1947 Westinghouse Radio Converted to a Bluetooth Speaker

2013-06-02,

Here's how I turned an old 1947 Westinghouse AM radio into a Bluetooth streaming speaker.

Parts & Tools

Part	Price
Vintage_Tube_ Radio_ Wood_ Case_ Westinghouse_ Model_ H-157_1947_ Era_Nice	$29.00
Raspberry Pi Model B	$35.00
Motorola USB Wall Charger with Micro USB Data Cable - Bulk Packaging (Black)	$5.81
Mini USB Bluetooth 4.0 V4.0 Bluetooth Wireless Adapter Dongle 20m for PC Laptop - OEM	$9.59
SanDisk Ultra 16 GB SDHC Class 10 Flash Memory Card 30MB/s SDSDU-016G-U46	$15.10
Ledwholesalers 30 Watt LED Power Suppply Driver Transformer 120 to 12 Volt DC Output, 3207	$14.25
Pyle Home PHA15 3.5mm 1/8-Inch 150 Watt Mono Audio Amplifier	$17.21
RASPBERRY PI TRANSPARENT ACRYLIC CASE ENCLOSURE COMPUTER BOX	$6.87
Antique Radio GRILL CLOTH Vintage SPEAKER FABRIC #Y - Large 27"x18"	$16.99
TOTAL	$149.82

Tools

• Monitor/TV with HDMI in connector
• HDMI male/female cord
• USB keyboard
• Ethernet connection and wire
• Slot and Phillips screwdrivers
• Soldering iron and solder
• Wire stripper
• A couple short wires
• Duct tape
• Extension cord
• Device from which to connect via Bluetooth and stream audio

Steps

1. Install the Raspberry Pi operating system on the SD card.
   
   
   
   
2. Plug in everything (including the Bluetooth dongle) to begin working on the Pi software.
   
   


3. Download and install Bluetooth software and set it up to run headless.
4. Pull out the radio innards.
   
   
   
   
5. Connect the amplifier to the speaker and DC power by solder.
   
   
   
   
6. Connect the rest of the components and test out your new creation!
   
   
   
   
7. Tuck all the components away and you're done!

Results

and after the new grill cloth...