IN the past 2 months I have picked up an Atwater Kent model 44 with it's original speaker in fine working condition and just this weekend I got a model 40 with an RCA model 100 speaker and I was told the owner had just spent $70 at a local shop to have it repaired (Radio).
It too seems to work well,
Firstly it seems like both of these really need a long wire to work well, I have about an 80' wire outdoors from the house to the garage.
So I am used to working on late 30s sets and these are early enough that they have a totally different sound, I ran them both at about 108 VAC.
No ground wire connected on either during testing.
Now since this Era of radios is new to me I figure that there are lots of new things to learn, Are there any places which I can look for a good overview and tech tips on these?
Is there a better speaker I can use for better sound?
Any better Ohm speakers I should look for or stay away from?
And where can I find the small wooden feet for the model 40, The 44 has the original feet,
There is a certain simplicity to these which is warming and when playing I can hear the 20s in every way, I would like to find a metal table to put the radio atop of and the speaker on the lower shelf but I guess I will need to see lots of pics so I know what to look for,
The 40 is here in this pic of this weekends finds,
Thanks for any info or leads you can give me!
Peter

The model 40 does have the feet that the model 44 has. The model 42 was the first to have these feet.
No feet on the models 37, 38 or 40.

Most of that series of metal AK's including the 40 and 44 used the AK drum speakers E1, E2, and E3. They aren't expensive, very common, and sound nice. I've been using an E2 on my workbench for ten years. If there is squealing or feedback when using an E speaker, move the speaker to a different location or aim it away from the radio. When a metal AK has a four pin speaker socket, it uses one of the F series speakers.

Pete

pred said...." I would like to find a metal table to put the radio atop of and the speaker on the lower shelf but I guess I will need to see lots of pics ...."

What can work well for the time being are 20 gallon aquarium tank stands. They're about the right size for an AK-40 and it's attendant speaker mounted below. I've used them in the past and with a little imagination (think doilies and long place covers) they fit right in with the rest of the furniture.

May go with the 20 gal tank stand, Good idea. I am sure I will see on in the trash sometime soon
Is there a way to sub in a PM speaker if I add a resistor?
Kutztown is coming so I will keep an eye our for the proper speaker as well !
Peter

As far as antennas go, my A-K 40 seems to do okay on a "lamp socket aerial", which consists of a length of power cord with a .001uF ceramic or film capacitor (use ones rated at a minimum of 250 volts, just to be safe; I used 3 kilovolt ones) in EACH lead of the cord. The opposite leads of the capacitors are connected to the antenna and ground posts. Not a stellar performer, but adequate for local stations.



I have restored mine, along with the matching Type E speaker:

pred said..."Is there a way to sub in a PM speaker if I add a resistor?"

No need for a resistor, just use an output transformer that will match the plate z of the 71. (or something near it, anyway) Connect that transformer to the output posts of the 40. Then match the output z of the transformer to any good PM speaker of the same z.

Just get any speaker with an output transformer out of any 50's-60's tube type clock radio. The primary side
of those trannies are in the 2K range and will work great.

These metal box AK sets are like most early AC sets... all the power supply is submerged in tar or wax. These
early AC sets tend to have many bad resistors, so watch for that. Rather than change out the paper filter caps
on these, I add a B+ fuse (1/8 a or so) and AC input fuse (1.5A) and call it good.

Mark Oppat
www.oldradioparts.net

Interesting,
I have a 40 and a 44 and the 44 sounds much better but the 40 was supposed to be repaired, I know what that usually means,
Haven't taken either apart,
As far as antenna goes, I have a 120' wire and a 80' wire, Either seems to work great and I can pick up lots of stations,
Now if I can only find that 20 gal fish tank stand in the trash!
Peter

The A-K 40 had two different power supplies: one that was completely potted in tar, and one where the filter caps and choke were in a separate compartment in the right side of the PSU box and were held down with a retaining strap. Mine, thankfully, is the later type so replacing the capacitors was pretty easy (in fact, someone had already done so some time in the 1930's or 1940's judging by the replacement paper/foil caps, which were late '30s or early '40s types.