. each represented by a single letter. Connected in parallel with the radio's speaker leads. $1,499.99 0 bids or Best Offer 1d 4h Local Pickup Radio, Zenith Deluxe Floor Wood Cabinet Console, Double-Wide, Scarce Vintage $845.00 or Best Offer It rattles objects in the room when played loud. If the letter designation is followed by a two The radio has had a complete recap electronic restoration, all the electrolytic capacitors were replaced with new production parts. A string-driven system is cheap to manufacture and easy to service, but strings can break or slip. The large gray and blue components near the center of the photo are the new filter capacitors. Numbers in the photo identify various components: This radio requires eleven separate alignment adjustments. The belt runs inside machined brass pulleys and is held at the right tension by a spring-loaded arm. The preferred material seems to be rubber O-ring stock with a square, rather than round, cross-section. Want to know more? (1928-2014) Miller learned about radios and electronics during his service in the US Navy from 1945 to 1949. The radio's electronics were intact, but needed a complete overhaul. An interesting side note, Zenith did continue to Original Price 378.83 Incidentally, here is a case in which careful notes might have led me to these "hidden" capacitors sooner. The next phase involved "recapping" the set, or replacing all paper capacitors and the filter capacitors in the power supply. The stamp on the wood at the top back is there, but it can be seen faintly. To do it, you first fashion a simple coil of wire, about three loops and roughly six inches across. Once everything was in place, trimming the belt and gluing it was pretty easy. (20% off), Sale Price 944.60 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, -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Turning off the personalized advertising setting wont stop you from seeing Etsy ads or impact Etsy's own personalization technologies, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive. I didn't want to risk damaging the pointers during removal or getting them off safely but being unable to securely reattach them. You will not be disappointed. The radio had been serviced in the past but most of the original parts were still in place. As you see from the pictures, the chassis has some rust spots. 67.04, 74.50 The radio has very nice reception with no hum. Had I been alive and of a radio-buying disposition in 1938, I would have looked at . The chassis is clean and rust free. 1939 Zenith World's Fair Radio Recently, there was an estate sale in Cottage Grove, Oregon. To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. This is the mahogany version of the 15U270 walnut model. Content is for presentation purposes only. The shutters open nicely. I purchased this radio from the daughter of the original owner. The radio features a 5-point tone control, bass. The grille cloth is a reproduction of the original pattern. Autotransformer (variac), used to supply a precise voltage to the radio. Introduced in June of 1937 for the 1838 model year. There was just enough slack in the connecting cables to let me replace those parts without unwiring all of the cables. The 15 tube 'Robot-Dial' console in a walnut finish is the more common version of this cabinet style. Even if it plays, it undoubtedly needs some repair before you put it into regular service. Zenith 1000Z Stratosphere before restoration, Zenith 1000Z Stratosphere after restoration. Antique gift. Original Price 14.29 I purchased the empty cabinet from Alan Jesperson. For you radio collectors During the restoration process these areas were repaired. The chassis would have The 15U270 & 15U271 are the only 1938 15 tube Zenith radios that utilize two speakers, a 12 woofer and a 6 tweeter. The dealer did not want to sell it, he was going to fix it himself. (20% off), Sale Price 1,180.75 It initially sold for $69.95 in the East, but in early August Zenith, along with other manufacturers, announced across the board price increases. But it turned out very nice. Many of the surviving 15U270 and 15U271 suffer from cracking burl on the curved areas on each side of the dial. The, runners are in excellent condition. 