The Zenith Radio Corporation Presents: The 1965 Stereophonic High Fidelity Instruments!

These photos are from a 1965 Zenith factory showroom sales catalog, narration and music by Zenith's 1960 demonstration record.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Zenith
• RCA
• Motorola
• USA
• American
• electronics
• industry
• vintage
• console
• stereo
• hi-fi
• high
• fidelity
• tube
• record
• player
• phonograph

[podiumman2]

Hate to be a party poop, but either the needle's bad, or the record has been played with a bad needle. I can tell from distortion I'm hearing; I'm one of those "golden ears" you used to hear about....

Anyway, if you haven't already, I'd definitely make sure you've got a fresh needle in there. Most needles in units like this in those days only gave you about a hundred plays before becoming worn.

[drh4683]

@podiumman2

I recorded this off my techniques SL-220 with a good needle, problem is with the record thanks to the previous owner...

[BadEditPro]

That's Mike Wallace doing the narration... Very interesting record. :) JC

[gtimandan]

@gtimandan Oh yeah, I have a Zenith Sibelius from around 1968 I believe it was made. :) The sound is amazing in that beast - two 15" woofers and two large horns.

[fromthesidelines]

Mike was doing plenty of voice-over work and narration in 1960 (at the time he was conducting "THE MIKE WALLACE INTERVIEW" in syndication).

[basspig]

240 watts peak.. 120 EIA.. LOL.. that was the equivalent of 20 watts RMS. Oh, the ratings game before the 1972 ruling that standardized power ratings.

[TheLegoboy1997]

Song 1- Third man theme.

Song 2- The night they invented Champagne.

Song 3- The night they invented Champagne... in Zenith Stereophonic Hi-Fi!

Song 4- Smoke gets in your eyes... in Zenith Stereophonic Hi-Fi!

Great video, and a like from me! I have a 1958 Admiral Stereo demonstration record featuring the "Amazing Phantom Third Channel", and Ray Conniff's "It's the Talk of the Town" with a white and red Columbia demonstration record label from 1959.

[Turkeydoodlers]

I have this record as well, kind of hard to find

[Turkeydoodlers]

Just picked up a very nice 1962 zenith. Model mk2685, looked a little like the last one in the video here I think that was a 2685?

[flyboi61]

@podiumman2 Hope I don't ruffle any feathers here but the Canadians were 10 years ahead of us in America. I have a 1955 Canadian made console with enormous power also non transistorized and I wish you could hear how it plays this recording. Nothing short of glorious! I have noticed playback issues with this record but everyone must take into account the age of the recording. It is from Zeniths 1960 Advertizing portfolio.

[themamagoatshow]

dus anyone know what the first songe they play is cadlled i have been looking but cant find it, i also love zenith's i have one from 1961 and its used every day and sounds fabulous!

[MusicMike1285]

@drh4683 it was probably just played over and over again because Ray Conniff is so wonderful. I have that same record 'S Awful Nice I think *not sure*

[gtimandan]

@merbify: eBay, NeedleDaddy. 'nuff said. :) Dude has every needle and cartridge in existence, and prices are fantastic. If you don't know what you need, he will. If you have the Zenith 2G tone arm, you can lift it straight upright to make replacing the needle and cartridge more accessible & simple. Just remember when done and you return the tone arm to its horizontal position to click down on the the rear of the tone arm to lock it into position before you try to operate it.

Awesome vid