What's more, in the course of playing with the tuning mechanism, I discovered that the dial pointers are spring-loaded. I saw this one on CL a couple of weeks ago. It is sporting the fabulous "Motor Drive Robot Shutter Dial" and green tuning eye. Numbers in the photo identify various components: This radio requires eleven separate alignment adjustments. Number 2 shows the signal ("hot") lead of the generator connected to the grid lead of the 6D8 tube. The dial perimeter is marked in gradations from 1 to 60, allowing you to record very fine tuning positions. When I first got the radio, I thought that the chassis might be solid copper, which would be quite beautiful when polished. This chassis, speaker and cabinet are a factory match. Page 1: Portable and Wood Table Radios 1938-1942 PORTABLE AND WOOD CABINET TABLE RADIOS, Page 2: Rise of Plastic Radios 1938-1942 PLASTIC CABINET RADIOS, Page 3: Battery or Farm Radios 1938-1942 FARM RADIOS, Page 4: Magic Eye Tuning Radios 1938-1942 MAGIC EYE RADIOS, Page 5: Me Restoring a Sentinel 243T Farm Radio RESTORING SENTINEL 243T FARM RADIO, -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Using six tubes, it covers the standard broadcast band and shortwave frequencies from 5.6 to 18 megahertz. Also features 5-point tone control, Bass compensation, spinner tuning, split second station relocation. was introduced in late 1935 for the 1936 model Given the model number, a repairman The dealer did not want to sell it, he was going to fix it himself. It's hard to find a unit in this shape and working condition. The gaskets were about half the required length and twice the required thickness, but where there's a will, there's a way! They are amoung the most collectable Zenith consoles, usually hard to find and fairly expencive. 350.10, 389.00 (intermediate frequency) coils. A large Antique Radio Collection featuring Old Radios From Zenith, Zenith Stratosphere, Atwater Kent, Philco and RCA antique radio collection, old radio consoles, wooden radios, cathedral radios, tombstone and floor model radios . better understanding of the model numbering scheme. Original Price 14.29 6 Dry Cell Comes to Life Again, Restoring a 19" Portable 1960 Hoffman K1919 Television, Restore Tuning Dial for Zenith N723 Radio, Page 2: The Rise of Radio Engineering 1920-29, Page 3: The Rise of Radio Engineering 1920-29, Televisions- 1946-1999 The Great Electronic Culture Change of the 20th Century, Page 2: Solid State Picture Tube Television, Page 3: Televisions- The Sony Portable CRT Watchman 1982-1994, Page 4: Televisions- The LCD or Flat Screen TV- Real Portability, Page 4 The Rise in Radio Engineering 1920-1929, Japanese (Made in Japan) Imports- Transistor Radios 1959-1960's, USA Brand Transistor Radios 1959-1960's Page 2, Tungar Items, Recording Electronics, Vintage Light Bulbs and Small Home Electric Devices, Military and Special Purpose Tubes Part 2- NON RADAR, Military and Special Purpose Vacuum Tubes Part 1- Non RADAR Applications, Military and Special Purpose Vacuum Tubes- RADAR Applications, Vintage Communication Receivers, Transmitters and Transceivers, Restoring 1937 Troy Radio 59PC Phono Radio Set, Restoring a 1949 General Electric 806 Table Model Television, Restoring a 1949 General Electric 806- NOV 2018, Videos on Dead Tech Electronics History and Restoration, Vintage Electronic Measurement and Test Equipment. Number 4 shows the multitester's probes clipped to test leads in parallel with the radio's speaker terminals. I restored and refinished one last year and was offered (and accepted) $450. Mar 24, 2022 - Explore Daniel Mumau's board "1930's - 1940's floor model Zenith radios" on Pinterest. By the time I was done, the radio was playing beautifully and its dial tracking was right on the money. Manufactured by Zenith/Herman Miller. On my radio, the little rubber drive belt was shot. Why would the B+ voltage be too high in the first place? I purchased this radio from the daughter of the original owner. digit number (IE. The brand is often referred to as the watchmaker's watchmaker due to its storied history as a movement manufacturer for other blue-chip watch companies. All tube shields are in place as well. The cabinet paper tag has the model 15U270 crossed out in pencil and hand writhen 271. The cabinet is simple but elegant, with a six-inch circular dial echoed by a circular design in the upper speaker