356 radio

356 Porsche-related discussions and questions.
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david pichette
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356 radio

#1 Post by david pichette »

I have read that the radio in some 356 cars are 6V or 12V switchable, is that true? How does one switch the radio from 6V to 12V? I do not find a switch viseable to make the change. The radio is in a 64 356C.

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Charlie White
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Re: 356 radio

#2 Post by Charlie White »

See:

http://derwhites356literature.com/DerWh ... adios.html

Main website:

http://derwhites356literature.com/

CW

PS: 6v/12v switchability same for Becker radios, which were also offered as factory accessories.
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Russ Collins
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Re: 356 radio

#3 Post by Russ Collins »

Some later model Blaupunkt Kolns, 1963 - 1964 vintage, were supplied pre-wired without a voltage changing plug in the radio unit. They could be made to run on 6 or 12 volts by changing some jumpers inside the radio. The same is true for all earlier Blaupunkt models up to about 1958. The external power supply/amplifiers after 1958 all had changing plugs in addition to the changing plug inside the radio. If rewiring was required, they sometimes included instructions on the black paper insulator inside the external power supply/amplifier.
Russ

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Phil Planck
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Re: 356 radio

#4 Post by Phil Planck »

David

Here is the tab/card you pull out and turn upside down on a Koln. It's the one in the left side slot. Sorry for the picture quality - these are shots I took a long time ago.
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Jim Breazeale
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Re: 356 radio

#5 Post by Jim Breazeale »

Russ Collins wrote:Some later model Blaupunkt Kolns, 1963 - 1964 vintage, were supplied pre-wired without a voltage changing plug in the radio unit. They could be made to run on 6 or 12 volts by changing some jumpers inside the radio. The same is true for all earlier Blaupunkt models up to about 1958. The external power supply/amplifiers after 1958 all had changing plugs in addition to the changing plug inside the radio. If rewiring was required, they sometimes included instructions on the black paper insulator inside the external power supply/amplifier.
Russ

As far as I know, I know of no Balupunkt radio that needs to be rewired to switch from 6 to 12V, especially in the 60s. There are just about as many ways to switch a Blaupunkt radio from 6 to 12V as there are different models of Balupunkt radios, though. Some require removing a panel to access the switch and some are external. I have pictured a few examples from a wide range of years from early to late (post 356 production). I would be interested in seeing examples of radios you referred to.

Regards
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Jim Karaba
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Re: 356 radio

#6 Post by Jim Karaba »

I think the early telefunkens needed some wires switched but the blaupunkts were much more user friendly.

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Re: 356 radio

#7 Post by Jim Breazeale »

Russ

I am constantly reminded to "never say never".
I just found a Blaupunkt radio, unfortunately, all the tags are off the radio so I can't identify year of manufacture or model type. I removed the top cover and then removed an internal cover and lo and behold, there was a series of jumpers that require unsoldering and resoldering to switch from 6 to 12V. I've had this radio in my back room for many, many years and don't have any idea what car it came from (it was a Porsche 356, though 'cause I don't let anything in my door unless it is a Porsche). It is almost identical in appearance as a Blaupunkt Bremen TR. It does weigh about twice as much, though. The Bremen TR has transistors and the other one is a tube type radio. They are both one piece radios.

I'm still learning!

Regards
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Charlie White
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Re: 356 radio

#8 Post by Charlie White »

Jim, you are correct and what a great set of photos. Here are some images from the Blaupunkt factory manuals. Some of the "D" (60/61) series Blaupunkts, like the Koln TR de Luxe US model (60/61) do require jumpers to change the voltage. However the "E" series Koln TR de Luxe (61/62) can be changed by way of switches.

One thing often missed is the fact that on some two piece case radios, you have to change the voltage on BOTH the main radio case AND the smaller case (often called the power pack).

BTW, Jim, can I add your pics to my website?

CW
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"D" Series Blaupunkt Koln (60/61)
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Re: 356 radio

#9 Post by Jim Breazeale »

Charlie

You are more than welcome to use those pictures. I can probably find more examples, if you want.

