R.A. Lane’s Midwest Wireless Museum

The 50 Year Collection of Bob ‘Doc’ Lane

https://preview.redd.it/cbrq4bx46fyd1.jpg?width=864&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ca5d61d8b107df1d4e17dbddf34df097e4edf674

This thinking man’s collection documents the history of commercial radio in America, 1908 to 1980. It includes Pre-WWI avionics, rare early crystal sets, large breadboard models, hard-to-find cathedral and cabinet models, Bakelite, Catalin and mirrored models styled by American industrial designers, additional 1930s rarities like comic character models and sets in cabinets with a World’s Fair theme, hundreds of transistor radios including the early and the rare – and much more. 

Collateral collections include rare early tubes, microphones, horn speakers, amplifiers, and many rarely-seen examples of lighted, reverse-painted, porcelain enamel, tin and neon signs as well as lighted clocks advertising radios, tubes and televisions 1920 to 1970. Plus, there’s a collection of scarce die-cut cardboard signs and related ephemera.

‘Doc Lane’, as he was known to many around the Midwest, was a consummate collector and a wealth of knowledge. As a co-founder of the Mid-America Antique Radio Club in 1974, he was always eager to share his knowledge and support the hobby he loved.

  https://soulisauctions.com/auctions/the-r-a-lane-wireless-museum/

So I have three old vacuum tube radios from an estate sale (2 Admiral, 1 Teletone) that I thought I'd try to get working. I'm under no illusions about value - they're worth at most $20 each in good working condition. This is more an intellectual exercise rather than resale (I've managed to sell enough NOS parts from the same lot to fund an Eico valve tester!).

I have capacitors for re-capping, but I've just realized there's no power transformer. So I need an isolation transformer for basic safety - and have one on order.

I thought I might add a bluetooth receiver to one, and this would power the tube audio amplifier. I have a circuit diagram for a suitable 5v power supply - this uses a 7805 and voltage doubler from a standard 6.3v filament winding. And that was my plan until I saw the radio power supplies!

So, the lack of transformer poses an issue for power. I could add a low power transformer (500mA 9-12v?) but there might not be space. Are there any other alternatives? 5v regulated from a typical non-transformer tube power circuit.

I could disable the rf/if stages - this would open up more space. The filaments are wired in series. If I removed tubes, I assume I could replace their filaments with power resistors? (sized to match the tube filament voltage & current ratings)

Of course the most stylish case (the Teletone) has the least internal space, and a crack. From what I can tell, there's no real way of repairing a bakelite crack beyond polishing? A youtube video used filler then spray paint!

video says it all

https://reddit.com/link/1gekj7f/video/c5007abpylxd1/player

https://reddit.com/link/1gdmeql/video/ob00kn10fdxd1/player

couldnt put vid for some reason so its here instead.

link to og post : Identification pls! : r/VintageRadios