|
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
   
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | I have always wanted to see a Plymouth search tune radio work but never had the opportunity.
Has anyone here seen one in action? Does the knob turn by itself when the needle scans?,is the mechanism reliable or are they trouble prone? Also what should I expect to pay for one not working?
Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.
Was there a search tune for the 1960 DeSoto?
Edited by 1960DesotoAdventurer 2010-07-11 10:29 PM
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1115
Location: CA | Yes, they do search at the push of a button amd the knob does turn by itself so to speak. I haven't heard of them being particularly trouble prone aside from maintenance but then again all tube radios need that as well as to heat up before they work correctly. |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 80
Location: Mid Atlantic | Hi,
Not only have I seen one work but there is one in my 1958 Fury! Yes the knob actually turns once you press the seek or search buttons. I have never had any problems with mine although I admit I rarely use it, much less even play the radio very often as there is not much worth listening on AM radio here in Maryland. Two of the buttons will make it go on its own. One will continually seek out strong stations until you manually stop it yourself, the other button will go to first strong station and stop. if you don't like whats playing just hit it again and off it goes again.
Mchael |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | COOL!
What should I expect to pay for one in not working but complete condition?
How rare are they? |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | goldfin58 - 2010-07-11 10:11 PM
Hi,
Not only have I seen one work but there is one in my 1958 Fury! Yes the knob actually turns once you press the seek or search buttons. I have never had any problems with mine although I admit I rarely use it, much less even play the radio very often as there is not much worth listening on AM radio here in Maryland. Two of the buttons will make it go on its own. One will continually seek out strong stations until you manually stop it yourself, the other button will go to first strong station and stop. if you don't like whats playing just hit it again and off it goes again.
Mchael
Michael,
Was it expensive to restore your search tune?,or did it work already when you got it?
How accurate is it at stopping and finding stations? |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1115
Location: CA | They are both expensive to buy and expensive to restore. I have two, one really nice and the other for parts should I ever need them. Between the two I've got more into them than I'd like to admit, lol! |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 80
Location: Mid Atlantic | I bought mine from a friend of a friend at Chyrslers at Carlisle over ten years ago. This Friend had just bought it there so I'm sure he put a large mark up on it as he was famous for that. I believe I paid $125 for it, working condition unknown other than it was complete. I had the radio face replated for $90. The radio was actually in working condition as is although it would play fine for awhile and then just cut off and make a boat horn sound, loud buzz/humming noise. I had a car radio guy I knew that was in my local Plymouth club at the time fix the cut off buzzing problem and he also cleaned the radio insides up, I think that was about $50. Don't remember exactly what he fixed in it, maybe a tube was going bad. It worked fine for a couple years but it started doing that cut off/buzz thing again every so often. Never had a problem with the seek/search controls at least. Radio worked fine going to and from Chryslers @ Carlisle this weekend.
Michael |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | goldfin58 - 2010-07-11 11:14 PM
I bought mine from a friend of a friend at Chyrslers at Carlisle over ten years ago. This Friend had just bought it there so I'm sure he put a large mark up on it as he was famous for that. I believe I paid $125 for it, working condition unknown other than it was complete. I had the radio face replated for $90. The radio was actually in working condition as is although it would play fine for awhile and then just cut off and make a boat horn sound, loud buzz/humming noise. I had a car radio guy I knew that was in my local Plymouth club at the time fix the cut off buzzing problem and he also cleaned the radio insides up, I think that was about $50. Don't remember exactly what he fixed in it, maybe a tube was going bad. It worked fine for a couple years but it started doing that cut off/buzz thing again every so often. Never had a problem with the seek/search controls at least. Radio worked fine going to and from Chryslers @ Carlisle this weekend.
Michael
Was the problem causing the buzzing the vibrator? I've heard they've been known to stick every now and then.
I would love to see one in real life working one day,I think it's amazing the technology they had back then. |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 80
Location: Mid Atlantic | Yes, I believe it was the vibrator that had gone bad. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1049
Location: Auckland, New Zealand. | 1960DesotoAdventurer - 2010-07-12 1:59 PM
I have always wanted to see a Plymouth search tune radio work but never had the opportunity.
