Early 1950's Zenith Console Radio

[TundraWalk3r]

Very nice radio! I have a Victrola radio cabinet out in my barn that looks similar to this. I was wondering how you put the videos from your tape camera on to your computer?

I have a camera that uses 8mm tapes and I would like to put the videos on my computer.

[retrochad]

@TundraWalk3r I used a device called "ADS DVDXpressDX2" it connects to the USB port and allows you to record analog audio/video.

[TundraWalk3r]

@retrochad Thank you! I will look into one of those!

[dixiewife47]

Nice radio ! thanks for sharing

[OlegKostoglatov]

I've heard that a lot of those autotransformers in those sets tend to go up in smoke, they also used them in some of their early TVs. It was really a stupid idea just to save money on a proper transformer, they should have just use the 25Z6 tube as a voltage doubler as Philco did with the 50X6 and 50Y6 in the 46-1201 sets.

[BronxRapper]

Even modern music sounds old on this

[chagall56]

Retrochad, I love your videos because you're not afraid to show radios that other don't collect much. I'm right now thinking of purchasing a deluxe Philco 1950 console that looks similar to your Zenith. The Philco has something called "scratch eliminator".

[djlobb]

man, it's pretty cool hearing new music on such an old radio unit

[HD7100]

I have one with a giant circle tv in it. I rebuilt the radio and it plays well. The turntable has flutter at 33. The TV is awaiting to be restored. Gary

[ontheair323]

Great Radio. I wish I could find these types of radio's. Here in the Atlanta area its kinda hard and if you do find these types, they are always triple priced for what they are worth. Texas must have a great base of antiques and places to pick up good deals.

[lrd9999]

I found a Stromberg Carlson with a similar layout sitting on the sidewalk. I tried to ignore it for a week, but I drove by one day just after it had started to rain and couldn't stand to see it get ruined. Sill needs some cabinet touch up, but the radio is working well. I family of mice scurried out of it as it hung out of my trunk; the smell is almost gone now.

[VaderNES]

I have a console radio as well (Westingouse, late '40s/early '50s) from garbage day. It was missing a single tube (Sylvania 6Y6G tube) and the phonograph's arm was dislocated (it is a combo unit). The phono arm was repaired, and worked on hand-rotated tests with a 78 and an LP. I am going to buy the tube, and I will make it operational again. I will use it regularly for records when it is again operational (tube+LP=win).

[lrd9999]

Good luck! The great thing about these items is that there's no real deadline. It's so much easier to do a good restoration if you can wait for the best parts, advice, documentation etc.

[VaderNES]

I have the missing tube coming in the mail. Soon, I will get sound quality that is unmatched by any other equipment (transistors can burn in hell). I thank the dumbass that threw it away for giving me a rad antique radio with a phonograph built-in, and a free record (Victor Borge-Comedy in Music). I found not just an antique, but a combination of the best 2 technologies for music (vinyl+tubes).

[VaderNES]

I recieved the tube a month ago, and the radio now works. Unfotunately, the stupid string for the radio snapped upon contact, so I need to replace that. Luckily, I can still use the phonograph, which works nearly perfectly (LPs take a while to get up to speed. 78s, though, take little time to get up to speed). When I replace the string, it will work 100%.

[TheTarrMan]

You get good AM stations down there.

[Randreash]

Is there a turntable?

[retrochad]

Yes there is inside the drawer but it isn't working right...still need to get around to fixing it.

[ChromeBumpers]

great demo, nice looking unit, hopefully you can make a vid of the record changer soon? thanks

Bill S.

[coondogtheman1234]

Hot chassis does that mean the metal chassis is energized with AC so if you touch it you get zapped id almost want a grounded chassis, why is the chassis hot when this unit is on

[lrd9999]

The power supply was cheaper that way.

Most of the '50s Zenith products I've seen had a "warm chassis", with an isolation capacitor. I'm surprised a console would have either, since chassis is usually accessible through so many openings. I though "hot chassis" equipment had to be protected with plastic screw covers, un-removable knobs and a back interlock by that time.

[Randreash]

Wow, That sounds great. Great to see other folks out there that have old radios. That's for letting us see and hear you old Zenith.

[hytlerson]

very nice radio. i loved it

[Diabetrachter]

Great radio! I love those big old-time radios. I'm myself a collector of old tube table-top-radios, mainly from the 50's and 60's of the last century (oh my god, i'm growing very old!). But, as I'm from Germany, all my old radios are from West- or (former) East-Germany.

Greetings, Dirk.

[CassetteMaster]

Nice unit! Hope you get the record changer going.

[coondogtheman1234]

Nice, thats awesome, love that modern music on a vintage set, soft cell tainted love, i dunno what song that was after tainted love i think it was an R&B station Retrochad does this stereo have Aux inputs for like a cd player or ipod

[damusician]

know what it was an r&b station, but cooler if it was a rap station. btw that console is mono not stereo since it from the early 50's. the other speaker is false just a storage for records. stereo came out in 1958.

[coondogtheman1234]

they should have played some 50 cent rap music on this radio on the R&B station theres a a station where i live that plays hiphop and R&B hot 93.7 WZMX FM

[desertbard]

Stereo? This thing predates stereo. That is mono-warmed through tubes. This radio is exactly the same as the one I grew up with. I wonder if the record player in the other draw works.

[damusician]

wow! those stations come in clear and i love hearing newer music on those old sets. hope you get the turntable working someday.

[CardinalsBoy24]

Nice old console you have there, thanks for sharing.