How old is my Zenith clock radio?

[Sandy G]

A LOT of those old Zeniths don't know they're old & not sposed to work anymore, so they just keep on a-truckin'....(grin)

[venivdvici]

Yeah. It doesn't receive anything in the house but it does turn on and make static noises. I should try it outside with an extension cord to see if I can get some reception.

[Jeffhs]

With its 6-tube chassis, shielded antenna and all, your Zenith C624 clock radio should be getting everything from Maine to Miami, especially at night -- figuratively speaking, of course. Did you check to see that the antenna is connected? If all you're hearing inside your house with this radio is static and noise, a broken antenna connection sounds very likely. If this is indeed the case, taking the radio outside won't help anything -- you will still hear the same static/noise as you do in the house. If reconnecting the antenna doesn't help (or if the antenna connections are OK), however, there may be a weak or dead tube somewhere in the set, in the signal circuits. Do you hear anything at all, even strong local stations? If so, the radio is working up to a point, but still not as the designer intended. Another possibility is that a component between the antenna and the grid of the RF amp tube is open; this of course will kill all reception. However, I'd look at the antenna before suspecting anything else. Many times it's the simple things that cause the most trouble, and that are so often overlooked.

[venivdvici]

Thanks, Jeff!
I just turned it on again and played with it. I'm now able to get a local station! Still some static until I moved around the metal thingy in the back at bit and played with dial some more. Woo hoo! I thought it kinda worked when I first got it. I use it for its decorative value. I can't see any antenna and don't know where it would be. I also don't know where the am-fm setting is.

Pretty cool. If I recall, I paid $35 for this. What a sturdy little sucker!

I think I have bad radio reception here anyway. I always use my computer or Roku when I want to hear a radio station.

[David Roper]

Originally Posted by venivdvici

I also don't know where the am-fm setting is.

Uh oh . . . I don't quite know how to tell you this . . . .

[venivdvici]

I forgot FM wasn't always around. I don't think the crystal rocket radio I had as a child had FM either. I listened to it while it was clipped to a chain link fence. People probably thought I had a thing for fences back then.

Originally Posted by David Roper

Uh oh . . . I don't quite know how to tell you this . . . .