Has anyone here seen one in action? Does the knob turn by itself when the needle scans?,is the mechanism reliable or are they trouble prone? Also what should I expect to pay for one not working?
Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.
Was there a search tune for the 1960 DeSoto?
Yes I have one in my 57 Fury too. It works as Michael describes, and works perfectly. When I first got it, it was not performing very well at all. At the time there was a guy on ForwardLook, by the name of ForwardLook Frank, who was a radio hobbyist I believe. I believe he was in the forces serving overseas. Anyway, he had managed to uncover some major faults with these Searchtunes, and had developed a simple needed modification to rectify a factory fault in them, ensuring greater reliability. After I had this done, I have never had a problem since, but similarly here, there is not much to listen to on AM, if you speak english that is.... But it sure looks good just turned on with that green glow, and I can't get enough of that search function with the knob turning on it's own!
If anybody needs to see the modifications recommended by ForwardLook Frank and which I can testify are 100% operationally correct then I am happy to dig it out and post it.
Frank hooked me up with some parts that mine was missing in exchange for some toolmaking work on an accelerator linkage that he required.
Regards price, I have not seen one for sale in a long time, but I would not be surprised if they were to reach US$500 in untested running but complete condition.
They are of course a necessity if you wish to run a Highway Hifi record player, because of their special socket on the side which accepts the record player lead, which other radios do not have.
We have a great local valve radio repair guy who gets these running good.
Glenn. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2244
Location: Yorba Linda, Ca | The radio for the 60 Desoto would not have a vibrator, nor did the search tune radio I had in my 57 Desoto (a Stock deluxe model). By 1957 they had tubes that worked directly off 12 volts, so there was no need for the vibrator and transformer to "Step up the voltage to 350 volts or so". These radios also used a transistor or the more deluxe one like mine (2 transistors) so you got a lot more power to the speakers.
Usually the sockets just get dirty for the transistors and can be cleaned.
Gary |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1049
Location: Auckland, New Zealand. | Gary.
Yes I think you are right. The Highway Hifi record player definitely has a vibrator, but I don't think the radio does.
Glenn. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: Warren, Michigan | How different were the search tune radios between the chrysler, imperials, and plymouths? I know I've got a '57 Chrysler one and what I think is an Imperial one. Both would need to be fixed up and when I get time to tinker I may just do that. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | Glenn,
Thanks for all the info!
If you could post the necessary modifications for these units that would be wonderfull!
I agree with you about AM (and FM for that matter) playing nothing but crap today,to bad someone hasn't made an am transmitter to play an iPod or cd player through the radio. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 369
Location: buchanan,Ga. | hello i have bought three of these radios to try to come up with enought parts to make one good rebuild unit...they are high some what in cost due to them being rare...between 125-200 each.. not working but complete , if working very easy looking at 500 +, the set up i'm trying to have for my car is the seek n tune,rca turn table,reverbrator,am comverter i have all the parts i just need to find more info on how to repair and hook it all together |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | 1959Dodge - 2010-07-12 6:55 PM
The radio for the 60 Desoto would not have a vibrator, nor did the search tune radio I had in my 57 Desoto (a Stock deluxe model). By 1957 they had tubes that worked directly off 12 volts, so there was no need for the vibrator and transformer to "Step up the voltage to 350 volts or so". These radios also used a transistor or the more deluxe one like mine (2 transistors) so you got a lot more power to the speakers.
Usually the sockets just get dirty for the transistors and can be cleaned.
Gary
I know the base model 57 Plymouth radio uses a vibrator because mine used to stick,but I think your right about the search tune not having one. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1049
Location: Auckland, New Zealand. | Attached is the info that I used to modify my Searchtune. This was from ForwardLook Frank.
Glenn.
Hello all. I told everyone a few weeks ago that I had the opportunity to acquire some rare Philco factory service manuals for our ForwardLook vehicle.
They arrived on Friday and I've been studying the '57 SearchTune models with great interest. It appears that I was correct. Philco had a lot of difficulties with the '57 model radios.
They had problems with the transistor, the relays, and the search tune mechanisms. So much in fact, they made a supplement to their service manuals showing the revisions made and what production run number had the most difficulty.
