View Full Version : Just bought a zenith trans 0ceanic


Donny
04-07-2006, 05:40 PM
Normally I don't even look at anything other then hi fi that has transistors but today I found a somewhat rough Royal 1000 for $15. I haven't tried it out yet but it looks pretty neat.Did I do ok?

Sandy G
04-07-2006, 05:53 PM
You did fine...ALL T/Os are collectable. That was the 1st transistor model,IIRC, came out in like 1958-59. Interestingly, they kept making the tube model til 1962 or so.

Donny
04-07-2006, 06:35 PM
I think it's dead,I'm not positive because the battery box is in terrible shape but it didn't power up and the tuner string is broke.

Donny
04-08-2006, 02:58 PM
It does work :) I just needed to free up the gang's and I taped the batteries together and wired them in instead of using the battery box. I have a question. Does this radio only pick up military and am?

stereofisher
04-08-2006, 08:43 PM
I think it's dead,I'm not positive because the battery box is in terrible shape but it didn't power up and the tuner string is broke.

These are cool radios. Started my transistor radio collection with one of these radios. Terry at Dewick( See his Ad here at AK!) has fixed several of my Zeniths when the going got rough. I like AM and listen to a station in Canada. Dial cords are a pain and was the first thing I had to fix for a guy I worked for as a kid in the 60s. Give the battery box a good cleaning. I use lite sand paper on them and give it a go.

I later sold mine on Ebay and bought a newer 3000 for FM. I paid for my 3000!!!! as it is a collectors radio. From my posts you see I have 6 portables!! They are fun. WABC is playing oldies on Sat night they are fun to play!!! Good luck

Eric :music:

Charlie
04-11-2006, 10:27 PM
Donny,

Any Zenith T-O set is a find! I found one a few years ago in Port Neches. I didn't get it... wasn't really my thing. Remember the guy in Bmt you bought the tubes from? I told him about it... I knew he liked those sets... and he ran over and bought it. Seems it was pretty cheap... 10 or 20 bucks. He gave it a minor cleaning and it turned out to be a really nice set.

Have you taken any pics of it? Before and after cleaning pics are cool to see... especially when there's a big difference.

Donny
04-12-2006, 04:07 PM
I only have "after" pics. I cleaned it up with blue magic.

Donny
04-12-2006, 04:08 PM
Heres one with it open.I even have the map thingy.

Charlie
04-12-2006, 04:18 PM
Pretty sharp! Does it play as good as it looks?

Donny
04-13-2006, 08:15 AM
I haven't used it much but it pulls in lots of stations. I'm not really a radio guy,I just like "the look". The zenith has that chromed out 50's thing going for it and the "atomic star"(not sure what to call it)dial.

Charlie
04-23-2006, 11:50 AM
Hey guys... if you're looking for the discussion about the radio stations, I've moved it to another thread that was talking about the same thing. You can find it at the bottom of this page...

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=67206&page=3

Thanks Guys! :grnbounce