1938 Zenith Radio - Etsy Check out our 1938 zenith radio selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. All tube shields are in place as well. the type of cabinet, and ever where in the line-up k42: ivory: $12.00: k42-divided: ivory: $12.00: k42b: black: $12.00: It seems as though there are two types of knobs used on these radios that look the same but have different dimensions for the hole. Inside the box are power-supply components, including the rectifier tube and (for battery operation) a vibrator. If you are looking for a cabinet and chassis, number match this radio has it. Charles Eames studies architecture at the Washington, At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal 1938 zenith for your home. Before making the adjustments, I used a digital radio to double-check the signal generator's setting. I wasn't finished with the recapping, after all! 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. Made for Montgomery Ward by Stewart Warner. Slipping is an especial disadvantage for shortwave listening, where accurate tuning is all-important. In the process, however, I learned more about this type of radio and added a few new items to my bag of repairman's tricks. Substituting larger filters reduced the hum to an acceptable level. digit number (IE. By the time I was done, the radio was playing beautifully and its dial tracking was right on the money. 303.06, 378.83 ZENITH 12 TUBE SHUTTER DIAL: This completely restored Zenith radio was made in 1938 and features the classic Zenith shutter dial with motorized tuning control. Original Price 23.81 This type of "photo-finish" can also be seen on my 1937 Philco 37-61 tombstone. The cabinet is simple but elegant, with a six-inch circular dial echoed by a circular design in the upper speaker grille. Also features 5-point tone control, Bass compensation, spinner tuning, split second station relocation. (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.). letter after the model number itself, you have If either lamp burns out, the power tube gets no filament current, and you get almost no amplification. This handsome set has earned a number of compliments from visitors. again until late 1945, and were sold as 1946 models. Manufactured by Zenith/Herman Miller. It was all original when I got it, with only minor chassis repairs done many years ago. for the cabinet styles are as follows: In our example, the 12S232 would be a 12 tube This scheme holds true After I had a good color match, I sprayed one coat of clear lacquer on the top, then removed the masking and the grille cloth to expose the whole cabinet. The next photo shows how I taped the capacitor in place to keep the spring from pushing it back down. Toward the front was a big messy splotch of some hard substance, possibly dried glue or some kind of varnish. . So I will wait. The original cost of the 15U271 was $235.00, $10 more than the 15U270 at $225.00. For instance, my radio doesn't tune to 456 kilohertz, but it does tune to 912, double the target frequency.) 19.05, 23.81 Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. numbering scheme. model line, or more simply the higher the retail 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. A brand new NOS green eye tube was installed to dress up its playing and viewing appearance. Radio chassis has been overhauled and is working good. In the following rear view, look at the big box on the right side of the chassis. If I ever sell the radio, I'll replace the battery cables with new ones of the right length. After his military service, Miller returned to Hillsboro, Oregon, and worked for Meltebeke's Furniture repairing TV's and appliances. Connect the signal generator's leads to the ends of this loop and place it near the digital receiver. not with the actual production date. ZenithAmerica's most copied radio again a year ahead. On my radio, the little rubber drive belt was shot. Zenith did not produce radios for the general public It looks like someone sprayed something over the original finish (on the E-pay radio). 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. The string is wrapped two or three times around the shaft of the tuning knob and goes around a larger pulley attached to the tuning capacitor. This is a showpiece! Using six tubes, it covers the standard broadcast band and shortwave frequencies from 5.6 to 18 megahertz. 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. The tuner on this radio is well engineered and quite interesting. Dial/Knobs: The famous black Zenith Robot Shutter Dial is in very nice condition as is the dial glass. This was a common practice since Zenith never printed 271 paper tags. the Zenith home radios: The last 3 digits get a bit more complex. The set has a nice finish on it too. but will for ever more be referred to by "its" model Not really. The dial perimeter is marked in gradations from 1 to 60, allowing you to record very fine tuning positions. The second segment of the model number revels 1938 Zenith model 6S254 - Henson Brothers Old Tyme Radios. The metal box atop the chassis has a switch on its back to select AC or DC operation. 