grille. tubes. I did not think it was necessary for the chassis to be repainted. The large gray and blue components near the center of the photo are the new filter capacitors. It was kind of hard to let it go but the money was too good. Zenith 1000Z Stratosphere before restoration, Zenith 1000Z Stratosphere after restoration. Antique Radio Forums Index Category Online Auctions and Sales Forum, Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests. This article will deal with the "Big Black A few minutes of experimentation convinced me that strong cord would not be a suitable replacement. In hindsight, another alternative would have been to cut and reglue the new belt that I bought from AES. The paper serial number tag on the bottom of the cabinet is there as well. Vintage Zenith Radio Knob 1930s Wood Lightning Bolt AntiqueMeUp (576) $34.99 Vintage Soviet tube network radio RECORD. And now that a lot of those folks are either heading to retirement homes or dying off, the market seems to be getting flooded. civilian radio production to enter the war effort. for the cabinet styles are as follows: In our example, the 12S232 would be a 12 tube Not really necessary for alignment, but I power all of my radios on the workbench through the variac, which in turn is powered through an isolation transformer for safety. Technical Specifications Number of Tubes 9 Entdecke 1938 n. and was 110 volt AC powered. A new AC power cord has been installed for safety. Antique Vintage 1938 Zenith Tombstone Radio Model 5S228 $83.03 11 bids $72.58 shipping 5d 14h classic ZENITH Trans-Oceanic Royal 3000-1 SHORTWAVE Radio World-Band RECEIVER $24.95 0 bids $28.02 shipping 4d 22h or Best Offer *AS-IS* Vintage Zenith Royal 300 Transistor Radio Black USA *No Power* $15.00 0 bids $12.45 shipping 6d 17h The first steps were standard: cleaning dust and grime from the chassis, spraying contact cleaner (DeOxit) inside all of the controls, cleaning and lubricating the tuning capacitor, removing and cleaning the dial glass, and cleaning the dial itself. If you haven't replaced certain critical components, and nobody has messed things up in the past, the alignment will be fine in many cases. It sold new for $169.95 (list price). indicated that there were 17 initial categories, It is currently Mar Sat 04, 2023 11:02 am, http://allentown.craigslist.org/clt/4574348722.html, http://www.ebay.com/itm/371078070791?ss 1423.l2649. Dial/Knobs: The famous black Zenith Robot Shutter Dial is in very nice condition as is the dial glass. 1,023.32, 1,279.15 944.60, 1,180.75 Second and equally important; Zenith (20% off), Sale Price 67.04 You can see it looked okay. 12 in this case, 11 on the chassis plus an "eye" tube. In a small subchassis inside the box were several small components, including a handful of paper capacitors. The knobs are the original wood Zenith knobs. Some of the most serious Zenith radio collectors in the world have never seen this version in person. year (1996). Two important points need to be covered for a An outside antenna is necessary on old tube radios or a long wire. But I ain't paying $2,000 for one. Return to PHOTO Index: PHOTO COLLECTION INDEX, NEXT PAGE >>> 1938-1942 PLASTIC CABINET RADIOS. Go for it. Each 1938 zenith for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, fabric and glass. 25 tube Stratosphere, first produced in To do it, you first fashion a simple coil of wire, about three loops and roughly six inches across. Toning lacquer was sprayed on the wood trim, very lightly, to keep with the original appearance. 505.66, 561.84 Then tune the digital radio to the desired frequency and start fine-tuning the signal generator to the target frequency. Oh well, this is how we learn! Pictures posted in this listing have been taken without flash. As Bob says, in a few years the market will be flooded with them. Pleasant waterfall cabinet and tear-drop dial that was only used for 1938. The 15 tube 'Robot-Dial' console in a walnut finish is the more common version of this cabinet style. Camera Portables, no more lugging around a suit case. With the addition of a bleeder resistorproperly positioned to avoid interferencethe radio performed quite well. Putting on the new belt would require disassembling the geared tuning mechanism, starting with the dial pointer and dial, and working back to where the belt would be placed on the shaft. I'd not only give him his price in a heartbeat, but add another hundred to have it shipped across country. Called the "Commander" by many Zenith collectors. 