There is a lot here to list. I will work on my own radio to see what these revisions do and if they correct the problem.
Frank.
1/. Remove the diode from the circuit.
2/. Change the 12F8 plate resistor, R16, from 82K to 56K.
3/. Change the 12K5 grid resistor, R18, from 680K to 2.2 Meg, and wire it from grid to ground.
4/. Remove condenser C24 in the grid circuit of the 12K5.
5/. Change the condenser C17 across the volume control from 39pf to 200pf.
Now if the Search mechanism acts up after this, change R16 back to 82K.
I guess Philco had a lot of trial and error on this. That's all the info I have.
Another modification I have is to change the volume control from a 3 Meg (Philco part 33-5580-15) to a 1 Meg (Philco part 33-5580-17.
 (917HRV Photofact-chassis parts list, small.jpg)
 (917HRV Photofact-chassis parts-bottom, small2-45%.jpg)
 (917HRV Photofact-chassis parts-top, small46%.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 917HRV Photofact-chassis parts list, small.jpg (253KB - 189 downloads)
917HRV Photofact-chassis parts-bottom, small2-45%.jpg (297KB - 159 downloads)
917HRV Photofact-chassis parts-top, small46%.jpg (296KB - 178 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2244
Location: Yorba Linda, Ca | You can see from the parts list that one uses a transistor to drive the speaker/s (output).
That radio would not have a vibrator.
For the most part, these were pretty good radios, and certainly better than the first ALL transistor
car radios that came out. They would have stations buttin into each other, couldn't pick up
stations very far away, and tended to have a "Tinny sound"
Hopefully that was NOT 1960 but it was close.
Part of the problem was back then they didn't have good enough
or sensitive enough transistors to properly amplify the tiny
signals they received from the antenna.
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2996
Location: Sept. 1958 | If you look closely at this Plymouth you'll see a Searchtune radio:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1957-Plymouth-Suburban-Chrysler-Dodg...
It seems like he was selling parts from it in the past few weeks. Wonder if the radio is still available? |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | yes,I saw that radio.
He wants $275 for it and the volume switch is broken (wiggly) |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 249
Location: Spencerport, New York | I don't think anyone has mentioned that there were at least two different brands of the non search tune radios. The most common was a Philco I believe and much less common one manufactured by Automatic Radio that had a tone control and different knobs. It also had far superior sound with excellent base for the time. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1049
Location: Auckland, New Zealand. | 1960DesotoAdventurer - 2010-07-14 11:48 AM
yes,I saw that radio.
He wants $275 for it and the volume switch is broken (wiggly)
Good price! Considering some of the other junk off that car that he was wanting way too much for. I think he had a grand on the stainless side trim....
I asked him about the steering wheel, it would make a good core for a recast and he said that he would get back to me but never did.
Glenn. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | yeah,I remember the trim was insanely overpriced!,the little chrome fender v was $150 and it was pitted.
Regarding the radio he said it was $275 not working if bought off eBay,$375 if bought on eBay.
I'm sure it doesn't work either,and would be leery of sending someone I don't know a money order,at least with paypal you're protected if you don't get it,but just to buy it outright with no gaurantees? |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | fintastic57 - 2010-07-13 7:54 PM
I don't think anyone has mentioned that there were at least two different brands of the non search tune radios. The most common was a Philco I believe and much less common one manufactured by Automatic Radio that had a tone control and different knobs. It also had far superior sound with excellent base for the time.
I used to have one of those "Automatic Radio Corporation" aftermarket 57-58 radios...I wish I would have listened to it,but I was disapointed it wasnt a factory MoPar unit and just sold it without testing it.
The base model factory radio had very good sound though in my opinion,I used to love listening to it in my 1957 Savoy back many years ago when we still had an AM radio station that played 40's and 50's music...sadly the Savoy and the radio station arent around anymore.
Edited by 1960DesotoAdventurer 2010-07-15 12:51 PM
|
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
Location: West Chester, PA | FURY - 2010-07-13 8:32 PM
1960DesotoAdventurer - 2010-07-14 11:48 AM
yes,I saw that radio.
