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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / 1937 Glove Box Radio Switch

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Posted By Discussion Topic: 1937 Glove Box Radio Switch     TonyM 03-24-2012 @ 10:41 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 458 Joined: Sep 2010 The 1937 Ford has two radio switches--one on the radio face and another in the glove box. The switch in the glove box prevents "unauthorized" radio use for cars with locking glove box. Question: I am guessing that if the glove box radio switch is in the "on" position, the radio will operate when the car is not running. If a 1937 has an inoperable radio (no sound) and is left with the radio switch in the "on" position, and the glove box radio switch in the "on" position, will the battery be drained while the car is parked? I have included a photo of the glove box radio switch -- which position is the "on" position? This switch makes no sense on a car without a locking glove box. Thanks. TonyM. . . . 78-73B This message was edited by TonyM on 3-24-12 @ 10:46 PM MG 03-25-2012 @ 1:15 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1254 Joined: Nov 2009 The radio in my '37 does not have this glove box switch and can only be powered up when the ignition switch is 'on' and the radio power switch controlled by the radio-head knob is 'on'. In this configuration it's not advisable to play the radio with the ignition switch on and the engine not running. To use this glove box switch as you describe, it seems to me the ignition switch would have to be by-passed with the radio power ckt. wired directly to the hot side of the battery. In looking at the schematic for the '37 Radio, I can't seem to find this glove box radio switch. If this switch is used to switch power to the radio while parked, it would have to be wired in series with the power switch controlled by the radio-head knob. And yes, if both switches were 'on'the battery will be drained unless the engine were running. This glove box switch could also be wired to open and close the speaker circuit as opposed to the radio power ckt. in order to prevent "unauthorized" use but then the radio could still be powered up. I'm having a hard time with the term "unauthorized". TonyM 03-25-2012 @ 5:32 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 458 Joined: Sep 2010 Yes, "unauthorized" use of the radio. That is how this is described on page 6-16 of the EFV-8 C/A 1937 Ford Book. Quote from the 1937 Book (page 6-16): "In both open and closed cars there was a supplemental 'hidden' nickle-plated on-off toggle switch in the upper left corner of the glove compartment next to and behind the door to prevent unauthorized use of the radio provided, of course, that there was a lock on the glove box door and it was locked." Trying to figure an idea of "unauthorized" Ford radio use in 1937. I'm thinking of a few scenarios, but they are too lengthy for me to want to try and describe them here. Anyways, the switch is Ford equipment and is listed in the EFV-8 1937 Book. Well, my car is not running presently and has no battery but I want to know the proper operation of this switch so that when I do install my new battery I don't immediately drain it by the inadvertent or mis-use of this switch. Thanks. TonyM. . . . 78-73B This message was edited by TonyM on 3-25-12 @ 8:40 AM 37 Coupe 03-25-2012 @ 6:59 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 362 Joined: Oct 2009 The toggle switch your picture shows in the glove compartment is the correct installation for a 1937 Ford. The initial power to the "A" lead comes from the hot side of the fuse block,meaning the radio can be played off the battery,the toggle switch in the glove compartment cuts the power so as you said to prevent "unauthorized" use of the radio. The wrong way to install a radio is on the switch if you want to listen to radio with engine not running you could burn distributor points. The toggle switch in the glove compartment is fine if the unauthorized user does not know its wherabouts or if this is a deluxe model 37 with locking glove compartment,mine is a standard so I opted not to punch a hole in my glove compartment. The switch is just a safety valve,make sure radio switch on/off is off and you will not drain battery,leaving toggle open or close will not matter to battery if radio knob switch is off. I beleive 1937 is the only year that had this setup? You see a lot of 37 radios on Ebay with toggle switch removed. The hole in the glove compartment instructions is in Ford Philco radio installation manual,mine is a copy that I bought on Ebay supereal 03-25-2012 @ 11:49 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Radios were most often installed by the dealer. The "official" Ford wiring diagram doesn't show either the radio or the auxilliary switch being discussed here. My best guess is that the "unauthorized" description refers to the use of the ignition as a power source to the radio. If the owner wanted to listen to the radio with the ignition off, the switch would power the radio, and prevent cooking the coil if the points were closed. The switch would have tapped the input side of the ignition switch which feeds the lights thru a fuse. In either case, whether the ignition switch or bypass switch is used, the on/off switch at the radio itself would be effective if either was turned on. In the '37, the ignition switch only controls the gauges and the feed to the coil. By locking up the toggle switch in the glove box, it would eliminate "unauthorized" use of the radio by anyone not in possession of the ignition key, who might forget to turn the radio off, leaving a dead battery. An "accessory" position of the ignition switch didn't appear until after '48. Most of us with earlier cars either wire the radio directly to a power source, or add a switch to allow use of the radio with the car not running, as is the intent of the "unauthorized" switch. Interrupting the wire to the speaker would risk radio damage with no load on the output. 37 Coupe 03-25-2012 @ 3:38 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 362 Joined: Oct 2009 This is the "official" 1937 Ford/Philco radio manual of installation.Note the toggle switch in the glove box.

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