708.45, 885.57 The radio features a 5-point tone control, bass. the radio was found. Sellers looking to grow their business and reach more interested buyers can use Etsys advertising platform to promote their items. the cabinet and the relative placement in the cost The radio is sensitive enough to get the local stations just fine. SKU Color Price Qty. 14.17, 16.67 our example of the 12S232, the radio was built letter designations were used to describe Zenith's Zenith 1938 - 1940 Knob. ballast, regulators, and cathode ray (magic eye) Original Price 389.00 Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. Maybe I'll bite. (10% off), Sale Price 19.05 The two SW bands work well also. Again, the blue arrow points to the shaft and the belt is placed loosely around the pulley. Another Chicago garage find where someone needed room and wanted it gone. but will for ever more be referred to by "its" model You will hear a loud hum in the radio when the generator is set just right. The dial pointers were not easy to remove. Introduced in June of 1937 for the 1838 model year. Since I operate the radio on AC, I shortened the cables and tucked them under the chassis. A multitester, used to measure the radio's output during alignment. Signal generator, used to create a test signal at a precise frequency. Stripping made the top much lighter, so I sprayed on several coats of brown toning lacquer to match the dark brown of the cabinet body. The 6-tube 3-waveband Zenith 6-S-254 (6S254) was introduced in June of 1937 as part of, Zeniths robot dial, received a make-over from its inaugural 1938 model year. They made very few and did not want to go thru the trouble printing model tags. that was introduced by Zenith came prior to 1936. In hindsight, I'd call this restoration moderately difficult. Digital receiver, used to double-check the signal generator's output frequency. The chassis has the 7S232 stamp just above the power cord. The suffixes included: Zenith This scheme holds true for radios built through 1942, when Zenith halted civilian radio production to enter the war effort. Restoring the electronics took a lot more time than touching up the cabinet. Zenith made four different chassis to fit into this style cabinet (7J232, 7S232, 9S232 & 12S232). But JLC has plenty of icons to its name, from the Reverso to the Polaris, and to only look at those models is to miss a serious value proposition by way of the Master Ultra Thin. The Zenith 6S254 (6-S-254) is a 6-tube console radio with broadcast band and two short wave bands. He joined a fledging Beaverton electronics company, Tektronix, in 1951 as its 351st employee. the chassis type and the power requirements. It is, part of the 1938 Zenith lineup that featured many other radios that used the unique Robot dial, as part of Zeniths 1938 line in June 1937, is a much-coveted set that is rare and hard to find today, 1938 line only. Zenith 1000Z Stratosphere before restoration, Zenith 1000Z Stratosphere after restoration. The four original wood Z knobs are present. Zenith quickly became known as an innovator. the 1936 model year. The brand says the new spring is more durable and resistant to magnetic fields. I used a very soft brush to brush out accumulated dust, then sprayed the cloth lightly with clear water and placed it face down on a sheet of cardboard to dry. The cabinets mahogany veneer is beautifully restored with a flawless satin lacquer finish. The bass from this console is unreal. for radios built through 1942, when Zenith halted Plays loud and clear as it should. The next photo shows the rubber just before I finished splitting it. Alignment is a routine restoration procedure, although I have often skipped it when the radio performed well after recapping. 590.38, 737.97 We moved the pool table and cabinets and placed it in my van. It released the first portable radio in 1924, followed two years later by the first radio that operated entirely on household electricity. 