VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 Radio

Here's a pic of a radio I bought on ebay. I'm not sure what year it is. I'm hoping one of y'all can tell me that.

I'm not sure I'm gonna use it. But I may because I liked the way it looks. It matches the dash and radiator shell on my 26-27 Johnny Cash roadster. Since it's a Johnny Cash car I have a few freedoms y'all don't have.

My questions are:

1. What year radio is it? The model number is: 600153

2. It appears to have a keyed switch of some sort. What would that be for?

3. My roadster has an after market ignition switch. Surprise surprise. What was the original ignition switch like and what other years would match it?

Thanks.

Hi rbl2,
Looks to me like you have a 1933-1934 Chevrolet accessory radio. The key switch, when turned, inserts a mechanical fork into the on-off-volume shaft to prevent the radio from being turned on. You wouldn't want someone walking down the street to hop into your car, turn on your radio, and run the battery down.

It's a crappy radio, doesn't work well. If you want to unload it, I'll gladly take it off your hands.

Actually, I have one in my 1928 Chevrolet coupe and it works quite well. I have a small wire that circles the rear window for an antenna. Mine has a separate external speaker with a cord that plugs into the side of the radio. My only problem is that the 28 Chevy has so much vibration that I have to drop the radio about once a year and re-solder a bunch of capacitors and/or wires that break from all the vibration. I can see where it would function better in a newer car.

Regards,
Ron

Its a 1933 radio.The 1934 radios did not have the key switch.

rbl2, I bet the tubes in that radio have the original vacuum in them.

Am I to interpret that as a request on your part to have them so you can study the vaccuum in them? :rolleyes:

You can kind of see mine poking out from under the dash. Not the greatest pic but you get the idea. By the way, that is vintage 1933 vacuum. They don't make vacuum like that anymore.

Ron

Model 600153 is a single unit 6 tube radio correct for 1933 and 1934. See G&D Feb 88

The 1934 accessory albumn shows only round dial type non-locking radios,600565 and 600566 for 1934.
The 1934 parts book lists 600153 for 1933 only and the 600565 and 566 for 1934 only.

I would consider the above my documentation as far as judging is concerned for what is the correct radio for 1934.?????

I would suspect that there were 1933 radios left over and Chevrolet promoted them ,at one point, for installation in 1934s as a way to dispose of them.This was also done in the later years as a way to clear out left over accessories.

The March 1934 Chevrolet Dealer News, a publication not connected with Chevrolet, shows the 1933 radios. in an ad and they are listed as being made by General Household Utilities Company.

The radio in my 1934 has the best tone when compared to any of my old radios.

Rbl2, How did you guess? I would need for you to send me the entire radio to be sure I have enough samples to make a good study, when I am finished with the study I would be glad to send you your own bound report! How could you beat a deal like that?

Y'all ahve been very helpful, thank you.

Now, can anyone answer the last question? What was the ignition switch in a 26-27 chevy like? Was it incorporated in the headlight switch? :confused:

Thanks.

Mack, I have my own scientific group here to study the vaccuum in those tubes. My kids study the bass part while I kinda like to listen to the vibrator to warm up.

After a sufficient study, if you want, I can send you your own bound copy of the results.

1926 on the left and 1927 on the right.


{You can move this picture into your Image Program and enlarge for easier viewing}

Alas, my incompetence with computers is made known. All I can do with mine is move them. It does nothing, such as crop or cut or enlarge or anything else.

It's the prograsm that came with the computer.
However, I think if I dig deep enough I may have both those books.

If there is a program I can get on line that you can recommend I'll give it a try.

So this radio (600153) would be the very first Chevrolet car radio since '33 was the first year with a radio accessory.

If I remember right, this radio was introduced in Dec. of '32.

Cool...

NO!

Hey Ray,

I'm read all this with great interest.......

Now your post, I guess to Gator......

"NO!"

No - what???

Bill.

Nothing he said is correct.

Everything I said was what was posted as correct on Chatter....Plus this is what is in the Service News.

