Zenith Cobramatic Model HF-16 Record Player Phonograph High Fidelity, The Byrds (Mr Tambourine Man)

I stumbled on this piece listed for sale on Craigslist. I went out to have a look, and the fellow and I quickly struck a deal for $30 bucks. The unit had been sitting for some time, the changer was very stiff, the needle heavily worn, and missing the rubber bumper for the 7" record sensor. A good cleaning, and lubricating of the record changer, new cartridge, and rubber bumper sourced from www.thevoiceofmusic.com the changer was ready to go. The chassis received a complete recap replacing all bypass condensers, and electrolytics, a few new resistors, and a good cleaning of the bass, treble, volume pots. A test of the three tubes revealed some pretty intense occasional leakage, and shorts in the pre amp tube so it was replaced. Now it's ready to go. This is a very nice small compact unit, beautiful cabinet and great sound in a small package, my video camera does not do the sound justice. I love the chrome accents on the turn table, and controls, added with the black and gray colors on the changer, it is a very attractive unit. The unit has one 8" speaker, and two unique looking tweeters for the highs. The tube lay out is as follows: 6X5 Rectifier, 12AU7 pre amp, and 6V6 power amp. This is a 1956 Zenith Model HF-16 with chassis # 3A03. Please enjoy the Byrds singing "Mr Tambourine Man" Played on a 33-1/3 RPM LP.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Zenith Cobramatic
• Zenith Cobra
• Record Player
• turn table
• phonograph
• record changer
• vacuum tube
• tube radio

[caseymking]

I bought this record player recently and now need to get a new needle for it, do you know of which needle it needs and where to get one?

[RedDodge1968]

@caseymking This particular model uses a power point cartridge Astatic # 93T, or Electro-Voice 56, OEM Zenith # 142-80.

[RedDodge1968]

This has to be one of my personal favorites out of my collection. I also have a huge RCA Victor "New Vista" I will be putting up on here soon, it is a very large unit, with very "Large" sound built in 1976.

[samlow84]

I have been looking for a schematic for this, since I have the exact same one. Could you point me in the right direction?

[classicscrap1]

nice cobra you made me dig mine up i have a hf-11 i found 18years ago at a yard sale when i saw the snake head arm it made think of the show m.a.s.h '' Radar changing the fang in the old cobra,,,as he would say" that why i bought it thanks for the video sounds good

[Beevac]

I used to own this exact same model,it has a mahogany veneer cabinet-mine was not faded 7 washed out by the sun as yours. it was powerful for a consolette. This uses 6v6GT tube single ended amp. for output. The record changer was custom made for Zenith by VM Corp. You can still send it to them if it ever needs rebuilding.

[frangiul13]

Very nice!! Sounds great with your camera mic. I bet it sounds even better live.

[chompo7]

another nice one!

[jraytunes]

Nice find. I always did like zenith phonographs. A friend of mine had a killer zenith allegro console stereo tha was one of the last built in the early 80's. The sound was outstanding. That was the first console stereo that I had seen with a cassette deck in it.