Radio today (Jan-Mar 1939)

1939 AUTO RADIO SPECIFICATIONS No. Watts Amps. Speaker Tone Type Push tuning controls botton tuning -ilUUcI L.ISI Ol dUUlU UdLIt No. price tubes power drain Size Location trol Continental Radio & Television Corp., 3800 Cortland St., Chicago, 111. — "Admiral" 55 $24.95 5-OM 3 53^ 5 Inset No Direct Yes 69 39.95 6-OM Wi 6 6 Inset Yes Remote Yes Garvin Mfg. Co., 4545 Augusta Blvd., Chicago, 111. — "Motorola" 9-24 24.95 6-L NS NS 8 Cowl NS Direct Yes 9-29 29.95 6-G NS NS 5y2 Inset NS Remote No 9-49 49.95 6-L NS NS 6 Inset NS Remote Yes 9-69 69.95 8-L NS NS 8 Cowl NS Remote Yes 9-44 44.98 6-G NS NS 6 Inset NS Remote No Fordf Special 6-G NS NS 6 Inst, panel NS Remote Yes Chevr. Special 6-L NS NS 6 Inst, panel NS Direct Yes Chrysl.* Special 6-G NS NS 6 Inst, panel NS Direct Yes Oldsmob. Special 6-L NS NS 8 Cowl NS Direct Yes Buick Special 7-L NS NS 8 Inst, panel NS Direct Yes tAlso fits Mercury *Also fits DeSoto, Dodge, Plymouth Howard Radio Co., 1735 Belmont Ave., Chicago, 111. — "Howard" HA-10 $39.95 6-MO 2% 6.6 6 In set No Direct Yes Noblitt-Sparks Industries, Columbus, Ind. — "Arvin" 7A $24.95 5-OM 3.2 6 5M Inset No Remote No 8A 29.95 6-OM 3.2 6 5H Inset No Direct Yes 44C 44.95 6-MO 4.5 7 8 Inset Yes Remote No RCA Mfg. Co., Inc., Front & Cooper Sts., Camden, N. J— "RCA-Victor" 9M1 $24.95 5-M 4 6M 5 In set No Direct Yes 9M2 29.95 6-M 3}£ 7.4 5 In set No Direct Yes Additional models to be announced in March. Troy Radio & Television Co., 1144 S. Olive St , Los Angeles, Calif. — "Troy" 85 $34 . 50 5-G 2 5J4 5y2 In set No Remote No belief that the peak in auto-radio sales has been reached, as the new car trade is rapidly diminishing. This situation is brought about by the combine of car manufacturers who are equipping their new models with radios. "The bulk of the future auto-radio business lies in the used car trade calling for low-priced receivers. Our jobbers are in excellent position to service this class of trade, as well as the higher priced group, since we are making auto radios available in both the low and medium priced ranges." Signal boosting Xew tubes, new signal boosting circuits, more compact designs make the 1939 auto radio a sensational value. Generally, the auto-radio manufacturers are reducing the number of models in their lines, with the exception of Galvin who is making custom Motorola models to fit such cars as Buick, Chrysler, Chevrolet, DeSoto, Dodge, Ford, Mercury, Oldsmobile, Plymouth. Both manual and push-button tuning models are available as shown in the accompanying auto-radio specifications tabulated on this page. Push-button systems have been simplified and made more positive in operation. Trimmer, mechanical, and motor-operated types are offered. Antenna matching and signal Types of aerials that can be used with modern cars. No. 1 typifies the numerous roof-top models. Cowl and hinge antennas are illustrated by type 2. Runningboard antennas of many different designs are shown as type 3, while 4 represents the insulated running board. No. 5 is typical of all fishpole units. boosting is provided by the Phantom Filter unit in the Arvin receivers that are designed to operate with cowl or hinge type antennas. In order to provide maximum signal pick-up, Motorola has developed Separate speaker, compact dash-mounting unit are featured by Howard. the "boost-o-matic" which gives 15 times greater sensitivity. In this receiver, an antenna coil at the aerial is automatically tuned through the movement of an iron core that is ganged to the variable condenser. Thus the antenna is automatically tuned for greatest pick-up efficiency. Loktal tubes are used in some of the sets permitting more compact design and more dependable operation with varying battery voltages in the car. Antennas are continually being im Top is the Arvin 44C using remote tuning controls. Model 8A is for dash mounting and features P.B. tuning. proved. Xew types are available that require no drilling of the ear. Special clamps hold them to the car without marring the finish. So far, the cowl and hinge types are the most popular. However, the latter type cannot be used on many of the newer models, since invisible hinges are being used on the doors, which means that the cowl type will soon be the best seller. A few of the car manufacturers are still recommending insulated running boards. With these cars it is possible to have a truly invisible car antenna — running board insulators are available from several sources. Another antenna type that is being used is the under car, which may take the form of running board antenna or a wire stretched under the car. Fish-poles for the rear can still be had. Other types are insulated trunk covers, insulated bumpers, insulated brackets on bumper, hood aerials, etc. Improved lead-in cables are found in the new aerials and better shielding against external noise is obtained.