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POINT 1:

If Gene is right (and that is 99.99999%) when he said:

"Chev Nut

Forum Member # 252

posted October 06, 2005 21:18
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"Its a 1933 radio.The 1934 radios did not have the key switch. "

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AND you (Ray) said that this is a '33 radio;

AntiqueMechanic


Forum Member # 13

posted October 07, 2005 02:33
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Model 600153 is a single unit 6 tube radio correct for 1933 and 1934. See G&D Feb 88

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POINT 2:

AnD if The JYD is correct (another 99.99999999%)when he said:


"Junkyard Dog


Forum Member # 4

posted March 21, 2002 22:39
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Yep, you have been listening to the Model "T" **** boys again....ha ha! Chevrolet "Release Of New Parts" number 161 from the Central Office of Parts and Services, states that the new accessory radio, model number 364441, was not released into service until December 5th of 1932 which is already into the 1933 model year since the 1932 model year ended in September of 1932. Also, the Chevrolet Service News, that introduces the new models and improvements for 1933, mentions that this radio is a new accessory for the 1933 model year. Further, Chevrolet Motor Division also states in January of 1933 that this radio is a RETROFIT for the 1932 models. Therefore, even though the model 364441 radio was released at the end of the 1932 calendar year, in reality, it is actually a 1933 MODEL YEAR ACCESSORY (not a 1932) since it was released into service two months into the 1933 model year. And, that's straight from the mouth of Chevrolet Motor Division!! "

Junkyard Dog


Forum Member # 4

posted March 22, 2002 12:12
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"That's because they don't have the literature that tells about the radio and when it was released into service, nor have they done the research into the issue. Since the radio was released into service on December 5th, 1932, dudes think it is a 1932 accessory, but it's not...it's a 1933 accessory because that radio was introduced with the new 1933 models and it was part of the new 1933 accessory line....and that is all stated in Chevrolet literature! For doing research the buck stops at the original literature because that is documentation. Word of mouth is not since that is only hearsay."


Junkyard Dog


Forum Member # 4

posted March 23, 2002 15:26
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"Hey Donald! Sounds like ya have been hitting the Budweiser too hard again, because you have brain fade since yesterday. There is no 1932 model radio...it's a 1933 model accessory!!"

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ADDING POINTS 1 AND 2 TOGETHER;

1. '33 is the FIRST time Chevy offered a radio (JYD)

AND

2. this is a '33 radio (Chevgene and Ray)

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THEN why is my post all wrong Ray?

Maybe more than "No" is needed.

1. 600153 is NOT the first Chevrolet radio.

2. 600153 was NOT introduced in Dec of 1932.

3. It is NOT cool, the temperature was 70 today.

70* here would be considered cool

Please go back to your simple "yes" or "no" for a question or so Ray...

1. Did Chevrolet offered a car radio as an official accessory prior to Dec. 5, 1932?

2. Was the '33 model year the first year that a customer could order a car radio as an accessory for your Chevrolet?

3. Are you saying the information in The JYD posts (in my post above) are incorrect?

a Non yes/no question:

What year can you prove or support was the first model year Chevrolet installed radios in cars?

Thanks

Gator: You said: "So this radio (600153) would be the very first Chevrolet car radio since '33 was the first year with a radio accessory. If I remember right, this radio was introduced in Dec. of '32."

That is incorrect. You are confusing the 364441 radio with the 600153 radio. The first radio introduced as a genuine Chevrolet accessory was the model 364441 radio. It was released in December of 1932 for the 1933 model year (see above). The 600153 radio was the second radio and it was released into service in 1933 after the 364441 radio of December, 1932.

rbl2, you sure opened a can of worms here, but I have yet to see a conclusive answer to your question 3. My answer is '23 through '26 had the key in the light switch and '27-'28 had the steering column lock that controlled operation of the ignition switch, which was below the dash. The '27-'28 light switch was similar to '23-'26, but without a key hole. Not sure if they were interchangeable, but I'd guess '25-'26 were. Hope this will help.

Roger

Thanks Roger, that answers my question.

My light switch doesn't have a key hole in it. I've seen a bunch of pictures just like mine so I'm assuming they were not common.

If that's the case, was there a key elsewhere or did they simply put a toggle switch somewhere?

rbl2, the key cylinder was on the dash near the steering column starting in 1927. If you have the book "Chevrolet: The Coming of Age", it is pictured on page 91. The switch doesn't look like a toggle, but that would work.