The PHILCO Phorum

Hi all,
I know everyone has an opinion and ultimately I will have to make the choice on the purchase, but I would appreciate your input on this Zenith 9s263 console.

I have heard it play and it sounds wonderful! The triangle shaped robot dial is my favorite style. The shape is unique but as you can see in the pics the top has some issues. There are various scratches and scrapes on the rest of the cabinet as with most consoles. And there is one veneer chip on the right rear about half way up. I also believe the adjustable cone is missing from the speaker. Grille cloth is a replacement. Oh yes, the bottom center knob is not original.

It has motorized tuning which also works well. All subsidiary dials appear to be fully functional. Reception during the day was quite impressive AND it DOESN'T use the 6X5 rectifier

OK, the price is $450........however I can trade another Zenith console I have towards it reducing the price by $100. I paid $50 for the one to be traded.

So what say you?











Gene




Admin Note: Fixed the image link to the dial picture.

I have 9S262. (for all intents and purposes they are the same; 262's sides are not rounded).

In a very nice condition to be restored. Did not pay cheap, but certainly not $450. More like 300. And then I was a bit unwilling to haggle much. I think I could bring it down a bit more.

Well, as you noticed, it is missing the acoustic adapter, one of the knobs is incorrect, and the grille cloth is incorrect. All of that combined with the cabinet flaws makes the price higher than I would want to pay.

On the plus side it is a 9 tube 1938 shutter dial with motorized tuning and that cabinet is not very common; you'll see a lot more 262's than 263's. The acoustic adapter shouldn't be too hard to find, the missing knob is available as an original or nice reproduction, and (I saved the best for last) the grille cloth for this style set (both the swirl and the block pattern) will soon be on the streets again when Kenny Richmond debuts his new supply of grille cloth.

Thanks to the admin for the pic fix!!

Thanks guys! The top looks worse in the pics than I thought it was looking at it in person. Having grille cloth again will be very nice!

I do know where there is a 262 that is missing the whole speaker, grille cloth and knobs..........but it's only $50!
I must have gotten hypnotized by that motorized tuning.

Gene

I will have to fix motorized tuning in mine - I was told the motor runs but the arrow does not move. Could be gears...could be, the motor does not run.

(05-02-2012, 09:04 PM)Gene Pederson Wrote: [ -> ]......I must have gotten hypnotized by that motorized tuning....

They can do that ! '38 is one of my favorite year Zenith chassis because of the motorized tuning and shutter-dial. I still have my first '38, a 9-S-262 I picked up complete for $25 many, many moons ago at the now defunct Washington Court House, Ohio flea market.

(05-02-2012, 09:39 PM)morzh Wrote: [ -> ]I will have to fix motorized tuning in mine - I was told the motor runs but the arrow does not move. Could be gears...could be, the motor does not run.

If the motor does in fact run then it is probably just the motor drive belt. That chassis uses two belts, one for the motor and one for the tuning and it isn't unusual to have one or both needing replacement. Some guys make their own, some find the right size "O" rings to use, and some order belts from Adams:

http://adamsradio.com/page1.html

http://www.alanjesperson.com/gn_repro.ht...al%20Belts

Eliot,

Thanks for heads up. Once I finish my AA5 Zenith 6G001, (just restored a quad electrolytic cap) this is my next project. Can't wait. Never saw a motorized drive before.

(05-03-2012, 08:23 AM)morzh Wrote: [ -> ]Eliot,

Thanks for heads up. Once I finish my AA5 Zenith 6G001, (just restored a quad electrolytic cap) this is my next project. Can't wait. Never saw a motorized drive before.

Motorized dials were quite common on the higher end sets from about 1937 to 1940 or so. The Zenith system is quite crude compared to an RCA, the RCAs have presets for the various stations, that Zenith just has a spring loaded switch that you press to move the dial, and I believe that you need to flick another to make it go in reverse. If the motor isn't working then it's likely dried out grease, a blown fuse, a bad motor run cap, or a wiring problem.
Regards
Arran