Radio equipment

[Miguel Parot]

Hello everyboy,

Here comes my post on radios.

Before leaving for the show in Lyon, yesterday, I printed the very precise and detailed article on T34 radios written by Tobias Ebner, that Lee included in one of his newletters soem time ago. I thought I might find the right radio for my car ( a 1963 343) at the show. I kept in mind the indicated price range of 200 USD for an early one (like mine) to 50 USD for an late one. With a possible peak at 400 USD for nice refurbished ones.

There were two booths for radio equipment at the show, both in the hands of a German guy. The first one had an impressive collection of radios of all kinds. I showed him the radio table with each kind of radio for each year and asked : would you have, by any chance, a T code Blaupunkt for a 1963 KG 34. And the answer was... Yes ! ! ! He had one, in working condition. Price ? 600 Euros...Including the front plate and two knobs in very poor condition, orangy, all cooked by the sun. I said I did not need the knobs, nor the front plate as I had both. The price went down to 500, and after 2 minutes down to 450 Euros, "but not less". But I did not feel like buying it as I was not prepared for such a price, and I have other priorities to deal with. (New tires, for approximately that same price...)

My friend Arnaud then talked with this man about his Becker radio for his 1953 Zwitter oval split cox, that is not working. Could he repair it ? The man started to reply that his lead time at this moment was 6 months. Then he said that this kind of Becker radio would be very difficult to repair, it would take hours, perhaps a couple of days, perhaps more... He mentioned a price of 800 Euros (to repair !), before ending by saying : no, I prefer not to do it, sorry.

Unfortunately I did not write the name of this German vendor.

I went to the other booth, run by a man called Johann Schuler, from Hirschaid. He did not have a 1963 T code model, but offered me a 1966 W code Blaupunkt radio, with transistors, not bulbs, for a price of 280 Euros. I did not buy it either, as it is not the model for my car.

Like the other one, this man did not feel like venturing in the repair of my friend's Becker. But he mentioned that a guy near Paris could do it. We're waiting for the full data...

I just wanted to share this experience, specially for my friends in Europe : this is what the prices for radios are today, my friends...

Cheers to all,

Miguel

Miguel

[Lee Hedges]

In my search for an authentic radio for my 1968 I've been searching ebay Germany (with Heiko's help). There were quite a few Emden/Grundig radios available in the 100-150 Euro range in original working condition with knobs & faceplate.

You may want to check ebay Germany for your T-series radio and be patient, just like all T34 parts searches.

[Miguel Parot]

Thank you Lee for your encouragement.

Yes, patience seems to be a key word concerning parts for T34s...

As I mentioned, changing my radio is not a priority, as the current short wave radio placed by the latest US owner is working.

I'll wait for the right thing at the right moment. And at the right price...

One question : do I have to understand that earlier models of radios (1961,1962,1963...) were radio with lamps (bigs and heavy !) , and later ones, like the 1966 I was offered to buy, were transistorized (much smaller, and lighter) ?

[Lee Hedges]

Yes, the early T34 radios from 1962-63 were the tube-style while the transitor-style radios came later. Tube radios are more expensive to restore/repair/rebuild as the parts are more difficult to find and there are fewer shops that have the expertise to do the work.

I'd bet that a T-series Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio will be listed on ebay Germany once a month if you're vigilent. And I'd bet that you could win the auction for under 200 Euros.

Here's an original T-series in Germany for 1.50 Euro. It'd be worth sending off for repairs & testing.
www.ebay.de/itm/Autoradio-Blaupunkt-Frankfurt-TR-de-luxe-6V-mit-Zerhacker-/131043631404?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item1e82cf212c

I have a source in America for radio restorations that is very reasonable and he can do iPod conversions & 12V conversions as well.

[Miguel Parot]

Thanks a lot, Lee.
I'll keep my eyes open !

[Carsten Klein]

price for an early radio complete with radio face plate is more than 400 euros, thats quite normal here .... to get the plate is nearly impossible and sometimes these are sold at 150 - 200 euros!
T 34 are different ! and much more expensive than nearly any other classivc VW !
i ll tell everyone seraching for a T34 before buying!

[Miguel Parot]

Hallo Carsten,

You're certainly right when you write : "T34 are different."

It's certainly part of the fun of owning one...!