zenith console opinions
 

hi,
wondering if anyone could tell me if this model zenith is desirable ? one available locally, went and looked at it tonight.

although a bit scratched and the fabric could use replacing. the wood looks much thicker than any veneer i have saw, looks like most all scratches and dingd could be sanded out quite easily.. the turntable looks really cool but setup for 78's i belive, tone arm has about 5 pounds of toungue weight.

opinions welcomed and sorry for pic quality...

If the price is fair, get it. The Black dial Zenith sets are quite desirable. That's a nice looking one. Looking at the small pics I would put it around 1942-ish.

i have to arange transportation. i am really impressed with the cabinetry and think it could clean-up well, so we shall see.

besides the g/f likes it. actually she offered to pony-up half the cash..

any black dial zenith is worthy.i have 6 of them.none with turntables.zenith s cabinetry was so sharp.the designers were spot on.i have a magnavox regency that has the turntable and i really like that styling also.grab that zenith.btw,livonia is a great place to live.been there a couple times and it was fine!!!

Go for it. It looks like a '38-'40 set ('41-'42 had black keys for the tone and station buttons.) And a combo is rare enough to find today.

I would never never ever pass up a Zenith black dial radio unless the price was to high.

fingers crossed.

I think you hit the motherlode!

Black dial Zenith combo's are very rare and very collectible. If you buy it and don't like it, people will be fighting each other for the chance to bid on it, so you can't lose.

I would think about restoring the finish before taking it off, but if the scratches are really that bad, and this is my opinion, but you should strip it off with stripper and only sand if there are gouges into the veneer itself. Rather than sanding off the finish and risk sanding through the veneer anywhere.

Good luck getting it.

well guessing i have another project. kind of like the idea of sanding as littlke as possible. there is one nick on the side wher the veneer is gone. approx 1 1/4 x 5/8 strip gone otherwise it looks very salvageable.

btw sampson159,
my cousin that took me to get it... his wife is from rosevill approx 50 miles east of columbus. nice area, very scenic....

That is a gorgeous dial, I was off on the year looking at the small pic. I agree with AUdubon5425, '38-40 :yes: Lucky man you are, and to have the GF approve and LIKE it?? VERY lucky man indeed :D

down zanesville way.sold alot of basement jobs in that little town.bought more than a few antiques too.no sanding on the cabinet.only steel wool and hand cleaner to start.use q tips and some stain to hide any blemishes.i ve got one here now with a huge hole in the top!looks like someone got angry and put a hammer through it.the trim photo finish is rosewood on your unit.dont strip it off!clean it and wax the hell out of it.i use to strip every one i got ahold of and i learned there is nothing like that vintage look.nice looking piece.i want it!!!

Perchdog,

I'm re-veneering one whole side of my '41 Zenith 10S669 Console 'cause there is such a big piece of veneer missing. I'd venture to say that the wood will match yours very closely. The original from mine is coming off in large sections. If you like, I'll send you a generous piece that you'll be able to use to match your chip. Send me a PM.

BTW, if you do have to take off some of the old finish, or just smooth it out, use denatured alcohol. The original finish is shellac, so don't use strong chemical strippers on it. Denatured alcohol will re-flow the shellac.The strong strippers will permeate the veneer and soften the glue, lifting the veneer if you're not careful.

I believe a radio of that period would be finished with lacquer, lacquer thinner would dissolve the finish. Shellac with denatured alcohol as a thinner was used on '20's radios until the late '20's, for the most part.

Reece

OK,
I have to admit I am a little confused here. As far as lacquer finish thats exactly what my cousin said it was, along with stain added to darken it up. Actually the wood looks to be in really decent shape but the finish is letting loose to the point of flaking away when finger nail is run across it. I was a little concerned before looking at the unit and just the pics from craigs. As it turns out my concern was only a patch on the top where the finish completely wore away.
i guess my feelings were this should have something applied to help protect the wood. seems to me also if i just applied wax the bare spots would stick out like a sore thumb.
Please keep in mind I am total newbie here and given choice between paint brush, hammer and cool ass spray equipment. I would choose hammer, cool ass spray equipment then the paint brush.

Rrago,
thanks for the offer and glad i checked. It appears the radio has lost 2 small pieces of its veneer during its life time. Attached ref the attached photo's, missing is (1) pc approx 3/8" x 7/8" and (1) piece 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Zenithfan1
I did not notice til last night but your from Kenosha... I lived there for a little over 1 1/2 years on a machine install at the Chrysler engine plant. Nice town especially if your into drinking and carrying on. Me being in my mid-30's at the time, well lets just say I was all about that...lol I also purchased my paradigm ST60's and ST100's in a higher end stereo shop somewhere up in Racine

It looks to need a complete refinish. I've done a lot of 30's radios that were lacquer finishes. Ace hardware has a product called Furniture Refinisher that melts the lacquer without sucking all the color out of the wood. I use Mohawk toning lacquer mostly the Perfect Brown to get the color I want(the more coats the darker) here's one that I did that way.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/pic...pictureid=2509

Sanford12,
That radio is absolutly stunning. I noticed it right off the bat looking through your thread. what did you use to apply finish ?

ps, i found this one available locally... yours is much nicer !!!!!!

http://detroit.craigslist.org/atq/1266045255.html

hope you get a kick out of it...

Looks like you have an 8 tuber model. Chassis is simular to an 8S463 (rider vol 11-23) with the exception of the phono circiutry. Original 6X5 and electrolytics in the power supply equal the kiss of death for the power transformer! You should test it though as one of the first things to do with the chassis. Ohm it out and variac it with no loads to confirm its condition. It may test ok (which is a good thing) but break down under a load so be cautious and use a variac after restoration. Old Zenith transformers of this vintage are a crapshoot! Believe me!! But don't dispair if it's bad, they're out there and replacements/good originals can be found.
Your model is a 1940 series and the model number will be stamped somewhere on the back top portion of the cabinet. It will read 8- (amount of tubes) S-(short and standard wave) 4xx (4=1940 model year and cabinet model). So, it will read 8-S-4xx.

Transformer is a #95-937N tab mount.

Yes, I love these old Zenith consoles too..I sure have a soft spot for 'em!!

marty,
thanks for the advice. i will pull chassis and start per your recommendations...

the company i work... our us headquarters is in arlington, we are located just south east of i-20 and matlack real close to bell helicopters. i usually get down that way 2-3 times a year, a northern boy like me melts down there this time of year...:D

Oh my God! Small world!! You do business in the Westway Business Park..behind the Fry's!! I work in one of the suites there and I'm originally from the Detroit area. PM me!!