I found a working original AM tube radio for my '59. It works good, I can pick up stations in North Carolina from my house in Connecticut at night, pretty cool. It has a constant buzz, sounds like a small electric motor. It's very noticeable when you first turn it on, and gets quieter as it warms up. Is this normal, or is it a warning that it's getting ready to fail? These radios are hard to find and I don't want to smoke it before I get it installed. Thanks!
most likely the noise is from a circuit called a "vibrator circuit" it is usually a metal can that looks like a tube ,it along with a step up power transformer powers the radio, it converts the 6 or 12 volts of the cars system to a higher voltage to supply power for the tubes which require lot higher power to operate. Some noise is normal,but if it gets excessive have it checked out,there are still places that repair tube radios, check here http://www.redwoodradio.com/car_radio_repair.htm, or Goggle "tube radio repair". Kenny
Definetly a Vibrator going bad . I used to deal with Specman's Radio. I think he was in Florida . That was years back too. I would say somebody here still works on the older radios , they're pretty much the same ....... scrubba
A noisy vibrator may continue working for quite a while, or maybe not. The vibrator can generally be repaired/rebuilt. There are also solid state replacements.
in general another common problem with tube radios is that the electrolyte drys up in the eletrotrolitic capacitors. this then can lead to failure of the tubes. check in your area for an antique radio repair /restoration shop. one thing you should not do to an old radio is to clean it out with compressed air. i do not have any advice on the vibrator component. if any repairs are made to the radio then it may require a electrical realignment. good luck with your tube radio. they sure have a sound of thier own.
Try unplugging each tube then plug it back in. May not cure it but its a starting place. The connections get corroded over the years. If you toast it I have another from that era that I'll never use.
A buzzing noise is the elecrolytic capacitor in the power supply circuit. If you open up the radio it will be obvious. Modern replacements are available although they wont look right and may be smaller physically. The electrolyitic capacitor takes the bumbs out of the high voltage circuits the same way a float bowl takes the bumps out of fuel pump supply. Some radio guy with grey hair will be able to fix it. Tube radios are very reliable. Better sound too. Don VE3LYX
All 6/12v powered tube car radios had a vibrator, and to one degree or another that vibrator can be heard. The vibrator looks like an electrolytic capacitor, but it isn't.
Well that's good to know. Once it's all warmed up, you can hear it, but not as much. I've been testing this thing on the bench, so it will probably be quieter once I install it. The guy I bought it from said it's a 1955 radio as it lacks the Civil Defense dial marker which started in '56? I think I'm not gonna worry about it & just put it in as is. If it dies, I will send it out. Will try replugging each tube as well
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