Retro Radio Set

**Bugbear** · 25th July 11, 01:04 AM

Have a new "old" toy; a *correction: GE Super Radio II* AM/FM receiver found it's way to me. It was missing the telescoping antenna, but otherwise in good working order and condition. I have borrowed a good sized antenna off another radio until I get a replacement close to the original length; though I could have just connected wire to the external-antenna terminals.

Absolutely love the sound quality, but I remember a couple of family members having these, or perhaps the first models, when I was a kid. It's the classic handle, that funny, square on/off button on the top, and the large, aluminum tuning nob that brings back some memories... Reminds me of the late seventies/early eighties.

**Mike in Dayton** · 25th July 11, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

Have a new "old" toy; a GE Superadio 2, AM/FM receiver found it's way to me. It was missing the telescoping antenna, but otherwise in good working order and condition. I have borrowed a good sized antenna off another radio until I get a replacement close to the original length; though I could have just connected wire to the external-antenna terminals.

Absolutely love the sound quality, but I remember a couple of family members having these, or perhaps the first models, when I was a kid. It's the classic handle, that funny, square on/off button on the top, and the large, aluminum tuning nob that brings back some memories... Reminds me of the late seventies/early eighties.

That is a good find. I still have my Super Radio I. I got mine a few years before the II came out. The radio was popular with the AM DX'ers. DX'ers are those that like to hunt out distant AM stations. The radio had great sensitivity and more important, selectivity. FM sensitivity and selectivity was very good also. The big speaker in the front had a nice sound.

Mine has developed a problem and I have lost the AM band. One of the these days I will open it up and figure out what has gone bad.

Good luck with the radio.

Mike

**Bugbear** · 25th July 11, 03:30 PM

Thanks. I am picking up stations all over the Southwest in both AM and FM.
Oops, gues I wrote it wrong "Super Radio II."
I found a retyped manual on the web, and there are lots of sites with tech talk on the repairs and modifications people have done to them. They usually start with a warning about being real careful with the power switch when you take it apart.

Anyway, it's been a bit of fun.

**piperdbh** · 26th July 11, 05:38 PM

If it says, "Car 54, where arrrrre youuuuu?" you'll know you've got something.

**Bugbear** · 27th July 11, 09:02 PM

Ya, I think I'm going to rig up an external antenna for the FM; partly because I live in an aluminum hut, but also because I don't like having the telescopic antenna sticking out all the time. Guess I could build an AM loop to set beside the radio, but the AM seems to be doing pretty good. I think I'm getting Mexico stations and, I know for sure I am getting Navajo stations from up north.

**piperdbh** · 28th July 11, 04:52 AM

One of my uncles used to use a metal window screen for an antenna. Might that work for you, Ted?

**kc8ufv** · 28th July 11, 11:41 AM

As far as an antenna is concerned for recieving DX, a longwire works wonders.

**Bugbear** · 28th July 11, 12:14 PM

Well, I guess I could try connecting a wire from the radio's antenna terminal directly to a screw in my aluminum hut.

**kc8ufv** · 28th July 11, 12:34 PM

Well, when I was at my parents, a alligator clip on the gutters worked well for recieving with my crystal set when I was a kid.

**Bugbear** · 28th July 11, 02:08 PM

Crystal sets are cool: ultra retro-tech.

When I was growing up, we had a bunch of tube type radios in the house. A giant portable zenith comes to mind. It plugged in, but could have also been run off a bunch of batteries of some sort. Always fun to look at the tubes glowing.