Hi,

I just picked up a Montgomery Ward Airline GEN 1475A radio (FM/AM/Multi Band IC) Solid State.

Plugged it in and works just fine.

I have two small problems:

#1 The antenna is broken and about the top 6" pulls right out of the antenna. When the antenna is fully pulled out, I see it can be unscrewed. Can anyone suggest where and what model telescopic antenna I can purchase to replace it?

#2 When I turn the volume up and down (not sure it's the right terminology) it sounds like there is a slight short in the knob as I get loud static or noise. It's not that bad and once I get the volume set, the radio sounds great.

#3 There is a small orange button on the top left part of the speaker, for the life of me I can't figure out what it does.

This is my first solid state radio and compared to my emergency modern sony radio, this pulls in stations clear as a bell. I can even for the first time pull in my local weather band station. I was able to pull in JFK airport transmissions as well which I found to be very cool. I picked up some CB channels as well.

I would like to make this my go to radio for relaxing and emergencies.

Any help and or information about the radio would be appreciated.

How do these solid state radio's compare to new portable emergency radios?

Welcome to the ARF forums

Nice little radio for casual listening. Probably works just as well as the newer radios... just a bit heavier.

1) Radio Shack carries three different replacement antennas. I can only find one at the moment.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2062262

2) The volume potentiometer is dirty. Take the radio apart and clean the volume control with isopropanol alcohol and a Q-TIP.

3) That button is probably the dial light. You may have a burned out bulb.
This website calls it an "Illumicator":
http://www.transistor.org/collection/ai ... ine13.html

~ Mitch ~

Thanks for the info, I will have to go down to my local radio shack and see if they have any in the store. Are they all universal when it comes to the size at the base where the single screw goes through?

With regards to the volume potentiometer (new to me), I am technically inclined but not sure enough to take apart the radio. Is this something hard to do or just a matter of taking out some screws so I can get to the front of the inards?

The illumicator I believe shows the signal strenght.

Rod

"2) The volume potentiometer is dirty. Take the radio apart and clean the volume control with isopropanol alcohol and a Q-TIP."

You would have to dismantle the control to use a Q-tip for cleaning. Probably also would require removal from the circuit board. Don't think the OP has the required skills for that. A little squirt from a can of control cleaner through an opening would be much simpler and just as effective.

Buy a can of control cleaner at that Radio Shack. Remove the screws holdin the back on. Locate the volume control and squirt some control cleaner through any opening you see. Keep it simple. End of story.

AFA the antenna, take it out of the receiver, and with you to the store, to see what the closest match is.

As suggested above, also purchase some tuner cleaner, that you can squirt into the volume control, and work the knob around to get it spread inside.

You might also D/C the signal lamp and take it with you, to see if you can match it at Rat Shack.

I have faith that our newest member will take the time and patience to carefully dismantle his radio and repair it.
We all got started that way, eh?

Rod, if you're technically inclined you'll find that taking apart a radio isn't all that difficult.
Generally, they're all held together with screws. The control knobs should pull straight off.
You shouldn't have anything to unsolder. It's all mechanical, but don't force anything.
Old plastic can be brittle, but you knew that...

~ Mitch ~

Sorry for the delay in my reply:

I did take the radio apart, wasn't as bad as I thought, just have to take your time, etc.

I am able to access the volume knob and did notice there is a small spot I think I can get some control/tuner clear into. It looks like it's pretty seal other than that one small spot and hopefully the cleaner can get in there.

I will check radio shack for the antenna replacement.

I was very very surprised to how clean the inards are. No dust or dirt of any kind and the battery receptacle, was pretty much untouched. No rust and or corrosion.

Will keep you updated as I make progress and again, thank you for all the help, really appreciated

Hello & welcome to ARF, Kero...

That "illumicator" looks like an LED ( light emitting diode ) in the pic & radio appears new enough to have one ( see IC designation on grille )...
Does it do anything at all while tuning in a strong local station ?

Good luck with your project !

John

You're doing fine there Rod. A quick trip to RatShack for the new antenna and you should be golden.
90% isopropanol alcohol and an eyedropper will work to get inside the volume control.
Get some in there and move it back and forth a few times. Folks have used WD40 and
silicone spray, but I prefer iso alcohol because its cheap and leaves no residue.

WD40 and silicon spray may attack plastics.

Can you post a picture of the innards? I'm curious about that 'illumicator'.

~ Mitch ~

xrhonda91: yes, the illumicator does work and as I go through stations, it gets dimmer and or brighter depending on the signal strength.

PBPP: I put the radio back together for the time being to keep things safe. I can take a picture of the back of the inside, however, the illumicator might be covered from the inside but will do my best to take a photo to show it. I would also prefer to stay away from WD40 when dealing with electronics and things of that nature.

Will get those up sometime this evening.

I was shocked to see the radio had the original ear piece stored in the back still in it's original plastic bag.

Was almost impossible to get a photo of the back of the illumicator as it was blocked but took the general inside so you can see all the goodies.

I don't feel 100% comfortable taking the back board off, worried I'll damage something.

BTW, I picked up some ham operators tonight, was pretty cool listening to the convo's

Is there anyway to boost the reception, once I put on a new antenna?

Deoxit D5 works great on pots too, I use it all the time

Nice Radio!!

This would not be the set to launch your radio repair hobby on. Normally we replace the Electrolytic capacitors, and tune the IF cores and antenna trimmer on the tuner, but I wouldn't advise you to do that at this point, nor really at all W/O the schematic diagram and maybe service instructions.

The easiest way is to either get an "active antenna", or string a "long wire" (could be a Slinky strung between the walls near the ceiling, for that matter). That would boost RF signals on AM/FM/SW.

Fifties: I am not sure what all those items are you refer to but the radio works pretty good so I would assume none of those would need replacing. There is a schematic on the back of the back card stock cover or cardboard or whatever that material is.

Slinky, now that is an interesting idea.

I can say for sure I don't want to get radios and repair them and such, I just like a good quality radio, that is older, well made and gets several bands.

I do find them quite interesting though and of course we all start somewhere.

You asked about boosting reception, and short of replacing certain components and tuning specific adjustments, your best bet is to simply increase antenna length.

If you have the Real Estate to string a "long wire antenna", that would be choice number one.

If not, the longer the wire external to the radio, the better.

Okay, understood, thanks