Zenith Transoceanic Radio
 

Local guy is selling this for 100 bucks. Says all original, working, and in very good shape.

Zenith Transoceanic Radio

Model G-500

Thoughts on this radio ?

Grab it. Especially if it's in good shape, working order.

That's a reasonable price for a nice one in original condition. Not a huge bargain, but not a ripoff, either.

As with all tube radios of that vintage, you should replace the old paper and electrolytic capacitors for safety and reliability. See http://antiqueradio.org/recap.htm .

If you have never recapped a radio before, a tube TO is not an ideal beginner's project. The chassis is rather cramped, like all portables.

You should also clean and lubricate the bandswitches and other controls using DeOxit, etc.

I think the G500 with the big badge inside the cover is one of the best looking TOs.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

Phil and Sandy, help me out...do the G and H 500's have the 1L6? If so, and the radio works well, especially if it's in good shape cosmetically, that is a very nice price. If it's not working, and the 1L6 is bad, that's a very pricey tube these days.

STILL worth getting, IMHO, if its in good shape otherwise...

I decided to pass on it. Right now I'm trying to reduce the amount of gear I sneak into the basement.

It is for sale on Craig's List in the western suburbs of Chicago. Talked to the owner by phone and it sounds like it is in very fine shape. Located in Hinsdale.

Cheers, Snade

IIRC the G-500 is the rarest of all post war TO's, it was only produced as a 1950 model. Basically it's got the H-500 chassis that uses the 1L6 but it's cabinet looks very similar to the previous 8G005 which used the loktals. It was immediately superceeded by the H-500 series that is the most common one. A point I find interesting is that Zenith introduced the solid state 1000 series in 1958 and also built the tubed 600 series until 1962. I have ads from National Geographic that show both radios side by side.

Well, that tears it. Hinsdale is way too close to me to let this one get away. I just emailed the seller. Snade, if you get this, shoot me his phone.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!!

I have an H-500 on my work bench. I intend to recap it, but I keep putting the project off. So far I replaced the power resistor with an aluminum wirewound resistor, and the selenium rectifier with a more modern silicone one. I powered it back on and it was still working fine. I also did the deoxit thing with the selector switches.

http://www.transoceanic.nostalgiaair.org/h-500.htm

G-500 is in the house!!!!

Incredible cosmetic condition, suction cups are there, WaveMagnet and connecting wire is perfect, WaveRod telescoping antenna is unbent and clip works, Operating Manual, schematic, parts list and alignment instructions, everything. The seller remembered his dad buying it new!

Audio is terrific on the am band, picks up tons of stations, but nothing on the sw bands, so it's not perfect.

But, for $100, it's a keeper for sure.

According to Bryant & Cones, the G-500 was made from 1950-51.

It will be joining my H-500, and B-600L, which has the genuine leather cover, and was the last tube TO made, running from 1959-62.

Fantastic. :thmbsp:

We'll need photos, of course.

Happy you got it.

Mark (aka Snade)

If you're only getting AM signals, I'd be willing to bet that the selector switches need a good cleaning and plenty of exercise. A common problem on most TO's.

Hi Mike!

Thanks for the tip. I'm hoping that's what it is. I've been doing some reading, and the usual suspects are a bad 1L6 (yikes!), or the 1L6 having being replaced with a 1R5 or another different tube, or the selenium rectifier and dropping resistor causing problems (not as bad), or, hopefully, dirty contacts.

All I've done so far is dust it off, but I'm going to get it out of the case and do some cleaning in the next few days, and take some pics.

Wish me luck!

BE CAREFUL taking it out of its case...And speaking of said case, a good coat or 3 of black shoe polish will generally do WONDERS for it...

Where's the pictures?