General Electric Model N-60 6-Tube Auto Superheterodyne
Radio Service Data Sheet
July 1936 Radio-Craft

July 1936 Radio-Craft

[Table of Contents]

Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio-Craft, published 1929 - 1953. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

Finding any photos of vintage vacuum tube type car / truck radios is usually very difficult. That is probably because they are not housed in attractive wooden or phenolic cases, and most likely ended up rusting out inside a vehicle sitting in a junk yard. A few manage to survive, such as this United Model 980744, but it is a new enough design (c1947) that it is all contained within a single chassis. Older car radios like this c1936 General Electric Model N-60 had the electronics in a metal or sometimes wooden box that was mounted in the trunk or under a seat, and then a "control head" wired remote control was mounted in or under the dashboard. Just in case someone out there manages to acquire a GE Model N-60 auto radio, I am posting the schematic & parts list, which appeared in a 1936 issue of Radio-Craft magazine. There are still many people who restore and service these vintage radios, and often it can be difficult or impossible to find schematics and/or tuning information. I keep a running list of all data sheets to facilitate a search (see below).

General Electric Model N-60 6-Tube Auto Superheterodyne
Radio Service Data Sheet

(Maximum power output, 4 W.; tuning range, 530 to 1,650 kc.; iron-core antenna coil; provision for high- or low-capacity metal tubes; instrument-panel mountings for all popular cars; very complete filtering.)

The table of voltages for this receiver follows:

*Read with 250,000 ohm meter; **read across the filter choke. The plate. S.-G., and cathode voltages are all read to ground, while the heater readings are taken directly across the socket terminals. For aligning the I.F. stage, the lead from the signal generator should be connected to the stator or the first-detector section of the main tuning condenser, through a 0.05-mf. condenser. A ground connection must be made to the chassis from the generator. Short out the oscillator section of the condenser, and set the receiver volume control at maximum position, adjusting the output of the service oscillator so that it is not high enough to cause the A.V.C. action of the receiver to take place. Then set trimmers C10, C11, and C13 for highest output. Turn the set tuning condenser to full-open position and set the service oscillator for 1,650 kc. If a low-capacity antenna is to be used with the set, connect the antenna lead to the service oscillator through a 150 mmf. condenser, or through a 0.0015-mf. condenser if the antenna is of high capacity. Adjust trimmer CC for best output. Set the service oscillator to 1,400 kc. and turn the receiver tuning condenser carefully for best output, then set CA and CB for best output. After the receiver is installed in the car it is best to readjust trimmer CA to match the antenna used. Tune in a weak station around 1,200 kc. on the dial and with the volume control about three-fourths on, set CA for best results. The dial is set to the correct frequency calibration by turning a small screw on the back of the control head after the pilot lamp assembly has been removed. Be sure that the cover of the set is tightly fitted after it has been removed. It is sometimes necessary to remove paint and dirt particles that prevent a tight fit in order to stop ignition noise. The receiver is fitted with a universal control head which can be used on almost any car, by the use of the correct type of escutcheon plate.

Posted July 27, 2023
(updated from original post on 8/27/2015)

Radio Service Data Sheets

These schematics, tuning instructions, and other data are reproduced from my collection of vintage radio and electronics magazines. As back in the era, similar schematic and service info was available for purchase from sources such as SAMS Photofacts, but these printings were a no-cost bonus for readers. There are 227 Radio Service Data Sheets as of December 28, 2020.

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General Electric Model N-60 6-Tube Auto SuperheterodyneRadio Service Data SheetJuly 1936 Radio-Craft

General Electric Model N-60 6-Tube Auto Superheterodyne
Radio Service Data Sheet
July 1936 Radio-Craft