. The restorer used an equivilent in place of the original type 80 rectifier with a diferent base.

Very Very nice, Atwater Kents first superheterodyne.

Here are the schematics
http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/458/M0001458.htm

Steve

Yes the originals would have been globed. But they've all been replaced. Too bad as it would have had Globed 45s on the output. The ST 45's there are nothing to sneeze at.

Steve

Are you sure it was a 80? This looks like a 5U4GB, which would be a direct sub
(except for the different base) for a 5Z3. With all those tubes and a push-pull
output, I guess this radio needs a lot of power.

Here is the modfied base of the RCA tube.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/...e357e62452.jpg

that is a BEAUTIFUL radio. . ..

looks like the old owner just used an adapter socket for the 80 --> 5U4 :scratch2:

keep your eyes peeled . . . I've scored a NUMBER of beat to hell late 20's and early 30's consoles for short money (under $30) that coughed up some yummy globe 80's and 45's . . . it'd be cool to return it to 'stock'

To be totally honest though, I doubt you'd notice the difference in that circuit . . . just bring it up slow on a variac and enjoy !

I've never seen a Atwater chassis that clean before . .. cabinet looks to be refinished, (color's off) but it sure looks slick . . .

WAY TO GO :thmbsp:

I guess I don't mind if it has been refinished or not. The only thing is the top of the cabinet is slightly faded on the left side. They must have had something sitting on it.

Even though they said they had it working today I'm a little leary plugging it in and turning it on. I was the same way even after I got my Fisher rebuilt.

I could be wrong but I do not think the RETMA numbered rectifier tubes were available or in common use when this radio was built (around 1930) it would have used a type 80. The 80 is equivilent to a 5y3 not the 5u4/5z3 tubes. If that is a 5u4GB in the I would not use it. The 80 has a 2 amp filament whereas the 5u4 has a 3 amp filament.

I would cough up a few dollars to put the correct 80 back in there if you plan on using else the tranny might run hot and be damaged. (if there is a 5u4 in the there).

Steve

[QUOTE=DENNYDOG;2133583]Here is the modfied base of the RCA tube.

cool . . . looks like a DIY adapter :scratch2:

if you can, take a peek at the underside of that rectifier base . . . chances are, it's the stock 4 pin socket . . .

if so, it should be easy enough to score a (correct) 80 for the chassis . . .

I can look at the manual I got with it as it doesn't state the tube type on the chassis.

I took the tube out but cannot tell if it is a 2 or 3 filament as I don't know what I am looking at. I could post a pic.

EDIT: I just unpluged the socket and it is the same 4 pin as the others. No writing on the tube either. Just RCA and DB on the base.

Looks like Jim at vacuum tubes inc has new st 80's for $20. He may have some used good ones as well for less just shoot him an email.

http://www.vacuumtubesinc.com/new4.html

If you don't have a variac you can put a light bulb in series with the line cord to protect against shorts and power her up.

Steve

Would that be like a preamp tube where I don't have to adjust the bias? (I'm still learning.)

Yes.. just plug it in and your good to go. You don't need to worry about adjusting the bias on anything in this radio.

Steve

Steve, thank you very much!

I wonder why he didn't put the same type tube back in? Maybe he couldn't find one so he substituted this one.

Denny

He probably had a 5u4 and didn't have an 80. May have even been a temporary fix and he just never got around to putting the correct tube in there. Most radio collectors have tons of radios and most of them never get played. After all what is there to listen to on AM these days :)

Steve

Boy, ain't THAT th' truth ! (grin)

The only thing I can think of is Twins baseball. Nothing like listening to a good ballgame on the radio. :yes:

there is Tom Leykis on am

Sorry to be OT but there is also Coast to Coast AM w/George Noory. I wish Art Bell would not have retired though, that is when I would stay up all night listening. I love AM radio, this area actually has 50s and 60s rock and other music as well as good news stations.

I miss Art Bell too.

Really nice looking set. AK built them like tanks, which is why they went out during the depression. Old Mr. Atwater didn't want to compromise on the quality so he just closed the doors.

Since you have the chassis out, look underneath and see if there are any modern capacitors under there. If it has been recapped, it should be good to go. If it has ancient looking caps, you should recap it before using it.

Schematic and parts list:

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/042/T0000042.htm

See "Chassis H-1"

Identify your cabinet and model by matching photos:

http://radioatticarchives.com/

The Nostalgia Air schematic is from a Model 72, so you might start with that. I have a 55 and a 60-C in a Kiel table. The 60 has all its original balloon Cunninghams including the 45s.

[Edit] Here's one more good reference site for AK information:

http://www.atwaterkentradio.com/

You might want to post in Barter Town or the classifieds for an 80, maybe someone would send you a used one for 10 bucks.

Nice!

That's one really sweet set. I've never seen an AK anything like it.

Can you give us an idea of what you had to pay for this beauty?

Dennydog,

Your Atwater Kent is absolutely beautiful.:thmbsp:

I had a model 55C (1929) model which I gave to my brother who restored it. I am sure yours uses a type 80 rectifier tube.

For your reference you may wish to check out this website. I didn't see model 72 listed, but model 70 looks identical to yours. According to the website, your's was built in 1930.

http://www.atwaterkentradio.com/

Damn, that thing is gorgeous inside and out!

I don't know how I missed this one earlier on but wow that is a beauty! Great find!

Beautiful find there! :thmbsp: Looks like a pretty good restoration job was done on it (except for the substituted tube...). Love to see the construction quality on these pre-war radios. Just wonderful!

I think Denny got it for chump change - less than a Grant.

My area, 35 miles east of Cleveland, has no AM music stations (except Radio Disney and a local black gospel station that sounds terrible); all the music stations are on FM, as they are in most cities. However, I can hear a few AM music stations from out of town during daylight, and more yet when the band opens up after sundown.

WSM in Nashville is one station that has been playing music since its inception some 70+ years ago; I'm sure they would put up a heck of a fight before they would even think of dropping their country format for talk.

Wow! What a nice radio! Congrats are in order. Clean, too--that one has potential!

Very nice radio! :thmbsp:

I worked on one identical to that one back in 1980 for my then boss. Went through it and did a recap and alignment. He howled at the time spent and the parts cost, but had to admit afterwards that it was worth it.

Despite his once being my boss, and one day in '82 our shouting match, culminating in my telling him to get stuffed and then walking out, we've remained friends.

I was at his place just a few months ago to hook up a large screen monitor for him. He pointed out the old Atwater in his parlor as we were going by it and asked, "Do you remember that?" "Yep." I said. "Still works great!" he said. Although he had to admit there is not much to listen to on AM these days except jibber-jabber.

Those old sets were built to last forever.

It looks very similar but the cabinet is slightly different. I'm not sure if they go by the chassis's or the cabinets. I would have to probably say each model has a slightly different chassis.

I still need to find myself a 80 rectifier tube.

I haven't wanted to plug it in yet until I replace the tube with the correct one. It is now in its new home in my kitchen.

Even if I don't listen to a whole lot of AM I am still glad I bought it. It looks like they built these to last several lifetimes!