I have been driving my 56 Victoria without any radio for too long and would like to bench test a couple of original AM radios saved from cars I junked. I see 2 black wires, one with a bullet end connector and the other has the provision for a fuse. Has anyone tried hooking a battery charger to these wires to supply power. I have a 2 AMP setting and a 6 AMP setting on my charger. I will also need to service the tuner and push buttons which are stiff. Should I just send it out ? Any advice will be appreciated.

Use a battery or a proper power supply. I’m not sure, but I think many chargers either won’t work or will damage it. There’s several company’s that will restore the original, or convert it to modern components. Chances of the old tubes working are pretty low and at least around me there aren’t any tube testers left in the drug store. I’m old enough to remember when there were.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Mikers right.  Just use a 12 volt battery and hook it up.  The wire with the fuse is power, the other most likely for the light.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I've always bench tested radios with a battery charger. Either I've been lucky or the battery chargers were OK for them. I've never ruined a car radio yet.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles