Solid State Vibrators

These vibrators, made by Antique Automobile Radio Inc., are designed to be drop-in replacements for older car radios.  Since tube type car radios require high voltage to operate (typically 250 volts), the vibrator converts the DC voltage to AC so a transformer can be used.  Original vibrators were mechanical buzzers which had an expected life of only 18 months of use.  These new vibrators are electronic, and will last indefinitely, provided the other components in the radio are also in good condition.  I say this because certain parts, most notably the buffer capacitor, can fail and cause the best of vibrators to burn up in short order -- even though the radio appears to be working.  So if in doubt, it's wise to have the radio rebuilt rather than purchase just the vibrator.

For whatever strange reason, every make and model car out there came equipped with its own unique radio.  What's worse, many of these radios used their own unique vibrator type!  Yes, many chose a universal type -- the 1015-P and 2215-N are good examples, but many others used a dedicated design.  I find this even stranger because the radios themselves were not built by the automakers, but by big radio brands such as Motorola, Delco, Bendix, Zenith, Philco, or Sylvania.  The result is a wide array of different types, and I hate to say that a few rare versions are not available.  If your radio model is not listed on the charts below, you're not out of luck -- chances are your radio can be modified slightly to accommodate a more common design, which is the better alternative anyway.

Below are a couple of charts to help you determine what type you need for your radio.  The first is a list of vibrators available.  The second chart is helpful in determining which vibrator fits your car.