hello i just purchased an atwater kent radio chassis 55c
with out speaker. what type of speaker does this radio use? i see alot of type "e" speakers on ebay but they only seem to have two wires and plug on chassis has 4 holes thank you for info
regards manuel

Those type "E" speakers are called "magnetic" speakers. They have a high impedance coil that can be directly driven off of the output tube (single output tube). Their magnetism is derived from a horseshoe (or other shape) magnet inside the speaker. The type of speaker you need for your radio is a moving coil electro-dynamic speaker with a field resistance of 1,100 ohms. This field coil produces the strong magnetism required to operate this type of speaker. Your radio has push-pull output (which could never drive a type E speaker properly anyway), and is equipped with a matching output transformer that reduces the high impedance of the output tubes down to the low impedance required by the voice coil of a moving coil speaker. The voice coil should not be confused with the field coil. The voice coil is where the audio information is sent. The field coil is simply electrified by a steady voltage from the power supply, which keeps up a steady magnetism. The low impedance voice coil vibrates back and forth in this magnetic field, and since it is attached to a paper cone, moves the paper cone. More modern speakers (some as early as about 1939 or 1940, and progressively more so as time went on) use permanent magnets in place of the field coil. This is why you can take a screw driver and stick it to the back of a speaker. You may purchase a modern permanent magnet speaker for temporary operation, and wire its voice coil to the output coil of the output transformer (which is attached to the output tubes). Select a speaker of about 4 to 8 ohms. I do not know what the exact impedance is of your output transformer, so you may want to purchase both types or a special speaker capable of both impedances, and try the impedance that works best. One will be louder and clearer than the other. For temporary operation until you are able to obtain the proper speaker, place a 1,100 ohm resistor, 10 watt or more, across the field terminals. These are the remaining two terminals on your four pin socket. One goes to a bank of resistors in the power supply, and the other goes to ground (listed as the chassis). You must substitute a resistor for the field coil as it also plays a role in the power supply. Omitting this resistance may burn up parts and will cause the radio to operate improperly. The resistance and wiring are given in the circuit diagram.

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/410/M0001410.pdf

If you turn your head sideways so that you are looking at the diagram right-side-up, the resistance for the field is listed a little ways below the output tubes. I suppose you could also turn your monitor on its side. If the colors on your screen change, simply degauze the screen. (better yet, just print out the diagram)

You can search for an Atwater Kent speaker on eBay. Keep in mind that many people to-day lack the intelligence to call the speaker by its proper name--"electro-dynamic" speaker. You may find it listed under "field-coil" speaker, which is very crude and back-woods terminology. Whatever it is listed as, it must have the proper field resistance and size requirements for your radio. Someone else in here may have an idea as to what its model number is.

Thomas

:hello i just purchased an atwater kent radio chassis 55c
:with out speaker. what type of speaker does this radio use? i see alot of type "e" speakers on ebay but they only seem to have two wires and plug on chassis has 4 holes thank you for info
:regards manuel
:

The Atwater Kent Model 55 came in two configurations. The console model, usually designated by 55C, and plain model 55 which came in a metal housing. The correct vintage Atwater Kent speaker for this model is the Atwater Kent model F-4-A speaker. It is an electro-dynamic type speaker with a 4 prong plug. Keep watching eBay and other antique radio sites. They do show up on a regular basis. I restored my Atwater Kent model 55 a few years ago and it's playing great. Good luck.
Steve

:hello i just purchased an atwater kent radio chassis 55c
:with out speaker. what type of speaker does this radio use? i see alot of type "e" speakers on ebay but they only seem to have two wires and plug on chassis has 4 holes thank you for info
:regards manuel
:

:The Atwater Kent Model 55 came in two configurations. The console model, usually designated by 55C, and plain model 55 which came in a metal housing. The correct vintage Atwater Kent speaker for this model is the Atwater Kent model F-4-A speaker. It is an electro-dynamic type speaker with a 4 prong plug. Keep watching eBay and other antique radio sites. They do show up on a regular basis. I restored my Atwater Kent model 55 a few years ago and it's playing great. Good luck.
:Steve
:thank you for information on speakers
regards Manuel

:
:
::hello i just purchased an atwater kent radio chassis 55c
::with out speaker. what type of speaker does this radio use? i see alot of type "e" speakers on ebay but they only seem to have two wires and plug on chassis has 4 holes thank you for info
::regards manuel
::

:hello i just purchased an atwater kent radio chassis 55c
:with out speaker. what type of speaker does this radio use?
:I have a the chassis and speaker (with 4 pin cable) for a Atwater Kent 55C, which I want to sell. My neighbor bought what she thought was a table and didn't want the radio or speaker. I've kept it thinking they'd be reunited some day, but I don't think it is going to happen...

What a shame.

T.

::hello i just purchased an atwater kent radio chassis 55c
::with out speaker. what type of speaker does this radio use?
::I have a the chassis and speaker (with 4 pin cable) for a Atwater Kent 55C, which I want to sell. My neighbor bought what she thought was a table and didn't want the radio or speaker. I've kept it thinking they'd be reunited some day, but I don't think it is going to happen...

::hello i just purchased an atwater kent radio chassis 55c
::with out speaker. what type of speaker does this radio use?
::I have a the chassis and speaker (with 4 pin cable) for a Atwater Kent 55C, which I want to sell. My neighbor bought what she thought was a table and didn't want the radio or speaker. I've kept it thinking they'd be reunited some day, but I don't think it is going to happen...

I'd be interested in the chassis. My speaker if ok, repaired by a gentleman in Crossville, TN. My chassis appears complete, but spare parts would be good. The radio I have belonged to my grandparents. I'm 51, and as far as I know, it hasn't played in my lifetime. Hope to restore it this winter.

I'd be interested in the speaker as it sounds like you may be wanting to part with it (if the other guy isn't interested) - davesimonis@hotmail.com

Thanks,

Dave