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MG TD TF 1500 - Smith & Sons HMV 100 radio installation revisited

Sorry I have to start a new thread but I can’t find my original threads on the topic.

I’m getting ready to install my restored HMV 100 radio in the glove box. I really need pics of the bracketry and Fascia for the installation. Does anyone have an original installation either laid out or in situ that they can give me dimensions and photograph for me. I don’t need the illustration from the HMV installation manual as it is for a different radio and doesn’t have the detail I’m looking for.

Specifically, I need the behind the dash hardware beyond the L brackets on either side of the glove box opening that are attached to the sub dash. Also a template for the fascia panel that fills the front of the glove box. These radios a very heavy (17 lbs) and I need to know how it is secured. The subdash alone cannot possibly support the weight.

Any help is greatly appreciated





W A Chasser

This is an original glove box out of TD-24060 As you can see there are multiple perforations for a radio installation with the box left in place. But these are for a smaller transistor type radio.

1) top and rear view 2 Slots and 2 holes
2) left side view 2 Holes


The original box from TD-4834 has no perforations and didn’t have a radio option installed.




W A Chasser

It is obvious that the HMV 100/102 radios could not retain the glove box shell. It is nearly 1” longer without the power amplifier mounted on the rear. The amplifier can be separated from the receiver and mounted remotely to the tool box with a U bracket. The mere size of the receiver alone would not allow the tube type radio air space within the box to provide sufficient cooling




W A Chasser

Bill: this is all the materials I have.

https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_radiomobile_manuals.htm
Christopher Couper

"Specifically, I need the behind the dash hardware beyond the L brackets on either side of the glove box opening that are attached to the sub dash." Bill there is no evidence on either of the pics of original glove boxes that I have. These are some that were supplied by you and one that I lifted from E Bay. Apart from the cutouts there is nothing on the box itself to suggest how it was secured at the rear. When I built about 5 gloveboxes for guys here based on the original measurements, material and pics; See pic 2, I wondered about support just for general items stored in the glove box, as the material I used was prone to sagging when stood on edge in sheet form, just by absorbing the humidity in the air. I still have the original subdash which I used as a template to create the new one. The brackets you refer to are still in situ, but give no clue as to what and where they were attached to.

I sealed the box with PVA and also used both PVA on the onside and enamel based paint as an adhesive for the flocking I purchased in Germany, but even this treatment doesn't give the rigidity required for bits and pieces, let alone carry the weight of a radio. Did the fascia support the whole weight of the radio? Possibly. I intend to support the rear third of the box with a leather strap (an old belt that I'd outgrown) fitted over both of the two pieces of the flat iron just under the scuttle that the sub dash is screwed to. The radio may have also used these as supports and could have been fitted at the dealers using a variety of different brackets, depending on the radio. This pic of another box is all I've got, apart from the thread in the archive showing my finished and flocked box. The size of the cutouts in the E Bay pic differs from yours, perhaps suggesting a different radio? I hope you do find the answer. Cheers
Peter TD 5801





P Hehir

Chris, I already have the manuals. I need real pics of actual behind the dash installations. But thanks anyway. It’ll help as reference material for others.

I also find it interesting that my (2) original underdash panels have perforations to knock out for a remote speaker.

Bill Chasser
TD/c-8151
W A Chasser

They had to get the power in there as well Bill so the perforations must also have been used for both cabling - including the power feed, earth, speakers and possibly the rear bracket/s that may have come with the different radios. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I always assumed the glovebox was discarded when you put in the radio.

As your picture shows it's much bigger than the glove box. I would also worry about circulation but I suspect that there are no tubes in the head unit?
Christopher Couper

They must have discarded the box for the bigger radios Chris but as Bill says why the perforations at the rear? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Chris. Yes the glove box is deleted for the HMV 100 and 4100 series. The fascia would hide the barren space and bracketry surrounding the radio for a finished appearance.

Re TD 24060’s glove box.
The perf in the side I would say was for the coax cable

The perf’s at the rear were likely for wiring or power from the battery, an earthing wire, remote speaker wiring and possibly a power cord for a remote amplifier

The upper perf’ slits were likely for some sort of U bracket that hung down to secure the sides of the radio. The Bracket may have simply laid over the top of the glove box The transistor radios were much smaller and lighter by design (maybe 2-3 lbs) and there was likely some available space for stowage

Peter. The pics I sent you originally were the box from TD-4834. Sadly that box beginning to disintegrate. The perforated box is also quite brittle and is a reference piece.

I also notice that the pic you Supplied has different perforations on the back panel than mine

Bill Chasser
TD/c-8151
W A Chasser

Yeah we cross posted earlier Bill. "This pic of another box is all I've got, apart from the thread in the archive showing my finished and flocked box. The size of the cutouts in the E Bay pic differs from yours, perhaps suggesting a different radio?" Some radios must have been installed within the glove box because of the perforations, as I'd also suggested above. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Bill You must enjoy challenges, a valve radio installed in a T series with its rigid suspension will want to only travel on smooth bitumen.

Admittedly its not going to be exposed to the shocks that aircraft electronic equipment was subjected to, however I would like to see the amplifier mounted on shock mounts. Maybe an under seat installation might be a solution.

I dont know if this is any value I have fabricated TF glove box inserts from sheet metal. The basic sizes of the TD boxes may be adaptable and would have superior strength to the board used in the originals.

Whether this approach is a solution for "the lump" your dealing with is unknown.


Graeme

G Evans

Just remember that the parts on the TD/TFs fit many cars of the period. So many things don't apply.

Also perhaps when a part was designed they had a different idea how to use it and later changed their mind. If it was something that would not materially interfere with the end use I suspect it was just cheaper and easier to take the product as is.

Anyway, just speculating why some parts don't seem right.
Christopher Couper

My main concern is that the flat stick or angle iron that may have been used to support the sides of the radio from the subdash L brackets will not support the weight of the radio by themselves. There must have been something else involved in the installation. To support the 17 pounds of weight. Any amount of bouncing would surely fatigue the subdash or the 1/4 BSF that secures the L brackets.

I’m conversation with the radio restorer (who was well beyond retirement age) said that the TC and TD installations had the amplifier attached to the radio and not separated. But he didn’t have any further literature from earlier publications that would shed light on the installations.

Bill Chasser
TD/c-8151
W A Chasser

This thread was discussed between 13/10/2020 and 15/10/2020

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