[Jeffhs]

Chad -

Thanks for the prompt reply.

I managed to remove the coupling unit from the original line cord of my MJ1035, but am now having the dickens of a time reinstalling the coupler on the replacement cord. The replacement has somewhat thicker insulation than did the original cord, so when I try to fit the coupling unit onto the new cord it just won't go. Goodness knows I tried to put the thing on the cord--tried for about an hour and a half, but no luck. Putting the metal coupler by itself on the cord is no problem, but when I slip the small cardboard insulator into the clip and try to install the latter, no go--the cardboard piece is thick enough to close the opening of the clip so that there is practically no way I can slip the coupler onto the cord. I have since gone back to using an external FM wire antenna, which works well enough in this signal area (local to all Cleveland FM stations, 35-40 miles from most transmitters). The MJ1035 deserves to get as much signal as possible anyway, as it is a very fine set for its age--the fact that it was introduced by Zenith the same year (1961) the FCC authorized stereo FM broadcasting in the U.S. notwithstanding. Stereo FM, like color and digital TV, demands strong, clear signals anyway, so it makes sense to use the best possible antenna on stereo receivers even if you are in a good signal area.

I posted my question about the scratches on the panel of my MJ1035 to the rec.radio+phono Usenet newsgroup the other day and found an answer earlier this evening. Turns out that scratches on a thin metal strip such as is used on the front of the MJ1035 really cannot be removed, so I guess I'll have to live with them; fortunately they aren't visible from a distance.