I have a Temple E514. What are some possible suitable replacements for the dialcord? The radio I have has 1 bulb in the dial backplate. It looks as though it has 2 originally one on each side of the plate. what is the significance of the way this bulb is included in the filament string? What kind of options do I have for adding another bulb? Can you find 2 bulbs and use them directly from the 120vac,what kind of solutions have others used? This has no power transformer and is directly tied to the incoming ac.
Russ

Here is your schematic. There is only one bulb.

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/799/M0021799.pdf

:I have a Temple E514. What are some possible suitable replacements for the dialcord? The radio I have has 1 bulb in the dial backplate. It looks as though it has 2 originally one on each side of the plate. what is the significance of the way this bulb is included in the filament string? What kind of options do I have for adding another bulb? Can you find 2 bulbs and use them directly from the 120vac,what kind of solutions have others used? This has no power transformer and is directly tied to the incoming ac.
:Russ

I have successfully used fishing line as a dial cord substitute. Not the plastic/nylon stuff, but the natural fiber (cotton?)type. Probably 20# or 30# should work. Good luck. Rich

:Here is your schematic. There is only one bulb.
:
:http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/799/M0021799.pdf
:
::I have a Temple E514. What are some possible suitable replacements for the dialcord? The radio I have has 1 bulb in the dial backplate. It looks as though it has 2 originally one on each side of the plate. what is the significance of the way this bulb is included in the filament string? What kind of options do I have for adding another bulb? Can you find 2 bulbs and use them directly from the 120vac,what kind of solutions have others used? This has no power transformer and is directly tied to the incoming ac.
::Russ

:Here is your schematic. There is only one bulb.
:
Was that customary in small tabletop radios, to light from only one side of the dial? It seems like the lighting will be uneven.
Russ

:I have a Temple E514. What are some possible suitable replacements for the dialcord? The radio I have has 1 bulb in the dial backplate. It looks as though it has 2 originally one on each side of the plate. what is the significance of the way this bulb is included in the filament string? What kind of options do I have for adding another bulb? Can you find 2 bulbs and use them directly from the 120vac,what kind of solutions have others used? This has no power transformer and is directly tied to the incoming ac.
:Russ

Russ, this is just one of the many radio sites that sell dial cord..... http://www.radiodaze.com/
(check their COMPONENTS section)
DennisWess

With AC-DC radios, the pilot lamp is often in parallel with a small ballast filament in the rectifier tube. This ballast filament is connected internally to the main filament, as well as all the other filaments in the string. On the socket, the ballast filament is also connected to the plate of the rectifier, which is part of the "B" current supply of the radio. The ballast and the pilot lamp in parallel are calculated out so that the large power draw of the tube filaments when they are cold does not blow out the pilot lamp. After the radio has warmed up, the B current draw from the rectifier provides the additional current necessary for lighting the bulb to full brilliance. With older AC-DC radios (most pre-dating 1939), those using .3 ampere tubes instead of .15 ampere tubes, there will usually be a ballast resistor or tube of some sort that will provide the necessary resistance for the tube filaments and also a tap for the pilot lamp. In these radios, the pilot lamp and its associated ballast are not usually part of the B supply in any way.

With either of the types of radios mentioned above, the pilot lamp is part of the filament circuit. With the former type (.15 ampere tubes--35Z5 or 35W4 or similar rectifier used), since the ballast in the rectifier is also carrying B current, it cannot operate on its own. Should the pilot lamp burn out in such a radio, it must be replaced imediately or the ballast filament in the rectifier will be stressed and will burn out soon. In the latter type of radio (.3 ampere tubes along with a ballast tube or resistor), removal of the pilot lamp from the circuit (burn-out) may or may not stress the pilot lamp ballast.

The former type of radio usually takes a #40 or 47 bulb. The latter takes a #44 or similar type bulb.

As for your radio not having two pilot lamps, this was not an uncommon practice. What was done was the other end of the glass was painted with a reflective paint. When the pilot lamp is adjusted correctly so that the light shines through the glass, it will bounce off the other edge of the glass and illuminate both ends of the glass fairly evenly. The end opposite the lamp may be slightly greenish due to the light traveling through the glass for such a distance. Some manufacturers painted that end of the glass pink to compensate for this, but white will yield the brightest light dispite its greenish tint.

There are ways of adding another pilot lamp if you really desire one or if you happen to come across one of the radios that actually uses two very uncommon 3.2 volt bulbs in series (to add up to 6.3 volts--normally used by one #47 bulb). To use two #47 bulbs (6.3 volt, .15 ampere), place a 1 watt 40 ohm resistor between pin 2 on the 35Z5 and the line cord. Keep one end of the pilot lamp tied to the line cord. Cut the other lamp lead at its terminal (pin 3 on 35Z5). Connect this to another INSULATED bayonet socket. Connect the other lead of the additional socket to pin 3 of the 35Z5 socket.

With .15 ampere tube radios, only .15 ampere pilot lamps will burn properly. With .3 ampere tube radios, only .25 or .15 ampere bulbs will work properly, depending on the radio design and what is specified in the circuit diagram. Using bulbs with higher amperage ratings in the AC-DC type radios will cause them to not glow brightly if at all.

Thomas

Thomas