Regards

Jim
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John Linden
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Re: 356 radio

#10 Post by John Linden »

A few years back, I had a Blaupunkt Frankfurt Mark I radio from the 1956-1957 period. The radio was sold as a Blaupunkt Blue Spot into the US markets. The distributor was American Elite, Inc, 7 Park Ave New York, NY.

The instructions for that radio show a 3 step process to convert from 6V to 12V.

Step #1: That radio required jumpers to be re-soldered in the receiver part of the radio just like the pictures of the radio the Jim posted.

Step #2: The vibrator in the supply unit had to be changed. Quoting the instructions " Exchange the 6V ( order No. I 844/6z) unit for a 12V (I 844/5z) unit. So it is clear, Blaupunkt used both 6V and 12V vibrators and during this early period.

Step #3: Exchange the pilot lamp. Quote " Exchange the 7 V 0.1 A pilot lamp for a 14 V 0.1 A lamp. It also says " Note: As substitute 6 V 0.1 A or 12 V 0.1 A lamps can be used."

So in these early Blaupunkt radios, it is more than just re-soldering the jumpers. The vibrator and pilot lamps must be changed

I still have a xerox copy of the complete Blaupunkt instructions and wiring diagram for that radio. The wiring diagram says it applies to serial number K 150001. K is for radios made July 56 to June 1957.

Charlie, If you want copies let me know.

Best to All!

John Linden
Alamo, CA
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John Linden
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Charlie White
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Re: 356 radio

#11 Post by Charlie White »

John,

You stumped me! I've never heard of a Mark I Blaupunkt radio. Were't Bendix Sapphires called Mark I's to X's or later? My factory list of "K" autoradios 56/57 does not include a Mark I. And yes, would love to have a copy of the Blaupunkt instructions. Thanks.

CW
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John Linden
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Re: 356 radio

#12 Post by John Linden »

Charlie:

The radio is definitely Blaupunt -- nothing to do with Bendix or Motorola.

The sales literature shows The Frankfurt Mark I, the Hamburg Mark I, The Koln Mark I. The pictures show these radios in the dash of a 1955 Buick ( The Frankfurt ), a 356A Porsche ( The Koln) and the Hamburg in some foreign car that I don't recognize. There is also the front end of a 1956 Chevrolet shown in this brochure. The US radio manufacturers did not have an AM / FM radio until about 1963. So Blaupunkt was using US distributors to sell radios for both US and foreign models. They certainly had an advantage in large metro areas where FM was beginning to be used.

I don't know if Blaupunkt used the designation Mark I or if it was the distributor -- but it is on this sales material in multiple places.

Charlie, send me your mailing address and I will send you a copy of what I have.

John
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Charlie White
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Re: 356 radio

#13 Post by Charlie White »

Very interesting............one learns something new every day! I've sent address
via PM. Thanks.

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Russ Collins
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Re: 356 radio

#14 Post by Russ Collins »

Jim, I had the same reaction as you the first time I saw a Blaupunkt that required rewiring to change voltages. Since then, probably 30% of the units I have restored had jumpers rather than plugs.
Russ

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Charlie White
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Re: 356 radio

#15 Post by Charlie White »

I have most of the factory manuals for Blaupunkt radios going back to about 1958. It apperars that most of the 6v/12v convertibles prior to about 1961 required changing or soldering jumpers to change the voltage. After 1961 or thereabouts it appears that various types of plugs, as Jim's pictures clearly show, were phased in. In looking at individual radio models, appears that most "G" models (1958/1959) and "D" models (1960/1961) still required jumpers. "E" models (1961/1962), except the single band (AM) Bremen, used switches/plugs for 6v/12v conversion, in BOTH the main radio case and the smaller "Power Pack" (see the factory manual images I previously posted). After this time (1961/1962) most Blaupunkt radios were 6v/12v convertible by way of switches or plugs.

CW
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