He wants $275 for it and the volume switch is broken (wiggly)
Good price! Considering some of the other junk off that car that he was wanting way too much for. I think he had a grand on the stainless side trim....
I asked him about the steering wheel, it would make a good core for a recast and he said that he would get back to me but never did.
Glenn.
The steering wheel from that converted suburban/pickup just went off on ebay for 250, the radio went for 200. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | phurious - 2010-08-31 9:45 AM
FURY - 2010-07-13 8:32 PM
1960DesotoAdventurer - 2010-07-14 11:48 AM
yes,I saw that radio.
He wants $275 for it and the volume switch is broken (wiggly)
Good price! Considering some of the other junk off that car that he was wanting way too much for. I think he had a grand on the stainless side trim....
I asked him about the steering wheel, it would make a good core for a recast and he said that he would get back to me but never did.
Glenn.
The steering wheel from that converted suburban/pickup just went off on ebay for 250, the radio went for 200.
Yes,and there was just a serviced one in perfect working order that sold for only $50 more.
They don't seem to bring as much as they used to. |
|
| |
|
Location: Parts Unknown | If you REALLY want to be "the snazz", hunt up the optional foot pedal actuator to make your seeker radio go
searching ! Amaze your friends ! Be the life of the party ! .... and never take your hands off the wheel !
Rarely seen outside of Imperials, I have found a few in higher end Chryslers and DeSotos.
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | was it available as an option for the Plymouth,Dodge and DeSoto as well? |
|
| |
|
Location: Parts Unknown | Don't know about the lower models. Like I said, I found them in DeSotos and Chryslers.
Just like it is HIGHLY unlikely to ever find a 3-onda-tree in a Chrysler, but it is not that uncommon on a Plymouth, the reverse can be said
about "fluffy" options on the low end cars. It was likely "possible", but most buyers stepped up to a higher end car if they wanted all that
fluff.
|
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
Location: West Chester, PA | 1960DesotoAdventurer - 2010-08-31 11:02 AM
phurious - 2010-08-31 9:45 AM
FURY - 2010-07-13 8:32 PM
1960DesotoAdventurer - 2010-07-14 11:48 AM
yes,I saw that radio.
He wants $275 for it and the volume switch is broken (wiggly)
Good price! Considering some of the other junk off that car that he was wanting way too much for. I think he had a grand on the stainless side trim....
I asked him about the steering wheel, it would make a good core for a recast and he said that he would get back to me but never did.
Glenn.
The steering wheel from that converted suburban/pickup just went off on ebay for 250, the radio went for 200.
Yes,and there was just a serviced one in perfect working order that sold for only $50 more.
They don't seem to bring as much as they used to.
I saw that one too, but the bezel was broken and missing a piece. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
Location: West Chester, PA | The volume know was not broken at all, it was just missing the retaining nut. The radio does not work, as expected, but it did clean up nicely.
Who would you send it to for repair? I contacted Mike at D & M Restoration in Greenville, SC about it.
He said no problem to fix, they are quite familiar with these. Without seeing it in person, he estimated it to be between 300 and 450, and take about 8 weeks.
Any others out there had one of these rebuilt recently?
Thanks, Ron
Edited by phurious 2010-09-02 7:12 PM
 (CIMG8338c2.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
CIMG8338c2.jpg (147KB - 222 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | Nice radio!
Glad it was something simple like a missing nut.
You could have bought the working one on eBay and used the faceplate off this one to replace the bad one on his radio and come out less than sending it out for repair.
Then you'd have the extra parts if you ever needed them too.
From what I've heard $300-400 isn't out of line to get a searchtune repaired.
Edited by 1960DesotoAdventurer 2010-09-02 7:48 PM
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | PM sent.....
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Last searchtune I had redone cost the princely sum of $85 parts and labor. Of course, that was in 1982 when there still were radio/tv repair shops in the neighborhood, instead of specialized radio restorers.
---John |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
Location: West Chester, PA | 1960DesotoAdventurer - 2010-09-02 7:30 PM
Nice radio!
Glad it was something simple like a missing nut.
You could have bought the working one on eBay and used the faceplate off this one to replace the bad one on his radio and come out less than sending it out for repair.
