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Charging the frequency range on an old tuner

loudnoises

loudnoises

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I was asked a question, and it's so far out of my realm I'm just going to drop it here hoping someone is bored enough to give me an answer.

Could (should?) you modify an old console tube tuner that maybe does am or sw to tune in the fm band?

A buddy has his grandfather's old zenith and he wants to know if he can make it more usable thsn just 78s and am.
 
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without completely changing the guts of the zenith, i'd say the answer to the "could' question would be 'no'

the 'should' question in my opinion would be "No"

you might be able to find a device to rebroadcast on AM.
 
Tube gear uses supply voltages in the 200 to 500 volt range; some old gear has a live chassis and relies on the wooden case for insulation. It's certainly not impossible to work on, but it shouldn't be his first electronics project.
 
Basic answer here is no. The way AM and FM are detected is completely different. The way most old AM/SW consoles got FM was to install an input jack and connect it to an external FM tuner. At that point the radio is just being used as an audio amp and speaker cabinet. A period piece for doing this is the PiloTuner.

http://www.pilotuner.com/

no affil, just happen to own one and that site has some pics and info.

You can also change the changer out to something that will play LPs. Many were.
 
gadget73 said:
Basic answer here is no. The way AM and FM are detected is completely different. The way most old AM/SW consoles got FM was to install an input jack and connect it to an external FM tuner. At that point the radio is just being used as an audio amp and speaker cabinet. A period piece for doing this is the PiloTuner.

http://www.pilotuner.com/

no affil, just happen to own one and that site has some pics and info.

You can also change the changer out to something that will play LPs. Many were.
Click to expand...

This is common sense advice. In the late 1940's-early 1950's it was not unusual to see console radio/phonographs getting new changers installed to play LP and 45 RPM discs. And in areas where FM stations were on the air, not unusual to see FM tuners added through auxiliary inputs. A high end or somewhat new-ish 78 RPM only console often got converted to handle the new records, so it's useful life was extended.
 
My EH Scott 800B was a pretty expensive piece in 1947, and a year later it's 78-only changer was obsolete. It was completely missing when I got the cabinet but I assume at some point in it's life it got changed. It has a Garrard Type A in there now.
 
Thanks as always gentlemen, for both the answers, and the context.

Time to find him a modulator and a newer turntable it seems.
 
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