Montgomery Ward Airline Model 04BR-1105A Radio Service Data Sheet
June 1941 Radio-Craft

June 1941 Radio-Craft

June 1941 Radio Craft Cover - RF Cafe[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.

Montgomery Ward (aka "Wards" or even "Monkey Wards") had their own line of radios, electric guitars, and other products that went by the name of "Airline." Sears, Roebuck and Company, by the way, had the "Silvertone" series of radios, electric guitars and, other electronics products. This 2-page radio service data sheet for the Montgomery Ward Airline Model 04BR-1105A console type radio appeared in a 1941 issue of Radio-Craft magazine. Some of the electronics magazines of the era ran these features to help out people who wanted to attempt troubleshooting and aligning their own equipment. Many electronics manufacturers would sell service data documentation only to authorized dealers and repair shops. Unlike today where information on just about everything can be found online, back in the last century locating what you needed could be very difficult.

See the Silvertone radio I discovered at Tony Packo's, in Toledo, Ohio. While you're looking, here is Bob Davis' restoration of a Montgomery Ward Airline 62-437 "Movie Dial" radio.

Montgomery Ward Airline Model 04BR-1105A Radio Service Data Sheet

Montgomery Ward Airline Model 04BR-1105A Radio Service Data Sheet (p309), June 1941 Radio-Craft - RF CafeMontgomery Ward Airline Model 04BR-1105A Radio Service Data Sheet (p308), June 1941 Radio-Craft - RF Cafe11-Tube Superhet.; A.C. Operation; 5 Bands (540-1,600 kc., 5.9-6.1 mc., 9.1-10 mc., 11.4-12.1 mc., and 14.9-15.4 mc.); Pushbutton Tuning; Bass and Treble Tone Controls; Phono Jack; Automatic Volume Control; Permeability Tuning; Power Output 10 watts undistorted; Power Consumption 120 watts; Push-pull Output; Phase Inversion.

(See Data Sheet 309 for additional information.)

Setting Pushbuttons

Make a list of your 6 favorite stations.

Push out the call letters of these stations from the call letter sheets supplied. Insert a call letter in the slot on top of each pushbutton.

Next pull one of the pushbuttons all the way out as far as it will come (pull, with fingers on top and bottom of button). Now tune-in the station you want with the tuning knob - tune back and forth until the station is clear and distinct. Now push the button hard all the way in to lock the station in place (push directly on front of button). Continue setting each pushbutton in the same way. Pressing the proper button will now tune the station you want. If it does not do so you did not push the button hard enough to lock in place when setting-up the station.

To change stations simply repeat the procedure above.

Service Notes

Voltages taken from different points of circuit to chassis are measured with volume control at minimum, all tubes in their sockets and speaker connected, with a volt-meter having a resistance of 1,000 ohms/volt.

Resistances of coil windings are indicated in ohms on the schematic circuit diagram.

To check for open bypass condensers shunt each condenser with another condenser of the same capacity and voltage rating, which is known to be good, until the defective unit is located.

Excessive hum, stuttering, low volume and a reduction in all D.C. voltages is usually caused by a shorted electrolytic condenser; open bypass condensers frequently cause oscillation and distorted tone.

Aligning Instructions

Caution: No aligning adjustments should be attempted without first thoroughly checking over all other possible causes of trouble, such as poor installations, open or grounded antenna systems, low line voltage, defective tubes, condensers and resistors. In order to properly align this radio set, the chassis should be removed from the cabinet. Although the shortwave bands on this radio receiver are of the band-spread type the alignment procedure is not difficult. However because each shortwave scale covers only a small portion of the shortwave spectrum you must do the work carefully and your oscillator must be accurate.

Do not realign the band-spread scales unless you are positive they are out of adjustment. When adjustment is necessary proceed as follows.

First refer to the "Iron-Core Adjustment View." Now turn the tuning knob until the drive bar comes within 1/64- to 1/32-in. from the stops. (A piece of blotting paper is about the right thickness and will serve as a gauge.) The clearance of the bar must be the same at both stops. If far off you can raise one drive screw gently and equalize them. Minor adjustments may be made with the drive bar adjustments.

Next rotate each iron core until the fine score marks are even with the edge of the coil forms.

You are now ready to continue with the trimmer adjustments as shown on the alignment chart.

The following equipment is required for aligning: An allwave signal generator which will provide an accurately calibrated signal at the test frequencies as listed. Output indicating meter. Non-metallic screwdriver. Dummy antennas -0.1-mf., 200 mmf., and 40 ohms.

Alignment Conditions

Tone control - treble. Volume control - maximum all adjustments. Connect radio chassis to ground post of signal generator with a short, heavy lead. Connect dummy antenna value in series with generator output lead. Connect output meter across primary of output transformer. Allow chassis and signal generator to "heat up" for several minutes.

Ward's Airline Model 04BR-1105A 5-band console receiver.

 

 

Posted July 16, 2019


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.