Original radios for a '52 170B

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

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jb260s
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Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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
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Bruce Fenstermacher
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Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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
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russfarris
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Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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
All glory is fleeting...
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n2582d
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Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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?
Last edited by n2582d on Wed Oct 10, 2018 9:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Gary
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Bruce Fenstermacher
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Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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.
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mike roe
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Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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.
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n2582d
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1952 interior

Post 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
Gary
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Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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.
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GAHorn
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Re: 1952 interior

Post 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.)
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
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johneeb
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Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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.
John E. Barrett
aka. Johneb

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N2255D
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Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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
Walt Weaver
Spencer Airport (NC35)
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GAHorn
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Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
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Bruce Fenstermacher
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Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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.
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Bruce Fenstermacher
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Re: Original radios for a '52 170B

Post 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.
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n2582d
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Primer decal

Post 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?
Gary
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