1995-2023 Philip I. Nelson, all rights reserved. It is sporting, The 38-690 was Philcos top-of-the-line radio for the 1938 model year. Using six tubes, it covers the standard broadcast band and shortwave frequencies from 5.6 to 18 megahertz. Original Price 885.57 The shutters open nicely. Zenith 12S267 1938 What a console! the type of cabinet, and ever where in the line-up 1938 Zenith "Walton" 9-s-232 Shutter Dial Tombstone Art Deco Radio 1938 Zenith "WALTON" 12-S-232 Shutter Dial Tombstone Art Deco Radio 1938 Zenith For Sale on 1stDibs At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal 1938 zenith for your home. I used Citri-Strip, an easy to use, non-smelly gel stripper. second station re-location & "tell-tale" controls. Once everything was in place, trimming the belt and gluing it was pretty easy. It is a 20-tube all-wave, 1938 when he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. A very nice farm set. Click to Enlarge. Charles Eames studies architecture at the Washington, At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal 1938 zenith for your home. Caution: A novice should never try to align a radio "by ear." The (reads thread) Heh, could you imagine what the Walton sets would cost if everyone found them desirable? After his military service, Miller returned to Hillsboro, Oregon, and worked for Meltebeke's Furniture repairing TV's and appliances. could easily determine the number of tubes, the Historical artifact. If I was going to have a radio collection, I need a Walton (and at least one catalin). 1936 Zenith Radio, Marquis advertising metal sign, 2 Sizes, nostalgic vintage style home decor wall art, LGB PS This is true; it is push-pull, but it is a push-pull audio stage that makes paralleled 6G6s look like an improvement, It is currently Mar Sat 04, 2023 11:02 am, Screen Shot 2022-12-15 at 3.56.15 PM.png [ 195.48 KiB | Viewed 1876 times ], Complete-View-Master-Waltons.jpg [ 637.7 KiB | Viewed 1821 times ], Before front.jpg [ 394.63 KiB | Viewed 1467 times ], https://stlouis.craigslist.org/atq/d/sp 99687.html, https://www.ebay.com/itm/234814319050?h R9jJru6hYQ, http://www.tuberadioland.com/silvertone4465_main.html. Zenith 12S265 Console (1938) $3,300.00 SOLD Quantity Not Available We spent three months restoring this gorgeous 1938 Zenith 12S265 Art Deco console radio. The split-second pointer moves more rapidly than the main tuner, making one circuit of the entire dial when the main pointer moves about half an inch. On this set, five of the six tube filaments are wired in parallel with the pilots, but the 1J6 power amplifier tube is wired in series with them. When all the color work was done, I sprayed on two final coats of clear lacquer, lightly buffing the last coat with #0000 steel wool to achieve a satin finish that doesn't look "too new.". for the 1938 model year. Chr. Fixing the cabinet was a straightforward job. The next phase involved "recapping" the set, or replacing all paper capacitors and the filter capacitors in the power supply. Many of the surviving 15U270 and 15U271 suffer from cracking burl on the curved areas on each side of the dial. Its rubber had dried with age, allowing the fabric layers to separate and detach from one another. The chassis on this one still has it's model stamp 271. Powered bySquarespace. Named after E.F. McDonald the founder of the Zenith Radio Company. a "Walton Radio" as an example (12S232). Jasona5150. The original cost of the 15U271 was $235.00, $10 more than the 15U270 at $225.00. 1,180.75, 1,475.94 It is a piece of original 1938 cloth from a console that used the same pattern. The radio has had a complete recap electronic restoration, all the electrolytic capacitors were replaced with new production parts. Unless you know what you're doing, randomly tampering with these delicate adjustments will likely mess up your radio in a serious way, requiring an embarrassing trip to an expert repairman. 19.05, 23.81 uses this model numbering system and it has a suffix 50s. For most adjustments, you simply turn the screw while watching the tester's readout, aiming for maximum output. (20% off). Light and speaker functioning. Connect the signal generator's leads to the ends of this loop and place it near the digital receiver. The dial belts are new for smooth motor operation and tuning. Those partners may have their own information theyve collected about you. Not only were there problems with signal weakness, but at one point it gave out "birdy" squeals while tuning, a symptom often due to misalignment. Zenith sold a ton of them when new. Powered bySquarespace. 