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TR2/3/3A Original Radios in the TR3/3A/3B

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TR3driver said:
Marv's radio appears to be a model 4TBTR, which appears in the Sept 64 issue of SAMS Photofact Auto Radio series. That doesn't prove when the radio started being installed in cars, but usually (back then) the AR article was no more than a year after the radio first appeared in cars. (Meaning I think that model probably appeared in late 1963 or early 1964) As noted, it appears to be made by Bendix, but the only indication in the article is that many components have Bendix part numbers. No indication as to country of origin. Somewhere around here I've got a slightly later "Triumph" radio though (5BTRP with the polarity plug), which I believe does carry a "Made in USA" marking somewhere.
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Regarding later versions, my 1966 TR4A came with a 6BTR "Triumph" model with polarity switch (see pictures below). Also, I found this document that shows some of the Bendix radios made for Triumphs at least for 1965-1970 (search for Triumph).

https://www.bendixradiofoundation.com/documents/AutoRadio_IllusList.pdf




Scott
 
TR3driver said:
However, as I said before, radios in the US were (mostly) installed by dealers, who could either source the entire Radiomobile kit from S-T or install their preference of radio. Here's a shot of a Motorola radio (with no Triumph logo) installed in the hump mount plate. (Unfortunately I neglected to record the source, so if anyone recognizes this as their photo, please let me know.)
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Randall...would the unit in your picture fit with a heater also on the car? It doesn't look like there would be room for both...I only see about 5 inches between the tunnel and instrument panel.
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I will have to go back and look at the pile of radio's I have. I think I have some Motorola's like in John's picture. I thought they were just aftermarket US radios that were stuck in the cars. There is a local car guy that likes to repair the old radio's and I send a couple to him when I get some in but never a Motorola. Pretty sure I have junked a couple of them.

Marv
 
CJD said:
TR3driver said:
However, as I said before, radios in the US were (mostly) installed by dealers, who could either source the entire Radiomobile kit from S-T or install their preference of radio. Here's a shot of a Motorola radio (with no Triumph logo) installed in the hump mount plate. (Unfortunately I neglected to record the source, so if anyone recognizes this as their photo, please let me know.)
View attachment 31787
Click to expand...

Randall...would the unit in your picture fit with a heater also on the car? It doesn't look like there would be room for both...I only see about 5 inches between the tunnel and instrument panel.
Click to expand...
Yes, it fits, just barely. There is a note in the instructions for the mount (with a Radiomobile) that the heater doors are supposed to hit the speaker magnet, to deflect hot air away from the radio :smile:

Here's a photo from TeriAnn Wakeman that shows how snug it is

PYE_20radio_20oblique larger.jpg
 
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Randall could these be the braces for mounting the valve unit? And what is a valve unit? I never could ID these two brackets but they do fit perfectly under the dash lining up with the two square holes and two screws under the dash.
 

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mallard said:
Randall could these be the braces for mounting the valve unit? And what is a valve unit? I never could ID these two brackets but they do fit perfectly under the dash lining up with the two square holes and two screws under the dash.
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I believe that is just what those are! Here's a photo from Will E, showing what he got out of his TR2. As you can see, there were more pieces (the black square is where yet another bracket attached to support the glovebox head unit) but I think you've got the basic brackets.



"Valve" is British for "vacuum tube". So the "valve" unit is just where the main electronics are housed, including the tubes for RF amplifier, IF amplifier, AM demodulator and audio amplifier, plus a vibrator (I'm guessing), transformer and more tubes to form the high voltage power supply needed for the other tubes. Probably an audio output transformer in there too. Sounds hokey, but this is what electronics looked like before the transistor was discovered (and made practical for ordinary use). The head in the glovebox door probably only carried the tuning mechanism, volume control and band switch.
 
Randall,

Do you think that arrangement behind the dash and in the glove box area ended sometime during TR2 production? Surely the separate amplification box was replaced with combined units by the mid 50's?

Walter
 
Tropical TR said:
Do you think that arrangement behind the dash and in the glove box area ended sometime during TR2 production? Surely the separate amplification box was replaced with combined units by the mid 50's?
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I don't have a lot of evidence as yet; but what I have leads me to believe that Triumph did not go to the combined unit until late in the 50s, after the start of TR3A production. There is an addendum to the Smiths installation instructions (for the combined unit) that says the original instructions were dated Feb 1959. And the hole for mounting the speaker used with early 2 piece unit was deleted in April 59 (according to another Smiths note). TS39781LO did have the holes, both for the speaker and for mounting the "valve unit".

But this is all guesswork on my part. Anyone with more information, feel free to chime in!
 
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Randall thanks for the definition of valve in British terminology. I also have the other parts in your picture. I had no idea they all went together. When I got my car the dash was removed. It still had the square clip in nuts on the firewall. These parts came out of a late December 1956 production TS14819
 
Thanks, Keith. That seems to prove that the two piece setup was still being used during at least part of TR3 production. If you decide you don't want them, please keep me in mind.
 
Randall,

I am in same discussion on the UK TR Register Forum. Don't know if you want to go that far afield but a gentleman named Bob is offering his brackets, although he only has the main pieces.

Walter
 
Randall at this time I think I will hang onto them for awhile. This thread has sparked my interest in original radios and offers a challenge in finding the correct radio and valve. I would consider a trade for your up-coming autographed copy of your book (How to fix anything on your TR3) By Randall.
 
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