old Zenith - Videokarma.org TV - Video

epifanatic · #1 08-23-2008, 12:29 AM

This thing has been stashed in the laundry room for years, just ran across it while cleaning. Plugged it in and, viola!! works like a charm!! Belonged to my wife's grandfather. Any info on year, value, etc. would be much appreciated.

thanks,
Mike

epifanatic · #2 08-23-2008, 12:33 AM

also... any idea what the plug in the last photo is for??

mr_fixer · #3 08-23-2008, 02:22 AM

Worthless, absolutely worthless. thats why you should donate it to me for free, unless Sandy shows up and comments, then I would be guilty of plagerization, for stealing his line. A guy has to try every once and a while, ya know?. As to your question, it is a Zenith Transoceanic early 50's version. Value? only a fair market can determine that, but you could look at completed auctions at that E something or another auction site to give you a ball park idea. that plug was for a battery pack to make it portable, which aren't availble except as a kit to adapt modern batteries to the radio, which you can also find at that E something or another auction site. Logan

epifanatic · #4 08-23-2008, 02:50 AM

Thanks Logan.

Sandy G · #5 08-23-2008, 05:10 AM

Dammit Logan...You stole my thunder ! Yep, Zenith T/O, late '40s/early '50s, VERY desirable radio, prolly worth at least a hunnert bux, anyway...Clean the case w/warm soapy water on a spounge, rinse & dry carefully, & then hit it w/a couple of applications of a good black shoe polish...It will GLOW...The dial & buttons can be cleaned w/Windex, Q-Tips, paper towels, but be careful. You've got a Prize, there !

Fisherdude · #6 08-23-2008, 05:28 AM

That's a model G500.

It was considered a "transition" model, in between the technologically obsolete pre-WWII models, and the "all-new" H500 that came later.

The G500 was introduced in Oct/Nov 1949 as a 1950 model, and was produced through May, 1951.

The G500 used miniature tubes instead of loktal, fewer tubes, no selenium rectifier, and featured much longer battery life.

It is considered by many collectors as one of the most beautiful Trans-Oceanics.

Nice find!

sprman55 · #7 08-24-2008, 05:54 PM

Hi nice find.Be very careful i would recap it befor playing it.The 1L6 tube goes high price now days.Be careful on how you clean it to.I had sold it years ago in the 90s.It worked ok got lots of stations.Sprman

k-man · #8 09-02-2008, 04:20 PM

Very nice shape, It's considered to be the best sounding of the Transoceanic radios. Be sure to replace the filter cap, my friend is repairing one that someone plugged in without and the cap exploded! There's lots of info on Transoceanics so restoring it shouldn't be too hard.

gadget73 · #9 09-02-2008, 04:25 PM

That dangly plug is for the batteries, which would go into that compartment at the bottom. Probably a 2 or 3 volt "A" cell and a 45 or 67 volt "B" cell.

Randy Bassham · #10 09-02-2008, 07:10 PM

The battery pack supplied 9 volts for the filaments which were wired in series and 90 volts for the B+.

Old1625 · #11 09-02-2008, 07:35 PM

Yep! Got a slightly different model year similar to that one; the speaker grillework is different, but it has the rotary dial just the same. It worked fine up 'til recently; it needs an IF tube to bring it back to life again. When I encounter such tube amongst my rummaging and cleanup campaign around here I will stuff it and listen once again, I'm fairly sure. Yay Zenith!