Original radio
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- Minor Friendly
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Original radio
Hi when I bought my 54 series 2 it came with a radio attached under the parcel shelf right side of the steering wheel , yesterday I was puting a new bulb in the panel so I had to remove it when taking it out I realised It was an HMV radio and I read somewhere that the delux model came with a HMV radio so I'm wondering if it was the original , it doesn't power up it is plugged I to a metal box under the pasenger side parcel shelf . I was going to take it out but if it's the original I would like to get it going and leave it in but I don't know anything about electrics
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- Minor Legend
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Re: Original radio
In the 1950s a car radio would have been a very expensive extra. It certainly wasn't part of the "deluxe" specification although it might have been fitted to the car when new as an accessory of course.
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- Minor Friendly
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Re: Original radio
Yea I've been trying to find a pic of the original radio but can't seem to find one
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- Minor Fan
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Re: Original radio
An HMV valve radio was definitely an optional extra at the time but it was very expensive. I think you keep it in place and get in professionally repaired. You could even get it updated to modern spec - ie FM/digital and even an MP3 adapter fitted.
Laurie Blewer
MMOC member since 1986
Dorset Branch Secretary for ever!!!!
MMOC member since 1986
Dorset Branch Secretary for ever!!!!
Re: Original radio
I have read that Issigonis would not include provision in the design of the car to fit a radio, as he regarded radio as a distraction that the driver should not have. Of course, an ambitious salesman would not let that stop him.
Re: Original radio
I'd get it repaired to as it was and not modified if possible. You can send any signal to it via a modulator down the aerial cable, although it obviously wouldn't deliver a stereo sound field and the modulator must send on the correct waveband. I know they can send FM as I've used them before to play my ipod through a 70s Audioline !!
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- Minor Legend
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Re: Original radio
He had a point! Wonder what he would make of the multitude of distractions in modern cars?simmitc wrote:I have read that Issigonis would not include provision in the design of the car to fit a radio, as he regarded radio as a distraction that the driver should not have. Of course, an ambitious salesman would not let that stop him.
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- Minor Legend
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Re: Original radio
I bought a 62 minor a few years back and it had an Ecko valve radio fitted with the big valve pack screwed under the bonnet. Im pretty its quite a bit older then the car. It didnt work so I removed it, but its in the garage incase sometime I decide to throw some money at it!
A member of our branch has a Rover 110 and it also has a valve radio, he sent it off to be repaired and FM added, along with a USB so he could use an ipod via the speaker, cost over £300
A member of our branch has a Rover 110 and it also has a valve radio, he sent it off to be repaired and FM added, along with a USB so he could use an ipod via the speaker, cost over £300
Too many Minors so little time.....
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- Minor Friendly
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Re: Original radio
That's interesting i wll leave it there anyway it looks good and I did want to fit a radio with iPod connection but hide it in the glove box , I just don't know how to fit one myself , would the box that the radio is plugged into be the amp or transformer anyway there's no life in it
Re: Original radio
Car radios were a very expensive accessory in the 1950s and mostly fitted to expensive luxury cars. I haven't heard the story of Issigonis disapproving but most ordinary cars of that time have no place provided to install one. A radio cost around £50 in those days, when an entire new car was £400 for a small one.errolflyn wrote:Yea I've been trying to find a pic of the original radio but can't seem to find one
So to answer your search there isn't an original radio as such for a Minor.
Re: Original radio
I would've loved to have had a period radio in my traveller.
It's a shame it's not working. Probably someone has said but have you checked to see if a fuse has blown?
If it was me I'd take it apart and give the inside a good clean, then put it all back together and connect it to a spare battery to test it before putting it back in the car.
There used to be people who fixed old things like that. I used to go to a man close to where I worked who could fix pretty much anything to do with sound equipment. He's retired now and unfortunatly no one has taken his place.
Maybe there is someone in your area who does cheap repairs?
It may be a long shot but you may be able to find a manual online for it. I found one for a 1978 8 track I purchased on Schmebay, I just typed the make and model number into a search engine.
It's a shame it's not working. Probably someone has said but have you checked to see if a fuse has blown?
If it was me I'd take it apart and give the inside a good clean, then put it all back together and connect it to a spare battery to test it before putting it back in the car.
There used to be people who fixed old things like that. I used to go to a man close to where I worked who could fix pretty much anything to do with sound equipment. He's retired now and unfortunatly no one has taken his place.
Maybe there is someone in your area who does cheap repairs?
It may be a long shot but you may be able to find a manual online for it. I found one for a 1978 8 track I purchased on Schmebay, I just typed the make and model number into a search engine.
Re: Original radio
Can you post a picture up of the radio and seperate under dash unit?
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- Minor Friendly
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Re: Original radio
I'm useless at electrics I'm good at cosmetic but not fixing radios . I'll put a picture on tomorrow when I get home from work
Re: Original radio
The box will contain the valves and a 'trembler' device to generate the HT. Only connect it all if the car is still +ve earth.
Re: Original radio
I'm no good at electrics either but it doesn't stop me from taking a broken thing apart and seeing if it's fixable.errolflyn wrote:I'm useless at electrics I'm good at cosmetic but not fixing radios . I'll put a picture on tomorrow when I get home from work
You have nothing to lose. You can't break something that's already broke. All that may happen is you could make it worse but seeing as it's broken anyway you might as well try.
The 8 track car stereo I bought one day got a tape stuck and it was wound all around the mechanism. I had no choice but to take it apart and try to free the tape. I got out my screwdriver and went about dismantling it making sure to remember where all the screws and parts went. I freed the tape which was beond saving, gave the inside a good clean and put the stereo back together.
It's been fine ever since.
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- Minor Friendly
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Re: Original radio
I'll post a pic later but I just found this it's similar to one of these http://vintagecarradio.co.uk/sales.html