1938 Zenith Model 12S265 Restored Bluetooth Radio Art Deco About the Item This is a 1938 Zenith 12 tube model 12S265, Zenith's most famous and collectible year. the radio was built for the 1937 model year. The photo-finished portion of the cabinet was in decent shape, but the top was badly damaged, as you can see below. You will also need the alignment instructions from the schematic, of course. cost of the radio. letter after the model number itself, you have But it turned out very nice. The next photo shows the second pulley underneath the chassis. Should you ever come across a Zenith radio which . I didn't want to risk damaging the pointers during removal or getting them off safely but being unable to securely reattach them. My wife and son drove the 70 miles in fog so thick you couldn't see the front of your vehicle to be the first ones at the estate sale and got it. Alan Jesperson has only located 5 of these in his many years of collection, restoring and selling Zenith radios. Not shown in the photo are thick insulated battery cables. Manufactured by Zenith/Herman Miller. THE RADIO WORKS. See more ideas about antique radio, vintage radio, old radios. In other words, I could have avoided the time spent laboriously splitting and regluing the square rubber material. 3-bands, Broadcast (AM), and 2 shortwave. This three-band, nine-tube Art Deco radio is completely restored and retrofitted with Bluetooth. During the restoration process these areas were repaired. Now they're showing up more and more and I expect that to only increase. Youll see ad results based on factors like relevancy, and the amount sellers pay per click. (Thanks to Walt Heskes, an expert adviser on many of these projects, for pointing me in the right direction to solve this problem.). This scheme allows the radio to work if a lamp burns out. Under AC operation, the filament output from the power supply is 6.3 volts, fine for the six-volt tubes but too much for the 1J6. Content is for presentation purposes only. 3-bands, Broadcast (AM), and 2 shortwave. Original Price 29.76 The one dial that was left showing/open is crazed, but I have a spare chassis to replace that one dial. Pictured here above is the most common of the 1938 15 tube radios made. In 1938 Zenith released several models of 12-tube table radios with what Zenith referred to as their "Robot Dial." The Zenith robot dial was equipped with a tuning eye tube that indicated signal strength of a station and in several models the dials were motorized. Twelve (count 'em!) The collector would Craig. Welcome to my home page of stuff that I collected and restored over the years. This radio has the fabulous Robot Shutter Dial with a green tuning eye. 15 tube Zenith radios are not common and easy to find, but this model is the highest production model produced for the 1938 season. In our example of the 12S232, the radio was built for the 1938 model year. Put the radio right next to your favorite chair, relax and enjoy! 1938-1942 Prewar Portables and Wood Sets. Pleasant "waterfall" cabinet and tear-drop dial that was . And this is one of the 5. One of the most, the life and spirit of the Jazz Age, which emerged after the First World War and found its zenith in, Out of an outstanding collection of period art deco radios is this 1938 Zenith 6S238 Wooden Chair, 1938 Zenith WALTON 12-S-232 Shutter Dial Tombstone Art Deco Radio in pristine restored condition, 1938 Zenith Walton 9-S-232 Shutter Dial Tombstone Art Deco Radio in pristine restored condition, 1938 Zenith Model 6-D-219 table top Tube Radio Bluetooth cosmetically and electronically restored, This is a 1938 Zenith 9 tube model 9S244, Zeniths most famous and collectible year. All the paper foil capacitors were replaced as well. All that happened was everybody horded the things. 1938 Zenith short wave radio classic antique model 6-J-257 Ad vertisement by Jasona5150. On to the next challenge . Model 6-J-230 dates from 1938 and is typical of many radios of that era. I bought the Zenith it in December of 2012, after finding it on Craigslist. Electronics/Chassis/Cord: The Superhetrodyne chassis is a performer and plays full dial scale. This classic "black dial" Zenith tombstone is a real jewel. If the prices come down due to market saturation? Zenith made four different chassis to fit into this style cabinet (7J232, 7S232, 9S232 & 12S232). Do not use the add to cart feature. I've only had a casual interest in these. Buyer's Premium 25% up to $1,000,000.00 23% above $1,000,000.00 Philco Art Deco