Help! Need a Delco radio expert! Does any one have any info on how to easily install the volume cable from the control head to the radio box on the 38 Deluxe radio? Both ends of the cable have a paddle, like the end of a screwdriver. If I install the cable so the control head on-off switch turns off OK then when I turn the radio on the volume is too loud. If I disassemble the cable and rotate the cable 180 degrees counterclockwise then there isn't enough room at the volume potentiometer (it bottoms out) in the radio box to allow the on-off switch at the control head to switch off. I inspected the control head to see if there are any adjustments but I could find no adjustments. The mechanical features in the control head are simple and look fixed in there position. Any help would be great. I bought the radio as a restored unit for $500 and it looked great but didn't do anything but buzz. I took it to a local radio guy who fixed the box for $200 but didn't mess with the control head. He's a hard guy to link up to and not a Chevy guy. What an ordeal but I really want the classic look of a radio in my restored 38. Thanks!!

The first thing we need to establish is do you have a 1938 control head and a 1938 box. Makes a lot of difference. Do you have a Chevrolet radio and a Delco head???????

Yes, I was very careful to search for the right stuff. As far as I know from 1938 brochure pictures and looking at other 1938's at car shows I do have the correct box (verified by the radio number also) and control head.

Ray,
It the 1938 push button deluxe radio. The box has the correct emblems as the options brochure shows. Did Chevrolet make the radio and Delco make the head?
Jim

I don't profess to be a radio expert AT ALL but have you tried turning the box end 180 deg instead of the cable end?

Tiny, I'm not sure what you mean?
Jim

I'm wondering if I should loosen the volume potentiometer inside the radio box and rotate it about 20 degrees to give the cable enough room in the control head to allow the on-off switch to switch off, if that is possible.

I suspect the problem is due to using the Delco head on a Chevy radio. From my limted knowledge on these, I believe they are different and you need a Chevy head with a Chevy radio and vise versa.

I suppose you could get creative and adapt the cable or tweak the potentiometer to get the required movement if all works ok otherwise.

Interesting! So in 1938 there's a Chevy radio with a Chevy control head and a Delco radio with a Delco control head?

On my Delco radio the cable end mates to the box end with what appears to be a slot on one end and blade on the other. If, when you turn it on, the volume is too high maybe the box end is 180 degs out so when it's turned on it's already at half volume or so. When I mounted my Delco the tuner didn't line up with the station the radio was actually on. I turned the box end 180 deg manually. When I put the tuner control cable back on it was on the same station the pointer was on. I thought that may be the same issue with your volume problem. Still clear as mud?

Hers another topic posted on this subject.
http://vcca.org/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/164733/1938_radio#Post164733

I would say that if you have the full face push button face and control head, it will only work with that genuine push button radio.

The two smaller bezels and control heads are half the size.

The genuine chevrolet head bezel face is marked with audio/ fidelity and speech /music . The delco face has no markings.

Thanks for the info! The radio box is a 985283 8 push button deluxe radio. The control head bezel face does have the audio/ fidelity and speech /music words on the face.

Hi Tiny,
Yes, I stuck a screwdriver into the radio box and connected with the volume potentiometer. i rotated it 180 degrees and then the volume worked just fine but the potentiometer bottomed out and would not allow the control head volume knob enough room to switch off the radio.
Jim

Go to the top of the main page where it says vcca members can get access to additional photos and forums and click there and it brings you to a page to click on what day it is and it will be sent to someone that can give you access

Thanks Tim, I sent the message

Soooo with the volume potentiometer all the way down and the control head volume knob all the way to off, the case and cable connectors don't mesh??? Hmmmmm Somebody with a lot more knowledge than me is going to have to help. Most of what I know about tube radios can be engraved on the head of a pin.

This one is a head scratcher alright.

don't give up on me, mates!

Item numbers 24 and 47 seem to be the volume potentiometer and on off switch, but this circiut and layout doesn't include the parts list.

It looks to have a large funnel shaped connector to the cable.
http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/533/M0022533.pdf

Thanks Jack, I can use these diagrams.

I'm having the same problem with my '37 Chrevrolet deluxe radio, part no. 985255. I still haven't figured out the solution to the problem.

You could contact your Radio TA. A privilege you have as a member of the VCCA.

well, no luck yet. I spoke with the radio guy who repaired my radio. He said I may have to get inside the radio box and loosen the volume potentiometer nut and rotate it slightly. The speaker gets in the way and contorts the cable when I am screwing the cable in so I am going to first remove the speaker and try the cable installation that way.