Zenith 10S153

[Dave A]

I found this Zenith 10S153 on Nextdoor.com a few miles from me. $50 from a downsizing retired couple that had it for 45 years. The knobs and 6L6 tubes are worth more. Cabinet poly refinished before that and more glossy than original but in perfect shape for display. Of course the cloth is wrong but that is for another day. The cans have been changed with a few others in 1977. Chassis came out for a new power cord, Deoxit treatment, new cabinet to chassis grommets from True Value, clean the backside of the glass, and a dusting. The beehive is there. British International 6L6GC tubes in the push-pull. Knobs are perfect. Shadowmeter works fine. And the factory service diagrams came with it. Works great picking up MW and SW stations and every interfering device in the house. Does anyone know the proper dial belt ID? This one is getting ragged. Changing it looks like a real adventure though.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by Dave A

I found this Zenith 10S153 on Nextdoor.com a few miles from me. $50 from a downsizing retired couple that had it for 45 years. The knobs and 6L6 tubes are worth more. Cabinet poly refinished before that and more glossy than original but in perfect shape for display. Of course the cloth is wrong but that is for another day. The cans have been changed with a few others in 1977. Chassis came out for a new power cord, Deoxit treatment, new cabinet to chassis grommets from True Value, clean the backside of the glass, and a dusting. The beehive is there. British International 6L6GC tubes in the push-pull. Knobs are perfect. Shadowmeter works fine. And the factory service diagrams came with it. Works great picking up MW and SW stations and every interfering device in the house. Does anyone know the proper dial belt ID? This one is getting ragged. Changing it looks like a real adventure though.

Hi there, that is a swell looking radio! On my 10S690 I just used an old VCR Belt that was roughly the same diameter as the original dial belt to get the tuner going again. You might try that on your unit.

[Titan1a]

Your radio is a keeper. I have an 8S154 needing a refit and a belt broke on my 7S363. I know I'll live until the last tech job is completed!

[sanford12]

Here's mine. Good radio's

[jhalphen]

Hi to all,
Hi Dave A,

This gentleman advertises on Antique Radio Forums, is specialized in belts and a Zenith specialist :

https://www.qualityradiobelts.com/index.html

I have no ties to this seller, his services seem praised on ARF.
see advert banner on the right, bottom of homepage.

https://antiqueradios.com/forums/index.php

Hope this helps,


Best Regards
jhalphen
Paris/France

[zeno]

I am calling the cops on you, you stole that radio !

Anyhows we had a Zenith console at the shop on the
sales floor. One with the tone buttons & big box wave magnet.
Being a Zenith dealer made it appropriate. Had a big band
station & it was the only thing that could pull it in through the
shops QRM. Customers always admired it.

73 Zeno
LFOD !

[Dave A]

A treat to find this older post revived and hello to Jerome! I did get a belt and that was brain surgery to get down through the construction layers to get it in. And I found the almost identical factory diamond pattern at Kutztown. No Wavemagnet so it is a long wire. I tried a Terk but it did nothing. I'm using a little AES AM xmtr and it pounds my MP3 big band list. Zeno, the police chief here in the sticks is a friend. I'm Teflon.

[jhalphen]

Hi to all,
Hello to you, Dave A.

I should have guessed that since 2021 (date of the first post) you would have found a solution!
Truth is that the huge photo of the Zenith console squeezes the text posts on my screen (i-Pad) so much that the date & text is barely legible and i didn't pay attention.

Oh well, the tip might be useful to future Zenith owners seeking drive belts.

Best Regards
jhalphen
Paris/France