Zenith H472W Circle of Sound, Year??
 

I just stumbled across one of these at a Goodwill store. Works perfect, even the clock. Got 2 questions.
1. Anyone know what model year the H472W is?
2. Someone glued felt to the bottom. Any ideas on how to remove the glue residue ?
Thanks
John of Memphis

I had an H472W radio some years ago, but the clock in mine was bad (the lever that actuated the function switch had snapped off, and I think the clock itself stopped shortly thereafter; these radios were notorious for clock failures, so you were lucky if the clock in yours still works). I simply removed the clock, wired in a push-button switch, and covered the side of the front panel where the clock had been with wood-grain contact paper.

I'm not exactly sure of the year the H472W series was made, but I'd guess it was early-mid-1970s. I especially liked the Target Tuning feature that showed when the radio was tuned right to the center of the channel (exact tuning for FM). The Target Tuning system also worked on AM and, in addition to showing when the tuning was exact, the small LED in the dial pointer could also show when a station was on or off the air, and also the signal strength. A two-transistor circuit operated the Target Tuning indicator. A very clever tuning arrangement that I have not seen in any other radio since the H472W.

IIRC, Zenith also made a version of the H472W (same vintage and features) without a clock. I don't know the model number offhand of the manual version, but I do know they (and the H472W with clock) show up every once in a while on ebay.

Hope this info helps.

I have one that I got in 1977........... I had to redo the clock several years ago. James

EDIT: My reply was completely out of synch with the original question... sorry!

Hi John,

Paint thinner will remove the film, but prolonged use might eat the plastic. If you do use thinner, wipe it and the dried glue away with Simple Green by only doing a small section at a time. I've also had good luck using WD40, but that won't work as well if the P/O used Super Glue or something really strong.

You can also try soaking it with the WD40, and then attacking it with a sharp wood edge. Hardwoods -like oak or maple- make the best scrapers. Make sure the oil doesn't run all over something you'd like to keep nice, as even that might foul up a dial lens, lift the wood grain or spoil the chrome-plated trim.

I have the later, digital version (plus the pure radio Circle of Sound versions; like the one with the upside down, 360-degree funnel) and use it daily. Zenith also made radio-only models in the same cabinet, and that seems a nice radio to have as well. I'm looking for one of those, in fact.

Capt Moody likes to call vintage solid state radios daily drivers, and that's a good description; they are very reliable and sound great-

Goo Gone is very good for removing glue...saturate the glued area with Goo Gone and let it soak, then try to gently scrape it off. Sometimes several applications are necessary. It is a mild oil based/citrus product which will not damage plastic.