Blaupunkt radio setup

[Jim H.]

I've had a 1950's rebuilt Blaupunkt radio for 3 years now, and haven't yet installed it because I can't figure-out how the 3 wires on the back are supposed to get connected. There is a thin yellow wire on the right side which has a black fuse-holder on top, a thicker gray wire that's below the yellow one which also has a socket-like top, and another thick gray wire on the opposite side - which has a 3-hole, triangular-shaped sockethead at the top. I can't figure-out which wire is for the speaker(s), which one is for the power supply - and which one goes to the antenae??? If anyone is familiar with these radios, your help is greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks.

[coad]

Yellow-- power
Grey with plug-- lead to antenna
Grey with prongs-- connection to speaker (unless it is shielded with a wire mesh in which case it goes to an external power supply).

The speaker connecction is obsolete so you'll probably need to replace it with something modern unless you have a vintage Balupunkt speaker.

***NEVER*** hook up the power and turn the radio on without having a speaker attached first, since this can do damage.

[retrowagen]

I used to deal in classic Blaupunkts (1950's through 1970's) quite a bit on eBay and VW shows on the West coast (I stopped with the dollar plunged relative to the Euro and cut my profits entirely). I have seen virtually every model and variation from this era.

The info Coad has given is right on the money. Some bad news, however, is that those electrical arrangements are from a mid-60's to early '70's Blaupunkt, not a 50's vintage unit. I hope it wasn't represented as a 1950's Blaupunkt when you bought it three years ago.

If you could post or e-mail a picture of the front of the unit, I could certainly date and identify it.
_________________
David Ruby
President, Karmann-Ghia World Club

[wimkever]

[Jim H.]

Thank you all for your help!! When I bought it, it was advertised as a 50's/60's radio. ('Koblenz' is the model.) I got it off eBay from a dealer in Germany. Unfortunately, it never came with a polarity switch clip, (as shown on the side of the unit) so I don't know if it would be safe to use without one(?) I did test it about 2 years ago with a battery lead into the yellow wire, and the light did come on. (I hope I didn't damage it - as I didn't have a speaker with it.) But I'll try it with an updated speaker since I got your info. Thanks!!!

[wimkever]

Is it the polarity switch you're missing, or is it the 6/12 volt switch.

I suspect without a polarity switch the dial light won't come on. Without a 6/12 volt switch it will. Whatever switch you're missing it can be solved by soldering some wire between the right spots . You'll need a schematic diagram to figure it out. Anyway without one of the switches your radio won't work. And : never test a blaupunkt again without connecting a speaker.
good luck
Wim
_________________
a beetle is like a cocker spaniel, always funny but sometimes not listening

[retrowagen]

From what I recall the Koblenz model was one of the nicer (four band) Blaupunkts, but it was introduced in 1969 or so... not in the 50's. Hey Jim, does your example look like this one (maybe with a different faceplate and/or knobs)

If the dial has the blue Blaupunkt dot emblem on it ("Blaupunkt" is German for "blue point" or "blue dot", incidentally), it dates from 1969-1972 or so.
_________________
David Ruby
President, Karmann-Ghia World Club

[Jim H.]

Yes...if the dials were a bit larger, the one shown is exactly what I've got.
I would guess that mine has to be for '60 & later Bug, as the sixties style oem faceplate fits around it. It was intended for a '57 oval when I first got it. But now I've got a '69, and it should fit that(?)

[retrowagen]