Hello All,

The GE P-715B just arrived & project begins... Radio is somewhat smaller ( and lighter ) than I thought... The wire handle which extends from the right side panel ( which wasn't shown in seller's pic ) is missing & the tuning cap is "flopping around" in case after knob removal. Looks like it will clean up fairly well.

Interesting that top and bottom of extruded aluminum housing are angled to the rear which causes front of radio to point slightly upward---neat feature... Guess this was done for a better fit in the "charging case"...

Plan to start disassembly tonight or tomorrow---hope all else is intact & undamaged internally !

More to come...

John

Got it apart tonight & unfortunately someone else had been inside at an earlier time...
The tuning cap issue was simply due to very loose screws. The pad beneath speaker had become hard & brittle and a few pieces broke off---does anyone know if this was originally rubber or some time of asphaltic material ? And the rubberized supports for the loopstick fell apart...

But it was sure neat to see those cylindrical copper IF cans & early transistors ! And only three old Nashville electrolytics to replace...

Hopefully get some good pics to post tomorrow...

John

Hey John,

Haven't been able to find a GE-P715B radio online.
What does it look like?

"WE WANT PICTURES !!"

~ Mitch ~

You can see pictures of the radio as found here:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=187107

Dave

Got the radio done today---was more of a challenge than anticipated, but was sure worth the effort...

Spent a long while cleaning/detailing cosmetics---damp cotton cloth only on vinyl insert & plastic antenna cover with painted GE logo, toothbrush & windex on aluminum, and toothbrush & dishwashing liquid/water on knobs & speaker grille... Q-tip & toothpaste to polish brass tuning knob retaining screw...

Only had 3 easy to replace electrolytic caps, but had intermittent motorboating/squealing when PCB flexed---this took some time to locate, but while checking voltages at various points, noticed points at tuning cap end which should have been ground (-) were going slightly positive when fault occurred. After careful inspection for cracks & bad solder connections, noticed that a jumper wire which connected two ground lands had an odd looking joint---when I touched it with iron, solder simply "balled" around wire. Turned out that the wire would not "take" solder and probably had caused problems since radio was new. Replaced with new jumper and added two more as a precaution---one across back side of tuning cap since ground lands on either side depended on tuning cap mounting screws for connection ( have seen unusual behavior from this type of thing before ), and another where a thin trace over a slightly warped area of PCB joined two other ground lands... Alignment nearly right on & radio worked great out of cabinet except a little oscillation around 910 KHz which disappeared when reassembled...

The dense foam loopstick supports were crumbling, so used two approx. 1" long pieces of 1/4" thick, 3/8" wide closed cell weatherstrip placed in center of antenna compartment "radius" about an inch from each end. This worked very well as loopstick "pressed" into foam strips as you slid cover over it...

The speaker support pad/insulator was very brittle & fell apart, so found some heavy photograph "matting" cardboard of approximately same thickness and cut it to fit---worked great...

Reassembly went well & radio is an excellent performer for a 6-transistor... Vintage Dave was sure right ! Am listening to Grand Ole Opry on WSM 650 right now...

Here are pics after cleaning & before cap change---look at those round copper IF cans !

And here are pics of completed radio... Think this set should qualify as one of GE's early "jewels"...

Amazing how similar cabinet design is to the 1959 Delco "Auto-Portable" used in the Buick and offered to GM employees minus the automobile "interface" edge connector... And GE had it a couple years earlier...

Sure would like to hear from others who have this radio...

Congratulations on a fine restoration! I believe the parts in that radio are all American made. GE and other manufacturers soon began using imported parts and eventually had their entire sets made overseas. Your excellent pictures have given me inspiration to dig into mine.

Here is a link showing how the radio was originally sold. It had rechargable batteries and came with a carrying case for the radio and charger. I wonder if the radio was also sold separately?

http://www.abetterpage.com/transistors/ ... GE715.html

(This site is filled with pictures and descriptions other interesting American made transistor radios.)

Dave

Thanks very much Dave, appreciate the kind words---hope you get yours in shape & please post pics ! And don't hesitate to ask any questions... Guess I need to start looking for the "slide-in" carrying handle to complete mine...

That is a great site---was there last week just after you let me know what model it was... Good info including the Park Aluminum ad featuring radio---and that tuning dial number plate is still flawless in appearance & well adhered to aluminum knob !

Saw one last year at an antique shop in Southern Indiana and it had a very well made, genuine leather form-fit case ( not the accessory carrying case )---but they were asking too much... Might see if its still there next time I'm in area... But I also wonder how many variations they offered as far as "accessories" during the time they made them...

John