Adding line-in to Wards Airline GEN3996 boombox

Superduper

Superduper

Moderator
Staff member
So Melly owns this fine example of the Montgomery Wards Airline GEN-3996 boombox.
But........... it has NO line-in, so NO aux playback feature. :dunce: :dunce:

We can fix that. We have the technology. So you know what comes next, right?

Here we go.

FIRST, here is the side panel where the line-in jack will be installed, right below the PHONE jack.
montgomerywardsairline3996001.jpg


Here is the backside of the I/O panel where the jack will be installed.
montgomerywardsairline3996002.jpg


The yellow and green wires will be removed from the connector (which plugs into the tuner). These wires terminate at the amp. New color correct yellow/green wires with new connector matching crimp connectors will be installed into the connector for a factory complete appearance. The new wires will go to the jack, which then returns to the amp through the old wires. Since the old wires are too short, the pigtailed ends (with connectors) will be inserted into new molex connectors with matching headers to extend the wires.
montgomerywardsairline3996003.jpg


Here are the pigtailed amp wires. No wires were [strike]harmed[/strike], err cut in this retrofit project, although a new ground wire will be soldered onto the bottom solder pad of the amp where the wire array is located.
montgomerywardsairline3996005.jpg


Newly installed jack on the left hand side, with the green/yellow wires
montgomerywardsairline3996006.jpg


A place for everything, and everything in it's place. Ahh, just how I like it. Who wants to tell me that the install doesn't look 100% factory?
montgomerywardsairline3996007.jpg


New jack installed. What it looks like. A handheld label printer would be real handy right about now to label the new line-in jack.
montgomerywardsairline3996009.jpg


ALL DONE.
montgomerywardsairline3996012.jpg


WATCH IT IN ACTION:
[youtube]puAClZKN5nA[/youtube]
 
mellymelsr

mellymelsr

Member (SA)
O.M.G. :w00t: ...fantastic work Norm! ...and I'm not saying that just because it's mine, but I am glad it is mine... :-D ... Those are some really nice L.E.D's. As usual your work is second to none. Everytime I see one of your projects I am amazed by your talent. I cannot thank you enough Norm...simply amazing work.

Just so everyone knows when I got this boombox it had a handful of issues. There was an awful electrical smell and humming noise when you plugged it in, the aux input (if you want to call it that) didn't work, the L.E.D's had a mind of there own and weren't very bright, and the radio stations were not tuning in clear stereo. In one fell swoop, Norm fixed all of these issues and added an aux input without a service manual. I am just thankful, not only to have someone like Norm as a friend, but that he shares his gift and takes many of these boomboxes and makes them better than they ever were. So Norm.... :thankyou: ...so very, very, very, very much.
 
J

JLF

Member (SA)
Awesome mod!

So many killer boxes Ive owned over the years havent had this feature. Crazy.

You could just about sell this mod as a kit on ebay!
 
Superduper

Superduper

Moderator
Staff member
JLF said:
You could just about sell this mod as a kit on ebay!
Click to expand...

Nope. Each boombox has some differences so it's going to require customized installation on a case by case basis.
 
mellymelsr

mellymelsr

Member (SA)
Lasonic TRC-920 said:
I wish I was rich and could hire you full time! :w00t:

Top Notch work as always Norm!

Nice radio Melly :yes:
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris...I am lucky enough to live only 30 minutes away from Norm... :-D
 
Lasonic TRC-920

Lasonic TRC-920

Moderator
mellymelsr said:
Lasonic TRC-920 said:
I wish I was rich and could hire you full time! :w00t:

Top Notch work as always Norm!

Nice radio Melly :yes:
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris...I am lucky enough to live only 30 minutes away from Norm... :-D
Click to expand...

Your a lucky man to have Norm on the staff :lol:

More importantly, there is no shipping radio's to him for repair and risking them getting trashed. Norm and I have spoken about some projects, but I'm too scared they might get trashed....

I might take a drive up in the spring. We'll see. If so, would be great to meet you as well....
 
blu_fuz

blu_fuz

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Ahhhh, I was wondering the same thing why he didn't use the aux jacks...... Looks factory for sure.
 
mellymelsr

mellymelsr

Member (SA)
blu_fuz said:
Ahhhh, I was wondering the same thing why he didn't use the aux jacks...... Looks factory for sure.
Click to expand...

The factory aux jacks are recording input jacks only...no sound comes through the speakers. He added a separate jack to avoid any chopping or cutting of factory wires. I am not sure why these inputs were designed this way...seems like a waste, thank goodness I have a friend like Norm... :-D
 
mellymelsr

mellymelsr

Member (SA)
Lasonic TRC-920 said:
mellymelsr said:
Lasonic TRC-920 said:
I wish I was rich and could hire you full time! :w00t:

Top Notch work as always Norm!

Nice radio Melly :yes:
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris...I am lucky enough to live only 30 minutes away from Norm... :-D
Click to expand...

Your a lucky man to have Norm on the staff :lol:

More importantly, there is no shipping radio's to him for repair and risking them getting trashed. Norm and I have spoken about some projects, but I'm too scared they might get trashed....

I might take a drive up in the spring. We'll see. If so, would be great to meet you as well....
Click to expand...

...I would be happy to stop by for a mini-Cali-boombox meet.... :thumbsup: ...just let me know when and I'm there.
 
Maxx134

Maxx134

Member (SA)
OMG that box looks sooo beautiful! wow I never knew so many beautiful boxes existed before so its really great to see this one restored :)

Hey "Lasonic TRC-920" is that a real box in your profile pic, or photoshoped? :)
 
AE_Stereo

AE_Stereo

Member (SA)
mellymelsr said:
blu_fuz said:
Ahhhh, I was wondering the same thing why he didn't use the aux jacks...... Looks factory for sure.
Click to expand...

The factory aux jacks are recording input jacks only...no sound comes through the speakers. He added a separate jack to avoid any chopping or cutting of factory wires. I am not sure why these inputs were designed this way...seems like a waste, thank goodness I have a friend like Norm... :-D
Click to expand...

With this deck there was no need of fixing an extra Line-In jack. The Line in will work with the Record button pressed on - right?

You only need to find a plug that will go into the Remote Socket along with mics (roughly half the size of a 3.5mm Headphone jack, but in mono).
When the plug pin is inserted into the Remote socket, the power to the motor is cut off. (In fact the power to the motor goes through the pin now. If you short the pin terminals, motor will get power).

So with the pin inserted into the remote, plug the external source into the built in Line-In RCA sockets. Press Pause on first and then Record+Play buttons to switch on the stereo. (You may have to open the cassette door and release the Erase Tab protection switch or insert a cassette with Leader tape at the visible position to press the Record button).

There is nothing to wear out now. I don't think there is any other damage while keeping the play button pressed along with Pause On and motor not running. A cassette deck is designed to work so for 30 years (that is why we are able to talk about it now).
 
T-STER

T-STER

Member (SA)
peksy24 said:
NIce
Click to expand...
I love that your very first post was not something like an introduction, or a poignant statement or a picture of a cool box, it was to say "nice" on a five year old post. Way to go great entrance :sadno:
 
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