Then you'd have the extra parts if you ever needed them too.
From what I've heard $300-400 isn't out of line to get a searchtune repaired.
Thanks!
That's true, actually, you can just cut our the other two sides on any radio bezel to make it fit a 57/58 search tune.
But, I'm looking for a modern rebuild, maybe even with a warranty too.
I don't trust that "it was working when we pulled it" line, or the "was working just fine when sent it to you" crap either. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
Location: West Chester, PA | big m - 2010-09-02 7:58 PM
Last searchtune I had redone cost the princely sum of $85 parts and labor. Of course, that was in 1982 when there still were radio/tv repair shops in the neighborhood, instead of specialized radio restorers.
---John
$85.00??? 1982??? That's funny John!
Anyone care to guess how old I was in 1982? (Glenn, excluded for having insider information)
Now all I need is your hi-way hifi John.
Thanks!
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | I was going to use that radio in my '58 Suburban, but never got around to it for some reason. Like a fool, I sold it at a swap meet fairly cheap a few years later.
I have no idea of your age, Ron, but you must be old enough to have good taste in automobiles!!
---John |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | phurious - 2010-09-02 8:00 PM
1960DesotoAdventurer - 2010-09-02 7:30 PM
Nice radio!
Glad it was something simple like a missing nut.
You could have bought the working one on eBay and used the faceplate off this one to replace the bad one on his radio and come out less than sending it out for repair.
Then you'd have the extra parts if you ever needed them too.
From what I've heard $300-400 isn't out of line to get a searchtune repaired.
Thanks!
That's true, actually, you can just cut our the other two sides on any radio bezel to make it fit a 57/58 search tune.
But, I'm looking for a modern rebuild, maybe even with a warranty too.
I don't trust that "it was working when we pulled it" line, or the "was working just fine when sent it to you" crap either.
That's true!,you have know real way of knowing if it really was services at all and if it really did work.
Your Furys sure gonna be beautiful when you're done buying all these nice gifts for her!
Did you find your wings yet?
I've always been curious as to how many people bought the luxury search tune radios.
I've seen about four of them on eBay in about 8 months or so.
I think there really cool,now all you need is a highway hifi! |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
Location: West Chester, PA | big m - 2010-09-02 8:22 PM
I have no idea of your age, Ron, but you must be old enough to have good taste in automobiles!!
---John
Cheers John, same to you! I do love your car and the story behind how you came to own it too.
Did your 58 Fury have a good search tune radio in it when you found it?
Our 57 Fury's are becoming more and more alike, we'll have to get them together at some point.
|
|
| |
|
Location: Parts Unknown | I would like to acquire a Hiway Hi-Fi case (without guts) for the DeSoto. It is about the only funky
"gadget" I am missing on that dash.
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | phurious - 2010-09-02 8:07 PM
big m - 2010-09-02 7:58 PM
Last searchtune I had redone cost the princely sum of $85 parts and labor. Of course, that was in 1982 when there still were radio/tv repair shops in the neighborhood, instead of specialized radio restorers.
---John
$85.00??? 1982??? That's funny John!
Anyone care to guess how old I was in 1982? (Glenn, excluded for having insider information )
Now all I need is your hi-way hifi John.
Thanks
I don't know how old you were in 1982,but I'll take a guess! 12? What do I win if I'm right?...does it have 7 buttons??  |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
Location: West Chester, PA | Well, you are right about one thing. It does have buttons, except only 5, and it's totally fried...
Thanks for playing! |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | so that's the consolation prize!....I'm not good at guessing!,I should have consulted that great mystic from the east,Carnac the magnificent!
He knows all!,sees all!
Edited by 1960DesotoAdventurer 2010-09-03 12:30 AM
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 6500
Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | I got one off ebay and it's nice. Marc http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=25068...
 (myseekradio.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
myseekradio.jpg (58KB - 177 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
Location: West Chester, PA | Hey Mark, You can cut out the two blocks from any other 57/58 am radio to replace your broken face plate. I was watching that one too, good score!
Edited by phurious 2010-09-03 9:18 PM
|
|
| |
1957-1958 Plymouth Search tune radio question
