Zenith 1939 console radio

This 1939 Zenith radio was bought new by my great aunt in 1939. She lived to be 98 years old. When she moved in the 1940's, the movers broke the radio dial. She put it in the upstairs bedroom closet where it stayed for about 40 years. She gave it to me years ago, as she thought I would enjoy fixing it up. It has it's original high gloss finish in almost like new condition, and pulls in distant stations very well. My demonstration is a bit noisy as there are power lines behind my workshop that generate loud buzzing in am radio. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107
of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made
for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism,
comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship,
and research. Fair use is a use permitted by
copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the
balance in favor of fair use."

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• antique-zenith-radio
• vintage-radio
• old-radios
• shortwave-radios
• 1930's
• tube-radios

[schepler2]

I don't get it: what's the "fair use" disclaimer for?

[maynardcat]

@schepler2 I don't know why youtube would even bother, but the very short classical selection playing was caught by the youtube copyright software, and I was notified of a 3rd party content, and that is why I posted the copyright act of 1976. I couldn't believe they would flag that, just passing over an AM radio station playing a classical selection. If I had the entire song posted in high quality stereo high fiedlity, I could understand, but I thought this was pushing it just a little. 

[1112223333111]

You better get retrochad to replace the capacitors or it will self destruct.

seriously

[maynardcat]

@1112223333111 I replace the electrolytics myself in most all of the old radios I have. Not all radios self desrtuct, a lot of them just hum, and others over heat resistors. It depends a lot on the circuit design. I have a 1960 German Hi-Fi that had bad electrolyics which would have heated up the power transformer like a toaster and burned it up, but it was protected by a fuse. It's best to power up old radios you are not sure of with a variac. Bad coupling caps don't cause serious damage.

[RICHARDDAVISMCLEOD]

Great radio. I also have one from 1939, same dial and so forth, just a different cabinet style. Well, I know mine has 9 tubes, so there may be the difference. In talking with a Zenith person and his checking a book, he said there were about 9 different console models for that year. Obviously a good year for Zenith. That is a great dial isn't it, and really spins when you turn it. Your sound came out great! Do you have this attached to an outside antenna?

[maynardcat]

I don't have an outside antenna attached, it is just using the built in antenna. I remember my grandfather had a wire antenna outside that went up one side of the roof overhang to the peak of the house and down the other side, I have one more Zenith console it is a 1947

[herberthornradio]

I also have a 1939 9 tube Console. Beautiful cabinet, with NOS fabric replacing the old. It has a row of columns in front of the speaker. Great Radio, with the magic green eye and a spinner to put a top to shame!! I just hope enough of the Magic Green Eyes are still around if I ever need another one.

[Johnny4903]

@maynardcat Amazing radio, you probably have that aweome Wavemagnet internal antenna that mine has too. No dought the long wire is good for reducing signal noise and greatly enhancing long distance SW listening. Your AM comes in fantastic. At one point, I had a 600 ft long wire I had to take down because it got fried with a direct lightening hit that I just happened to walk into the house before it hit. This is a fun hobby and your radio is really nice, thanks for sharing.

[Johnny4903]

Very nice radio. The 12 inch speaker puts out an outstanding sound. The dial is a lot of fun tospin around I bet. I have my Zenith on a long wire that does pretty descent on the short wave band. Are you just using the internal antenna?

[gabusjr]

Perfect in 0:25 =D

[Thermionman1970]

Wow!The 1930's radios had some really cool dials!Thankyou for showing.I think this is the same radio or very similiar to the one in the Bela Lugosi movie "The Gorilla"!!

[maynardcat]

@weightfeather1 That is a very good idea, and it should have had one from the factory. I have a German 1960 stereo, that had a bad electrolytic, and if it wasn't for it having a fuse it would have burned up the power transformer.