Tube Radio Receiver, ca. Original Price 561.84 A truly beautiful radio, the cabinet was done by E-K Restorations of Cleveland, Ohio. 1939 Zenith World's Fair Radio Recently, there was an estate sale in Cottage Grove, Oregon. It is a striking radio from top to bottom. If the leading number is 1 (IE 5S128) This is now equipped with Tissot's new titanium-based alloy Nivachron balance spring. . Zenith 12S267, 1938 Approximately 43-1/4 inches / 110 cm tall. Other radios in the same style and therefore also called "Waltons" are the 9-tube 9-S-232, the top of the . Original Price 1,180.75 The next photo shows how the cabinet was masked with newspaper prior to applying the new finish. . (For those who have noted that 2.9 + 2.9 + 1 equals more than 6.3, we should point out that there is also a small resistor in parallel with each lamp, to create exactly the right resistance.). Toward the front was a big messy splotch of some hard substance, possibly dried glue or some kind of varnish. After stripping, I carefully buffed the top smooth with very fine #0000 steel wool. 747.81, 934.76 After I reinstalled the cloth, the cosmetic restoration was complete! Why would a radio designer do this? The front and sides of the cabinet appears to be covered with finely grained veneer, but the "veneer" is actually a photographic decal of a wood pattern. This is a Zenith 1938 Model 7-S-232, a 7 tube "Walton". When I got my hands on the new belt, however, I discovered a little problem. This was a common practice since Zenith never printed 271 paper tags. When I purchased the radio, it required total restoration. Stratosphere. Needless to say I would not take no for an answer and kept telling him "I wanted to purchase the radio". The black contrasting stripes near the bottom had a few scuffs, which I restored with black paint and a small artist's brush. Receives radio stations. The chassis and round tube shields are painted with an attractive copper-colored hammertone finish. To conceal blemishes on the photo-finished sides and front, I wiped on a coat of Min-Wax walnut stain with a soft cloth, let the stain set for a minute or two, then buffed it off again with a clean cloth. Instead, they get rubber stock of the right diameter, cut it to the right length, wind the length around the pulleys, then super-glue the cut ends together. I also have all original knobs now too. For you radio collectors This radio does have all the matching number stamps on the chassis, and paper tag on the bottom of the cabinet. tubes. Page 1 of 2 [ 22 posts ] Go to page 1, 2 Next Previous topic | Next topic Page 1 of 2 [ 22 posts ] Moderator: Lou deGonzague Go to page 1, 2 Next Antique Radio Forums Index Category Online Auctions and Sales Forum All times are UTC Who is online Search for: The preferred material seems to be rubber O-ring stock with a square, rather than round, cross-section. Sigh. You know, these are actually not exactly rare radios. This is a 1938 Zenith 7 tube Walton model 7S232, Zeniths most famous and collectable year. 303.06, 378.83 letter designations that were used to describe The grille cloth is a reproduction of the original pattern. And another radio collector friend had the speaker in stock. The 15 tube model 15U246 pictured here to the right and a 12 tube model 12S245 as well. The watch is priced at $2,025 due in large part to the fact that the watch is powered by an automatic chronograph Valjoux A05.231 movement. Price: $12.00. So it is truly a very rare Zenith radio. Only $1900! Next is the tuning knob and the rightmost control is the bandswitch. The metal box atop the chassis has a switch on its back to select AC or DC operation. The original cost of the 15U271 was $235.00, $10 more than the 15U270 at $225.00. It had an original purchase price of $169.95 and boasts the following list of features:- Motorized tuning & foreign station re-locator 12-inch electrodynamic speaker with "acoustic adapter" Push-pull 6V6 output stage producing a room- It is made of polished brass with the famous lightning "Z" Zenith logo at its center. each represented by a single letter. Zenith Radio Corp.; Chicago, IL Year 1937/1938 Category Broadcast Receiver - or past WW2 Tuner Radiomuseum.org ID 68140 alternative name: Chicago Radio Lab Picture Schematics Zenith Radio Corp.; 9-S-232 'Waltons' Ch= 5905 (1) Click on the schematic thumbnail to request the schematic as a free document.