1940 Radio needs fixed

FRITZ47

FRITZ47

Senior Member
Any recommendations on a radio repair man that can fix my 1940 Ford Radio? It is complete and has a new speaker, but no noise and needs new dials, which are in Mac's catalog. Also how can I tell which brand radio it is, as it is not marked, other than a serial number starting with BP....

My radio man in Youngstown always took care of everything in a few days, but recently died, so need another source.

Car has been painted and is in the trim shop for a new LeBaron Bonney top. Here are 2 pictures taken as it left for the shop. Front fenders, hood, grille & bumpers to be installed when top is completed.

Thanks, Fritz
 

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I love the color. Mine is a paprika red made by Red Spot (supplier for the big three) looks great and good luck with the radio.
 

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She sure looks good! :) The "radio guy" I have used has stopped rebuilding antique radios,:( I too would like to find someone else, I need our '39 LZ radio fixed...:eek:
 
I am still trying to figure out if radio is a Philco or Zenith (Mac's sells dials for $24.75 per pair, but needs to know the brand name). I would like to get the dials in advance, prior to sending for repair once I determine which radio I have.

Here are two more pictures of the '40 as we loaded it in our trailer to go to "Tailored Trim" in New Philadelphia, Ohio for a new black top. The color is Garnet, which was a "spring color" in 1940. It was painted Mandarin Maroon originally (darker maroon), but we wanted to spiff it up a bit, so chose the Garnet, which is still a 1940 Ford original color. However, they look good in just about any color, as evidenced by funrunr's "paprica red". (Thanks for posting and thanks for all of the replies as well).

One other picture shows the car before our restoration in our car museum mini gas station at work. (Car collection is located at TP Tools in Canfield, Ohio and open to the public every Saturday from 10 to 3 - free admission - about 35 cars on display). Stop in any Sat. when in the area.

This was a really solid car with not even one spot of rust ever (we took it to bare metal and found no evidence of rust or prior repairs). It had a couple of dents in the right fenders, but we were unable to match the paint perfectly, and .......I guess we all know the rest of that story! What started as a simple touchup ended up a total restoration, but glad that we did so, as the car definitely deserves it.

When finished I will post many more pictures both here and at the TP Car Collection web site www.tipcars.us (Click on "Latest Additions" at top right hand corner of home page to see this and other cars currently on display.

Fritz
 

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If it has a divide on the bottom for the cowl vent lever, it is a Zenith. Philco's have flat bottoms.
 
I believe that Jake Fleming in Dallas, Texas, (who repairs Lincoln radios for the V-12 people), also does the Philco and Zenith radios for Ford people. Give him a call at 1-214-333-3197. Also sets up V-12 distributors.
 
Here is one picture of my radio, showing the Ford Script. I took other pictures of the bottom today, but lost them in the transfer from my camera, so it will be next week before I can retake the picturs.

Still trying to figure out: Philco or Zenith?

Fritz
 

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I was able to recover the pictures taken today of the bottom of my 1940 Ford Radio. Still trying to figure out if a Philco or a Zenith Radio, so that I can order the dials.

Fritz
 

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Fritz, it's a Philco. I asked the same question last year & Kube posted a picture of both. http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78348 Mine was a Zenith I bought used that had been updated to AM/FM (not many am stations worth listening to in my area). Here's some pics of mine.
 

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Very nice 40 FourDrDlx - Was your conversion done at 6 volts or 12 volts? My car is 6 volts. I am wondering if the changeover to AM-FM is practical, and if it will change the original appearance of the radio dials or anything else? Very interesting and nicely done.

Fritz
 
I have had good luck with these two:

Times Radio & TV Restoration - Peter Di Pasquale 201-891-4899 (NJ)
HF Enterprises - Howard Foulds 973-800-4565 (NJ)
 
FRITZ47 said:
Very nice 40 FourDrDlx - Was your conversion done at 6 volts or 12 volts? My car is 6 volts. I am wondering if the changeover to AM-FM is practical, and if it will change the original appearance of the radio dials or anything else? Very interesting and nicely done.

Fritz
Click to expand...
My car is 6v also. The radio is 12v, in the second picture you can see the 6 to 12v adapter mounted inside the case ( metal cube on left). The dials & face plate are all stock, so this means the tuning dial shows am #s only. you switch from am to fm by turning it off & on. You can manually tune fm but you don't have the fm scale to look at. I normally use the pre-sets for fm stations. Bob
 
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