Stromberg Carlson

[Chad Hauris]

My plan of action is always to replace all caps and check bad wiring, and make sure a fuse is installed in the power line. You can then play it 10 hours a day in 100 degree heat if you wanted to and it will keep on going...and if there is something like a short in a tube the fuse will save the power transformer.

[Phil Nelson]

I agree, do yourself a favor and replace the capacitors:

http://antiqueradio.org/recap.htm

The green "magic eye" tuning indicator might have a weak tube, but I wouldn't waste money replacing it until you finish replacing the capacitors. The magic eye is typically driven off the AVC line, which may not work correctly while the radio is fully of leaky capacitors.

Also note -- in many cases you will find a tiny 1-megohm resistor hidden inside the eye tube socket. These resistors often drift in value, degrading the performance of the eye.

Good score. I like Stromberg Carlsons. Usually built like a tank!

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[hausman]

Good score. I like Stromberg Carlsons. Usually built like a tank!

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html[/QUOTE]

Thanks Phil, BTW I went to your web site and got alot of good info. before and after I picked up the console Thanks, Phil

[wa2ise]

It's possible to build an FM broadcast band downconverter to get FM stations from part of the 100MHz modern FM band converted to the 42 to 50Mhz range this set will tune. The FM preemphasis and deviation of the modern 100MHz band is very similar if not the same that was used back in the prewar 45Mhz FM days.

I said "possible" as building VHF circuits is not easy. Maybe the easiest approach would be to take an existing working but junk FM radio and change its LO from being 10.7MHz higher than the desired FM frequency to 45Mhz higher. Or 45Mhz lower (though you'll get "birdies" in the reception, like the 2nd harmonic of the LO).

Maybe better would be to use an old TV set tuner. Set it to channel 6, and futz with its LO to push it up into the modern FM band. Connect the Stromberg FM antenna to the tuner's IF output cable. Note that TV station sound FM uses less deviation than FM radio stations, and will have lower volume. Before you adjust the LO try tuning in an existing local TV station and tune the Stromberg FM set to around 41 to 42 MHz. You should be able to pick up the TV sound signal. Also play with the TV tuner's fine tuning.

Of course you'll be wondering if the Stromberg's FM is even working. If you hear "FM" hiss, that would indicate that at least the IF strip works. But what of its LO? try playing with an old baby monitor (the ones on 49.86 or such frequency) or those toy walkie talkies from China (those are AM, but will produce a receivable blank signal, or tune off slightly and you should get distorted audio when the user talks or presses the "code" key).

[Nolan Woodbury]

Congrats on a really sweet find! That swirly burled grain is just so lovely...

Heavy? Yeah, I''ll bet...the transformer looks as big as a car battery!