1941 Master Deluxe father son project. 6 volt.

My sons asked the following questions after we figured out it is not worth it for us to fix our radio other than for cosmetic purposes. Please keep in mind that this is not a restoration but is a do nothing that cannot be undone project.

Kids asked the following questions:
1. What is the last year that 6 volt radios were made? And when did Chevrolet stop putting them in their cars? Not going 12v.
2. Would any of these fit the existing holes in the dash? Rule that we make no changes that cannot be undone, unless prior owners already did them. Kids said it is period correct to them since if the radio in their car dies they would get one that fits and use that. Youngest pointed out I buy my parts from NAPA not GM for my Silverado. Hard to argue that one.
3. Radio would need to have FM available since there are only three AM channels left in our area.
4. Speaker can be hidden anywhere so that is not an issue.

I am still leaning towards an Bluetooth speaker but if they have an idea I will look into it and not take it off the list until a group concessions can be made.

Not sure of last year 6 volt radios were made but 1954 was the last 6 volt chevrolet car so that was the last year for a 6 volt radio in a Chevy.

I use voltage converters to power 12 volt FM radios in my 6 volt cars. I have 2 with radios and they both work fine. ('37 Chevrolet and a '48 Chevrolet) Both cars have a dash mounted control head that fits the dash and have cables that run to a firewall mounted radio to tune them and control the volume. There may be a radio head that would fit in your '41 dash.

There were 3 heads made for the 41 Chevy: 1) Motoroal R698 ; 2)Motoro;la R 621 and; 3) Motoroa R 721.
There were also 4 radios made for the master deluxe: 1) 985694; 2) 9i85695 C1;3 ) 985987 E41 4) Motorla 36 C

All 6 volts

For pictures send me an email bill@biltheradioguy.com

A radio in 1941 was not installed at the Chevrolet factory. They were installed by the dealer. About one third of the 1941 Chevrolet cars were sold without a radio. A car radio was still considered a luxery by many folks. Chevrolet offered the three approved accessory radios in 1941, the non-push buttom for $24.95, a standard push button for $49,95, a combination standard and short wave for $64.50, (not common).
Then other brands made radios to custom fit into the 1941 instrument panel, the Motorola being the most popular (it did not have GMs blessings). There were srveral other afer market brands available and even Sears Roebuck offerd one, After all there were a million 1941 Chevrolets made so was a large market out there for folks decided later they wanted a radio after all.

All GM cars were 12 volt by 1955 and other brands by 1956 so that pretty well reduced the demand for 6 volt radios in cars although there were still some 1953 and 1954 owners wanting to install a radio in their one or two year old non-radio equipped car,

1958 was the first year a dealer could order a radio equipped car from the factory.

The first year an AM-FM rado was offered by Chevrolet was 1963 and for the full sized cars only

What is the rarity and/perhaps the value of a AM/Short Wave radio for the 41 in non-functioning condition?

Gene,

You may have forgotten about the "8-tube" one that was the same size as the short wave and mounted to the dash and firewall..

Monty,

Any 42 -48 will fit into the dash of you 41. In fact many of the 41s use the 47/48. The 41-48 radios were well made. If they failed to play one or the other of the following was bad. If it failed to hum then replace the viberator. If it hummed but did not play then replace the OZ4. Most times that was all it needed.

If it turns out that you can use a 47/48 regular push button, then let me know and I'll go to my stash of them and see what I've got. My regular push button 41s are a bit of rough shape.

Best,

Charlie