Old Zenith Console Restored - Videokarma.org TV - Video

steve gibson · #1 08-11-2005, 09:21 PM

Just finished restoring this Zenith 10-S-669. Both BC and SW bands working very well. The restoration of the automatic tuner was the biggest challenge. Hair like wires and small carbon tuners. This Wave Magnet antenna really brings in the stations. One down and three more consoles to go. My wife keeps finding them. Her latest was a fully complete Silvertone that she rescued from a dumpster at a moving sale. That along with a 10 dollar Radiola 42 which is waitng for the varnish to dry so I can place the chassis and a complete Model 52 Zenith "lowboy" for 25 bucks! She has never really gotten into vintage stereo but has a passion for these old radios. The only problem is they take up way more space than a receiver.

Nolan Woodbury · #2 08-12-2005, 12:50 AM

Wow, Steve! I'm droolin! -Very handsome- I really think my 'future' Zenith console will have at least 10-tubes...perhaps more, if I can find an affordable set of that caliber. Besides the auto-tuner, what did the radio need to function? Did you recap and change tubes?

You're a lucky man to have such a cool wife! She keeps bringing them in huh? My wife is only mildly interested in my table radio collection, but beautiful furniture like this would definitely peak her interest. Very few early consoles floating around AZ, I'm afraid.

steve gibson · #3 08-12-2005, 11:46 PM

Thanks Nolan. It's recapped but I did not replace any tubes or resistors.

MichaelA · #4 08-13-2005, 10:45 AM

I also have a 10S669 that is awaiting a rebuild. My cab is slightly different that yours and needs a little, though I don't think a lot, of work. Definitely needs an electrical rebuild though. Glad to hear it can bring in the stations.

How's the sound quality?

Michael
Also in IA.

jcmjrt · #5 08-13-2005, 12:10 PM

That Zenith is a beautiful console

nitrous · #6 08-13-2005, 01:06 PM

That's a gorgeous Zenith. It must weigh a ton.

Donny · #7 08-18-2005, 08:07 AM

Thats a good looking console! I've found 2 consoles both had sold wrote on them before I got there

Seeing yours just makes me want one more!

steve gibson · #8 08-18-2005, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donny

Thats a good looking console! I've found 2 consoles both had sold wrote on them before I got there

Seeing yours just makes me want one more!

Ocassionally one will be offered on Ebay with a shipping option. If it were packed right and reasonable I might chance it. I just bought a 1951 Airline console in mint condition last night at an auction for $7.50 (it was raining).

sampson159 · #9 09-30-2007, 07:21 PM

i bought my 10s669 off ebay- 51.00!new caps and an electrical restoration. the cabinet had severe alligatoring. the "photo finish"fell off in huge hunks! too much lacquer.it was quite a thrill to get it home and fire it up. the sound was great-no music,just talk radio. i have stripped the cabinet completely and have located a "photo finish" that is close to original. this is my first foray into this and i have read plenty from this site and others. my investment will be a total of around 90.00 and some work. it is worth it to learn and to have this great piece in my home.

sampson159 · #10 10-14-2007, 09:33 PM

got my zenith 10s669 done-except, i need a speaker, mine got a huge hole poked in it while on shelf.anybody have one? any help is appreciated. thanks!

Jeffhs · #11 10-27-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sampson159

got my zenith 10s669 done-except, i need a speaker, mine got a huge hole poked in it while on shelf.anybody have one? any help is appreciated. thanks!

How big is the hole in the cone? If it isn't too big, it could be repaired; no need to replace the entire speaker, unless that hole is so large that an entire section of the cone is now missing. As a last resort, you could send the speaker to be reconed. There are speaker repair service shops out there which specialize in reconing and other repairs to loudspeakers, but I can't think of any specific ones off the top of my head (some other AKers may chime in on this).

BTW, you said the speaker cone was poked through while the radio was on a shelf. I'm curious to know how on earth that happened. Most speakers in old radios (particularly consoles) had a layer of grille cloth between them and the front of the cabinet, so anything that would punch through the cone would have to go through the cloth to get to the speaker. Unless that grille cloth is missing, I can't imagine how your set's speaker cone was damaged as you say.

sampson159 · #12 10-27-2007, 07:48 PM

speaker was out of cabinet in a safe place? no place is safe. dont know how it happened,but it ended up on thge floor witha hole punched in it. i siliconed it and sounding good.this radio came out well and everyone has made posotive comments about it. i don t think i told anyone on this board- i am legally blind.

Sandy G · #13 10-27-2007, 08:12 PM

Just hope yr wife don't get a jones for E.H. Scott consoles, Steve...

Tube Radio · #14 10-29-2007, 11:03 AM

Replace at minium power supply resistors and any out of tolerance resistors. It most likely has a candohm resistor in the poweer supply which from what I've read on various forums has been known to short to ground!

sampson159 · #15 11-03-2007, 07:16 PM

almost done: