[Gene Pederson]

Acquired these two Zenith tabletops today, a 7S530, and an unusual 5 band 7D643T. Zenith oracle has the serial # listed for some 1946 sets that aren't even close. I think it was an export model but cannot verify that.

Looks like I have some more rubber wire to deal with on the 7S530. Second one has almost all the wiring intact. Here are some pics--maybe one of you will recognize the set???

[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345...7d643T.jpg]
[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345...d643Ta.jpg]
[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345...3Tdial.jpg]
[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345...3Tback.jpg]
[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345...7s530a.jpg]
[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345.../7s530.jpg]
[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345...30back.jpg]

Gene

[morzh]

Beautiful. I especially like the second one.

I am restoring a Zenith myself now, and the next in line is also a Zenith, a floor model with the iris dial. Gorgeous.
I really like Zenith's dials.

[TA Forbes]

Gene, they are both very attractive sets! Personally, I like the first one a lot!
Eeesh, what's happening to me?? The DARK side???

Happy thoughts....happy thoughts....happy thoughts...

[Eliot Ness]

Very nice sets, but I also like the first one a lot. I agree that it looks like an export.... good snag on these two beauties!

[Gene Pederson]

Thanks guys!
I cleaned them up some before I took the pics. That five band dial got my attention on the export. I think the other is a pretty radio, but that actually has some veneer issues that I am not sure how to deal with. A break on the right hand rounded corner-- Maybe I will do nothing and just leave it. Both of these sets have the largest rubber cushions for the chassis I have ever seen! I am checking renovated radios to see if they have a good match for replacing them. The ones in there are like bricks!

Gene

[Arran]

Thanks guys!
I cleaned them up some before I took the pics. That five band dial got my attention on the export. I think the other is a pretty radio, but that actually has some veneer issues that I am not sure how to deal with. A break on the right hand rounded corner-- Maybe I will do nothing and just leave it. Both of these sets have the largest rubber cushions for the chassis I have ever seen! I am checking renovated radios to see if they have a good match for replacing them. The ones in there are like bricks!

Gene

They look to me like just ordinary chassis washers, Philco didn't use those but many other makes did depending on the year, a number of places carry them along with Renovated radios, Radio Daze and AES included. The five band set definately looks like an export model, probably the brand Z equivailent of a Philco Tropic or an RCA International series model. One good thing about it is that it's a transformerless set most likely, since it has a ballast tube, the bad news is that the ballast may be cooked but that is preferable to the all too common barbecued power transformers synonymous with this brand.
Unfortunately unlike a Philco Tropic the striped inlay is likely something fake like Dinoc, or at least some of it is, so best to clean it up and preserve it since it's in decent shape. What I have never understood about many of the big American makes in the 1940s is they only produced spread band shortwave sets for the export market. The Canadian divisions of Philco, RCA, G.E, etc, regularly produced and marketed house sets with 4, 5, and 6 bands even after the war.
Regards
Arran

[Ron Ramirez]

Well, I'm a little late to the party, but - Congratulations, Gene, on your acquisitions!

As Arran said, the first set in the photos also sort of reminds me of a Philco Tropic with its multiple SW bands. Sehr cool!

[Jayce]

Those are very nice. Actually, I just parted with my six tube Zenith radio-phono console I paid $40 for last year. Just needed the room and the cash. Also hadn't gotten anything done on the radio yet. I'd prefer to have the table model of it anyways.

[Gene Pederson]

Thanks Ron, it probably was those 5 bands that really got my attention on this set, and yes it does kind of remind me of the Tropic.

Thanks Jayce!

Arran, here are some pics of the chassis washers I mentioned. Neither Renovated, Radiodaze, nor AES has these type. I may inquire @ renovated if he can make them.

[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345...washer.jpg]
[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345...ashera.jpg]

[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345...asherb.jpg]

Gene

[Arran]

Thanks Ron, it probably was those 5 bands that really got my attention on this set, and yes it does kind of remind me of the Tropic.

Thanks Jayce!

Arran, here are some pics of the chassis washers I mentioned. Neither Renovated, Radiodaze, nor AES has these type. I may inquire @ renovated if he can make them.


[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345...ashera.jpg]

[Image: http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z345...asherb.jpg]

Gene

I think that they were originally flat washers made out of non or slightly vulcanized rubber that simply got crushed into the smaller hole, I've seen that happen multiple times on other sets. I doubt whether they were molded that way and it wouldn't matter it they were, so long as the replacements are the right height and have the correct outside diameter to fit inside the larger hole they will work.
Regards
Arran