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Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:44 pm
by jb260s
Does anyone have information regarding which radios were available / options for 1952 170B's? Im trying to restor my panel back to original and I want to find an old radio to make a cosmetic cover for the modern radios. Thanks, Joel

Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:41 am
by Bruce Fenstermacher
There is no info (that I remember) in the B model IPC. However there is an excellent page in the A model IPC showing the different Narco and GE radio combinations which most likely would have also been found in your '52.
C170Apc100.jpg
C170Apc101.jpg

Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:38 am
by russfarris
When I had my '52B model, it had the original owners manual. In addtion to the Narcos, it showed the Lear Omniscope as an option - a really
cool radio that used a CRT for the VOR indicator! I have one around here somewhere, non-functional of course. No GE radios...they never made a lightplane VHF, only LF which was on the way out by 1952.

If you are interested in the Lear, let me know. Russ Farris

Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 4:02 am
by n2582d
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
Here's a picture from Larry Westin's website of what is reported to be a Lear LTRA-5 radio and one of Blueldr's many beautiful girlfriends. By the position of her hand on a prop control it appears to be a photo from a McCauley two position or Koppers Aeromatic propeller advertisement. Anyone have a guess as to what year the plane might be?

Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:43 am
by Bruce Fenstermacher
Gary that would be a '52. The give a way is that it has assist straps but the clincher is the larger later pedal design. I think from the color of black it might have been a Blue and natural airplane.

Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:53 am
by mike roe
The radio options for a 52 were-
Lear VHF Transmitter an Low Frequency Range
The above with Marker Beacon
Both of the above with Omniscope
Also had a Lear Radio Compass
Also had a Narco Omnigator,which would be the easiest to find on Ebay and use the face to cover newer avionics.
All this info came from a 52 owners manual.

1952 interior

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:50 pm
by n2582d
Bruce Fenstermacher wrote:Gary that would be a '52. The give a way is that it has assist straps but the clincher is the larger later pedal design. I think from the color of black it might have been a Blue and natural airplane.
Thanks Bruce. I painted my flap handle Lima Tan but by looking at the picture it looks like the original was black. Can anyone confirm this? I suppose it could have been Serge Blue ... hard to tell with a black and white photo. It also appears that the trim wheel mount is unpainted. The other thing this photo shows well is the seat fabric pattern which I assume is original. And if you look very closely you will see that the ignition switch is on. 8O

Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:15 pm
by mike roe
Also in that picture is a contollable prop. For a good picture go on Doug Mowrys website on restoring his 52. He has a viewmaster from Cessna with good interior shots.

Re: 1952 interior

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:21 pm
by GAHorn
n2582d wrote:[...And if you look very closely you will see that the ignition switch is on. 8O
Yes, and the throttle is advanced and she's not wearing her seat belt or garter belt. (bluEldr tipped me off on that one.)

Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:57 pm
by johneeb
n2582d wrote:
ice170-01c.jpg
Here's a picture of what is reported to be a Lear LTRA-5 radio and one of Blueldr's many beautiful girlfriends. By the position of her hand on a prop control it appears to be a photo from a McCauley two position or Koppers Aeromatic propeller advertisement. Anyone have a guess as to what year the plane might be?
My guess is 1953, that is what the trim paint pattern just behind the open cockpit door looks like.

Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:01 pm
by N2255D
johneeb wrote:
n2582d wrote:
ice170-01c.jpg
Here's a picture of what is reported to be a Lear LTRA-5 radio and one of Blueldr's many beautiful girlfriends. By the position of her hand on a prop control it appears to be a photo from a McCauley two position or Koppers Aeromatic propeller advertisement. Anyone have a guess as to what year the plane might be?
My guess is 1953, that is what the trim paint pattern just behind the open cockpit door looks like.
I would think 52 with the piano key inst panel

Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:09 pm
by GAHorn
1953 models did-away with piano-keyboard and went to push/pull switches. It also moved the heater outlet from the pilot's left foot to a distribution panel all across and also directed to the rear seats, and increased cabin heat with a new exhaust system. The floating panel completely changed and that herring-bone fabric was no longer used.

Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 5:30 pm
by Bruce Fenstermacher
I've never seen a flap handle any color other than black. Can not comment on the trim housing color.

Well after looking VERY closely at the picture and doing some detective work with both the A and B model IPCs I've come to a conclusion.

And that is we can't be sure it this is a late 51 or an early 52.

Here is the tally as I see it. First it can't be a '53, they are totally different as George has pointed out. It can not be an early A model because it has the later rudder pedals which started at serial 19184.

So looking closer at what we can see. Just behind her hand as part of the upholstery is a dark square. This is only depicted as dashed lines in the B model IPC and what it is is a protective patch for the head phones that hung on a hook above it. But that is not conclusive as the A models could have a hook and it is located at the same spot. So this patch just might not be illustrated in the A model IPC.

Then there is the heater cover. It is clearly an A model style which let air escape from both sides. The B model heater had a different design baffle that only let air escape towards the center of the pilots feet. This is clearly shown in the IPC. But this could still be a 52 using parts left over from the 51.

Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 5:33 pm
by Bruce Fenstermacher
Another interesting (at least to me) thing this photo shows in the primer is clearly marked with a decal that I have only seen on a picture members NOS cover that was shared with me. This particular decal is not identified in any IPC.

Primer decal

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 6:00 pm
by n2582d
Bruce Fenstermacher wrote:Another interesting (at least to me) thing this photo shows in the primer is clearly marked with a decal that I have only seen on a picture members NOS cover that was shared with me. This particular decal is not identified in any IPC.
Primer Decal
Primer Decal
Bruce, here is another picture of that decal. I found this after striping off the top coat of black paint.

Joel, Sorry about the thread creep. Have you seen pictures of George's fake Narco overlays?