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. The spring counterbalances the weight of the tuning capacitor as the plates rise up, allowing you to accurately rest the tuner at any position. After those capacitors had been replaced, the radio's B+ voltage was lowered somewhat, but it still tested about 25-30% higher than indicated in the schematic. 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. Great display and talking piece. 5 out of 5 stars (1) $ 850.00. 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. Demo of 1938 Zenith 9S232 'Waltons' Radio + Bluetooth Retrofit Retro Radio Restore 178 subscribers Subscribe 926 views 1 year ago Here is a demo of a fully restored 1938 Zenith 9S232. compensation, spinner tuning, split. If the leading number is 1 (IE 5S128) the radio was built for the 1937 model year. It is a 1939 model 15S372. Manufactured by Zenith/Herman Miller. If the leading number is 1 (IE 5S128) If you see this ad, the radio is available. I've only had a casual interest in these. 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. 944.60, 1,180.75 The radio is sensitive enough to get the local stations just fine. Manufactured by Zenith/Herman Miller. By putting the lamps in series with the 1J6 tube, the designer used the lamps themselves to provide dropping resistance. If the letter designation is followed by a The next photo shows the underside of the chassis after recapping. Neither the TV show or the radio (style & circuit) appeals to me. The chassis and round tube shields are painted with an attractive copper-colored hammertone finish. Should you ever come across a Zenith radio which Number 4 shows the multitester's probes clipped to test leads in parallel with the radio's speaker terminals. The Walton radios, (so named because of the fame this series received when one was used in the TV series, "The Waltons") are among the most popular among serious Zenith collectors. Electronics/Chassis/Cord: The Superhetrodyne chassis is a performer and plays full dial scale. 1938 ZENITH 15-U-269 ART DECO SHUTTER DIAL TUBE RADIO Excellent PICK UP ANAHEIM $1,740.00 Local Pickup Was: $2,900.00 Magnificent Art Deco 1940 Zenith 12S471 "Aztec" Console, Restored & Works Well! The speaker has the correct part number for a 7-tube model. 1938 Zenith short wave radio classic antique model 6-J-257 Ad vertisement by Jasona5150. A very nice farm set. The 15 tube 'Robot-Dial' console in a walnut finish is the more common version of this cabinet style. First, I cut the gaskets in half, making the cuts on the diagonal. It needs restoring as you can see, but the veneer is perfect, speaker is great and most of the dials are great. Buyer's Premium 25% up to $1,000,000.00 23% above $1,000,000.00 Philco Art Deco Tube Radio Receiver, ca. Instead, a .5-mfd capacitor is connected in series between the two devices. The next photo shows how the cabinet was masked with newspaper prior to applying the new finish. type of chassis, power requirements, model year, Zenith 12-S-267 (12S267) Shutter-Dial Console Radio (1938), The magnificent 12-tube Zenith 12-S-267 (12S267) console, Motorized tuning & foreign station re-locator, 12-inch electrodynamic speaker with "acoustic, Push-pull 6V6 output stage producing a room-, Robot (shutter) dial with tear-drop shaped, 5-point tone control (voice/normal/Hi-Fi/Bass/, Frequency coverage is 540 to 1752, 1740 to 5930 & 5490, the tone control offers a Hi-Fi setting, this is not, When I purchased this radio in early spring of 2006 it had. 1930-1937 The Depression and the Rise of the Golden Age of Radio, 1945-1959 Post War Tube Radios-The Baby Boom Years. Original Price 561.84 I too would like one but I won't spend 4 figures for one. This article will deal with the "Big Black 1,023.32, 1,279.15 Zenith 12S267 1938 What a console! This is a 1938 Zenith 7 tube Walton model 7S232, Zenith's most famous and collectable year. Not only were there problems with signal weakness, but at one point it gave out "birdy" squeals while tuning, a symptom often due to misalignment. the relative placement in the line-up ($costs$). The bass from this console is unreal. The large black Zenth dial is in perfect shape. The paper serial number tag on the bottom of the cabinet is there as well. One . Light and speaker functioning. This radio can be powered from household AC current or a 6-volt DC battery. The one dial that was left showing/open is crazed, but I have a spare chassis to replace that one dial. Dial" radios and the numbering scheme which Each 1938 zenith for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, fabric and glass. The 10S130 is a much better looking radio, IMO. I was offered a similar one for $2300 earlier this year and had to laugh. Mar 24, 2022 - Explore Daniel Mumau's board "1930's - 1940's floor model Zenith radios" on Pinterest. a zero at the beginning, (IE. He joined a fledging Beaverton electronics company, Tektronix, in 1951 as its 351st employee. The dial belts are new for smooth motor operation and tuning. Polishing only cleaned up the paint, however. Part of the top finish was completely gone. letter designations that were used to describe The most-sought-after model today was not the top of the line, though. The two trailing digits of the model number describe The radio has very nice reception with no hum. This is the mahogany version of the 15U270 walnut model. Sure. No lowball please. Zenith made four different chassis to fit into this style cabinet (7J232, 7S232, 9S232 & 12S232). All the paper foil capacitors were replaced too. Antique Radio Forums Index Category Online Auctions and Sales Forum, Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests. Using six tubes, it covers the standard broadcast band and shortwave frequencies from 5.6 to 18 megahertz. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. The following photo shows the radio after I completed its restoration. Youll see ad results based on factors like relevancy, and the amount sellers pay per click. The radio is so large it does not fit well next to a chair as it was designed too. 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.". Learn more. When I first got the radio, I thought that the chassis might be solid copper, which would be quite beautiful when polished. Zenith did not produce radios for the general public again until . Even after solving those gross problems via the power supply fix, the dial tracking was not very accurate. Another great 15 tube Zenith radio pictured above. Airline 14WG-806A 1942 This is a wonderful wood radio with two bands, AM and shortwave. I used Citri-Strip, an easy to use, non-smelly gel stripper. When the US entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor in . This three-band, nine-tube Art Deco radio is completely restored and retrofitted with Bluetooth. Stratosphere. Alan Jesperson has only located 5 of these in his many years of collection, restoring and selling Zenith radios. I found this radio in a small antique shop in El Paso TX behind 2 china cabinets and a pool table. The collector would The Original Price 1,475.94 Every effort was taken to reproduce original look of this fine radio. 1935 remained as the model 1000 throughout production). (20% off). I offer free shipping via Greyhound to the lower 48 states. Oh well, this is how we learn! Powered bySquarespace. Here is the tube lineup. Before doing this, I manually turned the tuning capacitor up, putting its spring under tension. 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 Some of the most serious Zenith radio collectors in the world have never seen this version in person. I also have all original knobs now too. 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. The four original wood Z knobs are present. Pictured here above is the most common of the 1938 15 tube radios made. Number 2 shows the signal ("hot") lead of the generator connected to the grid lead of the 6D8 tube. 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. Note-taking may seem tedious when you're hurrying to get results, but it saves time in the long run. The brand says the new spring is more durable and resistant to magnetic fields. The real Walton comes with personalized delivery. 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. After stripping, I carefully buffed the top smooth with very fine #0000 steel wool. The white pointer and brass second hand are perfect and moves nicely around the dial. So deluxe! A good looking radio and the one I restored had great reception. I bought the Zenith it in December of 2012, after finding it on Craigslist. Looks really good. Original Price 885.57 The chassis was purchased separate, it was originally from a chairside. Commander McDonald had two of these models crafted. produce civilian hearing-aids throughout the war Although there was nothing unusually hard or time-consuming about the cosmetic work, the electronics took more time than I had expected. First; the big round "airplaine" dial The large black dial is in very nice shape. It isa striking radio from top to bottom. tubes. included every vacuum tube in the tube count including: Original Price 17.86 Only $1900! Technical Specifications Number of Tubes 9 .No motor or tuning eye, but it has push-pull audio and runs on a 6 volt battery. the radio was found. In order to give you the best experience, we use cookies and similar technologies for performance, analytics, personalization, advertising, and to help our site function. Store Radio Knobs Zenith Zenith 1938 - 1940 Knob. (XG5) ~ ZENITH RADIO CO. CHICAGO. In other words, I could have avoided the time spent laboriously splitting and regluing the square rubber material. Take a look at the tube lineup. This radio has the fabulous "Robot Shutter Dial" with a green tuning eye. the 1936 model year. Model 6-J-230 dates from 1938 and is typical of many radios of that era. A multitester, used to measure the radio's output during alignment. After phoning a number of local stores, I was unable to locate square O-ring stock, so I bought the next-best thing: two rubber plumbing gaskets. When I queried the rec.antiques.radio+phono newsgroup for ideas, I learned that many restorers don't bother buying "store-bought" replacement belts. The two SW bands work well also. It included the radios of collector Glen Bricker. table model built for 1938. $2,995.00 SOLD Quantity Add to Cart We spared no expense to restore this gorgeous 1938 Zenith 9S232 tombstone radio known as 'The Waltons' because it starred in the 1970s TV series of the same name. Cleaning and recapping are standard practice, but solving the voltage problems added extra hours. No spring is visible from the outside, so I assume it's concealed inside the large metal dial case. Would I like one? The 1000 Z Stratosphere was designed to introduce the big Black Dial and other features that showed up on the 1936 and 37 Zenith Black Dial line. 6V27), the radio was built for 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. Number 1 shows the ground terminal of the generator connected to the ground terminal on the radio's antenna strip. The styling sometimes reminds me of this old TV show. Original Price 29.76 Cord replaced. A new AC power cord has been installed for safety. I restored and refinished one last year and was offered (and accepted) $450. (Thanks to Walt Heskes, an expert adviser on many of these projects, for pointing me in the right direction to solve this problem.). Return to PHOTO Index: PHOTO COLLECTION INDEX, NEXT PAGE >>> 1938-1942 PLASTIC CABINET RADIOS. Research Since I operate the radio on AC, I shortened the cables and tucked them under the chassis. 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. It is sporting the fabulous "Motor Drive Robot Shutter Dial" and green tuning eye. Etsy is powered by 100% renewable electricity. It is a striking radio from top to bottom. All that happened was everybody horded the things. I offer an Numbers 1 and 2 in the photo identify the connections between the signal generator and the radio. This scheme holds true for radios built through 1942, when Zenith halted civilian radio production to enter the war effort. on. 1960's Goodbye Vacuum Tubes and the End of "Made in USA". 3-bands, Broadcast (AM), and 2 shortwave. Zenith made four different chassis to fit into this style cabinet (7J232, 7S232, 9S232 & 12S232). Not shown in the photo are thick insulated battery cables. (15% off), Sale Price 15.18 for radios built through 1942, when Zenith halted This allows you to precisely measure the final output on the multitester. The belt is made of layers of rubber-impregnated fabric, similar to the fan belt in your auto but much smaller. Sad part about is, I offered them $150.00 over 2 months ago, the person on the phone said it was his sons radio and he would have to check with him about my offer, never heard back from them, Now I have lost interest in the radio! year (1996). On most old radios, a strong string drives the tuning capacitor. (intermediate frequency) coils. On the other hand, the radio didn't perform to its original specifications until we added that part. Receives radio stations. model years. They made very few and did not want to go thru the trouble printing model tags. (20% off), Sale Price 12.14 A gearing mechanism behind the dial transfers the belt's rotation to the tuning capacitor. Sure, it has one extra resistor not specified in the schematic. On many radios, the pilot lamps are wired in parallel with the filaments of the radio's tubes. Chr. A few minutes of experimentation convinced me that strong cord would not be a suitable replacement. So it is truly a very rare Zenith radio. 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. The audio was also harsh and extremely loud, so loud that the radio played at medium volume with the volume control turned all the way down.