Picked up a few more radios
 

Methinks some of the ones I have are going to have to go...

Found a garage sale today with two interesting radios - A Fisher 100 FM Microceiver and a Zenith X390 clock radio with a 7N06 chassis. The Fisher is an odd design with five separate FM tuning dials and knobs - each knob is also a pushbutton, it allows you to preset five stations and tune between them at a button push. The Zenith is only the second AM/FM tube clock radio I've run across, the other was also a Zenith but utterly trashed. Picked them up for $5 each.

The Zenith looks just like this one: http://radio.mcdougallshome.net/old-...istance-radio/

Sam, if that Fisher 100 works, you're going to be amazed by the sound. I have one as my main "bathroom" radio:D, and two more for parts/repair. There was also a second speaker as an option. I've seen exactly one of those speakers in the last eight years.

That Zenith is a '67 ("x" in model number) that uses a '66 designed ("N" in chassis number) chassis. Zenith made tube radios as late as '69.

Not bad at all for $5/each.

Interesting. The tube layout chart on the Zenith is dated 1959. I haven't fired it up yet, I'll give it a full rehab.

The Fisher works fine (except for the AFC, which makes the signal worse). Great sound for a little box. It has a bit of damage on one cabinet edge, the AFC knob has a broken spot (I'll fill it in with some epoxy, shape and repaint), and two of the brights are missing off of the larger knobs. It had a cable for the extension speaker, but the speaker itself was nowhere to be found - I even asked the seller. I might do a complete cabinet rebuild with real walnut veneer - I have JVC/Delmonico AM/FM MPX table radio in the garage that needs the same treatment.

If the Zenith is indeed from '69, it's rather humorous that the (presumably) more expensive Fisher from the same era has vinyl "veneer" while the Zenith has real walnut.

Actually, your Zenith is from '67 ("x" model line); but, Zenith made a tube radio as late as '69 ("z" model line). Unlike many other manufacturers, Zenith made some quality "last gasp" tube radios.

Anyone know how to get into the Fisher 100? I pulled the three screws on the back but nothing happened.

Hey, Sam!

Sorry it took me so long to check back into this thread. Kind of embarrassing to admit, especially since I used to help mod this forum, but I rarely come back over here anymore.

There are four screws, three on the back and one on the bottom. Take out the one on the bottom and the chassis should push right out the front.

I'm assuming you already figured that out, though!:D

its been a while bit IIRC i had a allied 333 that did the same thing, AFC made it worse, I think its how the discriminator coil is adj. the AFC looks to adj the LO until there is null at the output of the discrimator indicating its tuned to the IF frequency. If the discriminator is not set right this null take place somewhere above or below the IF frequency.

I think I was able to make minor tweaks in the secondary of the discriminator until switching from AFC to non AFC did not effect the signal strengh or sound when the non afc is tuned perfectly. Of course any time messing with IF you need to be sure which side you are adj the afc line secondary should swing from pos to neg quickly when adjusting the secondary of the discriminator.

again its been a while....

Actually, I hadn't. I've hauled the 100 outside to listen to baseball several times, but haven't done any work on it. Do you notice that the volume on yours wobbles around with signal strength?

No, it's quite steady.

Obviously mine needs some work...