Hi Folks,
Recently won an early version Westinghouse Aeriola (Wood panel with metal dials, "A" version label. Was a basket case but I cleaned it up, fixed the wiring and rebased a UV199.
Problem is that is missing 5 of the 7 Binding Post Caps. I can't figure the diameter and thread pitch of these posts. they are not 3/8 24 NF, not metric, not 1/8 FIP, not any lamp hardware size. Any ideas? The fact that these were missing is likely one reason that I got this relatively cheap.
Best Regards,
John "MrFixr55
I have am RCA Radiola Senior, which was made by Westinghouse for RCA and is virtually the same receiver. I looked at my own binding posts and measured them. They are indeed 3/8" diameter, but look to be a fine thread, probably 28 or 32. You can get 3/8" 28 nuts and 3/8" 32 nuts to try, and see which you could use, and you can get taps once you know the right size in case you want to try to make replacement caps from brass pipe of proper diameter, or have a machine shop make some up for you. You may be able to use bicycle axle nuts in 3/8" 28 if that is the right thread pitch.
I would suggest acquiring a thread gauge, it will remove any ambiguity about what the thread pitch might be. Most modern bicycle axle nuts are metric I think, the threads used in 1920s radios are definitely going to be Imperial threads, unless it's a set from France or something. There was another weird thread pitch that was used on optical and scientific equipment sometimes, but I doubt whether Westinghouse would have used that.
Regards
Arran
John, take a picture of one and place an ad in the classified section here and also at the other radio forum. Be sure to mention they also fit an RCA Radiola Senior (thanks Mike). You never know what someone has just laying around in a box, jar, or drawer. When the guy who bought Gary Schneider's business (PTOP) gets everything organized I'd be surprised if he doesn't have a bunch of them.
Buying a thread guage is a good idea also. At least one of my tap sets has one but it's limited to coarse and fine threads. I've been known to take a nut or screw into the nut and bolt section of my local hardware store to find what I needed. I recently wanted stainless license plate screws and took one into my ACE hardware and quickly determined it was metric and the size by trying a couple of nuts they had loose in the bins. Good luck!
I bought some reproduction ones MANY yrs ago. Probably in the early 80's. Don't know if any one making them anymore.
Has anybody checked with RadiolaGuy (think he is on ARF) up in Portland? if anybody knows where to get them , it would be him.
The fellows name is Sonny.
https://www.radiolaguy.com/
Russ
Hi Folks,
Thanks for the replies. First off, sorry, I think I posted this in the Philco section by mistake.
I did take one of the 2 caps that I did get with the radio to the hardware store, used their Gauge Panel of studs and nuts) and it was not either 3/8-16 (NC) or 3/8- 24 (NF). If there is a 3/8- 28 or 3/8-32, that may be it. I tried metric and that did not work. Older English bicycles may have used something like that. Thx for the idea, I can borrow a nut from a 3 speed Sturmey Archer and try that.
Thanks for the idea about placing the classified. I just won a RA DA on ePay, so my budget is blown for a little while. They do use the same caps, but in a war between an Aeriola Sr and the RA DA, I think an RA DA wins. Both were advertised in "Radio Enters the Home. Wonder which was first. RA DA was in an early Pic of KDKA's control room. Famous pic of Sarnoff with a Radiola RS
Again, Thanks
John, "MrFixr55
I did not find any on Radiola Guy's website. but he does have new repro under lid labels.
Will have to save up. Radio is not pristine ut I hope to test it this weekend. Did have to replace the pigtail for the tickler. Had to do the same on the Radiola III I repaired 8 years ago.
The axle nuts on a Sturmey Archer hub might be Whitworth threads, B.S.W, which is an Imperial thread pitch, but different again, incidentally they measure their bolts by shaft size, not the head size . The axles on an older Schwinn might work, they may be an American thread.
Regards
Arran