Question, are all radios that are considered or labeled "Farms Sets" battery operated? Don't own a farm set but it is on my list of types of radios to get!!!

Thanks!!!

Lynn

Mostly yes. Farm sets were either 6V with vibrator, 32V (with or without vibrator), 1.5V/90V, as well as other combinations of A,B,C,D battery voltages for some earlier sets.

There is one set of exceptions to all farm sets being battery sets.

Some farms/ranches had 110V DC systems, using either some type of wind generator, or a gas powered electrical plant. For those installations, a 110 AC/DC set would work. I have seen old advertisements for 110V DC farm power systems, that included 110V AC/DC radio sets as one of the options.

Most of my acquistions are now farm sets. I just find them more interesting.

Radios that are referred to as "Farm Radios" are generally radio sets that date from around 1930 to the late 1940s, are either console or table model sets (excluding portable radios) and run on battery power. Power sources are generally either 6 volt vibrator, 32 volt DC, or A B C batteries. This is a very general description as there are always exceptions to the rule but this is what I identify "Farm Radios" as.

Many of these battery radios were designed for long-distance rural reception, with a three-gang tuner and RF stage. Since there were no electrical appliances to interfere with reception, these sets could really perform well.
Don

I don't try to specialize in collecting farm sets, but the few I have are definitely keepers.

I would suggest that you shop around for old power supplies for the DC sets you acquire. Some of the vintage ones are as much fun to play with and restore as the radios themselves. I currently have more of them than DC radios. Haha!

You got that right. We had a power outage for a few hours about a month or so ago, and with no PC or internet, decided to fiddle with my Philco 46-131.

Even though it doesn't have an RF stage before the converter, and all I had hooked up to it was a tunable loop, I was getting DX as well as locals, all over the dial crystal clear...In daylight.

I have a Zenith 4B-313 farm set as well, but unlike the Philco which will run on a 1-1/2 Volt A supply and 90 Volt B battery, it takes 6 volts at a current draw of about two amps, so had to build an AC power supply. Powering the vibrator with it makes the set a tad noisy when DXing, lol.

Farm radios are great to have. At least one, anyway. Nice to have if the power goes out, too. I have several, and I like them all. As said above, very sensitive, good s/n ratio.
I restored one for a guy about a year or so ago. It was the very first thing his parents bought after they were married. They were dirt poor, and saved for a long time to buy it. But by the time this guy was old enough to know about it, it had already quite working. He remembered his dad trying to get it working from their car battery.
It was a A/B battery set. 1.5 / 90 volt.
I went through the chassis components, of course, and got it working well. It had good sound and excellent sensitivity, as these tend to have.
But since he was doing it for his mother, who was in her 90's and lived in a nursing home, he wanted to have it work for her before she passed.
I got it done, but added a couple features. The batteries were easily changeable, as I used D cells for the 1.5 volts. 4 D cells in parallel in a Radio Shack battery holder that was meant to be in series, but I modified it to parallel.
I built a small metal battery box from 26 gauge stainless steel with a cover that snapped on and off to access the 10 9 volt batteries standing vertically inside.
I made a hinged back for it, with a knob to open it to access the batteries. On this back I made a coil antenna. It worked very well.
I guess she isn't using it anymore, but he is.
So now he brought me a pretty rad looking radio/ phono that he wants me to fix.
I like farm radios better than radio/ phono combo's. But I'll do it . I guess.
Mark D.

I've always been fond of the 1.5/90 AA-4 farm sets. I got my first one in high school (Zenith 4K035), and still have it.

L

Often the farm set got little use due to the expense involved with batteries and/or in home electricity was soon installed. Lucky for us collectors since they're commonly found in good physical and working condition. Places that were still offf the grid 60 years ago are prime locations for picking....rural New Brunswick always brings me luck.

I have a sweet little Canadian Crosley model B2464...twice the fun with both BC and SW. It took minimal work to bring it back to life. Making it's own personal A B battery pack took longer.

Bruce Webster

One of the main reasons these sets are remembered as being very sensitive and clear is the fact that there were no AC power lines within miles of them. AM reception is fantastic when all the little RF generators that are so commonplace now are switched off.

Indeed. Just taking a few steps outside with a portable AM/SW has a remarkable effect. Going over the hill from the San Jose area to the Central valley and its like magic. At night, over the hill, I regularly get KOA in Denver (~1000 miles) as clear as a bell - on my car radio!


Brett

There were a handful of farm sets that could operate either on battery power or on DC line current. One example would be the Zenith 7J232 Walton tombstone, which could operate on 6v DC or 110v AC. The idea was that you would be ready to plug it into the electric grid if it ever found its way to your farm.

Bob

Wow Guys, you all know so much information! What an answer and I learned alot! I am greatful to all who posted! Especially when you give info about why some things were made the way they were. I found it interestering that you could use battery or 110v in some sets and the facts about reception!! I wasn't aware that RF generators where that big of an issue but it makes alot of sence and I did know that you could get the best reception on a clear night?

Thanks for all info and the education guys!!!

Lynn

Lynn, Many of the portable radios from the 1940's and 1950's that used A (1 1/2 to 9 volts) and B (67 to 90 volts) batteries also had 115 volt AC-DC line cords. These were called "3-way power" portables, and often had 3-gang tuners for rural reception on camping trips, etc. By that time, the REA provided AC power to the farms, so these sets were not called "farm radios" but they continued the fine tradition of strong reception even during power failure emergencies.
Don

The 32VDC sets were often run right off the output of the Wincharger or similar power system. The tubes up to the audio were run with series filaments and the audio was often PP 48's and those ran parallel filaments on 32V. The B+ was actually only 32V and it resulted in a very quiet set but fairly sensitive if an RF stage was included; not all had them.

Ive examples of all farm radio varieties (not ncluding the 110VDC which was not stricly farm either as many cities and ships ran 110VDC) A 110VDC power system was another Wincharger offering. I dont consider 20's battery sets or later 1V portables as strictly farm radios either.

Carl

A retired repairman used to make power supplies from battery chargers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Wood-1936- ... _500wt_922


This one uses a single 6v battery? Price is up there..

I have a Silvertone 2441 tabletop that I got from forum member "Radiotvnut", along with the matching "Powr Shiftr" battery eliminator (which I got from another forum member). It is a great performer, even with just a Terk Advantage loop attached. I also made a battery pack for it (which I used before I got the battery eliminator, and still use during power outages). Great radio!

I restored a 1946 Crosley F46A farm radio a year ago and built a battery for it. A very nice radio and well made. Here's a couple photos and there's also a link to a short YouTube video of it playing:

The radio requires an external antenna and the yellow and red gator clips at left in the bottom picture are the antenna lead connections.

Here's a short video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V97WQEjeKw

Lynn:

I have several "farm" sets in my collection...including a Zenith 6V27. They are very good performers.

BR,

Terry