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I appreciate the thought Jeff...from one Zenith aficionado to another! But I did get one, and it's a beauty! Check the Threads in Forum menu ("Here's my newest set") dated 1-17-06 for pics and details. Yeah, I found it on eBay and I was sweating bullets ‘till it arrived safely.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize that big, heavy radios like the MJ1035 are more susceptible to shipping damage than other sets, Zenith or otherwise. On the MJ, the chassis (receiver and main speakers) are fastened to the cabinet by the same four screw/plastic nut method as all Zeniths of the era. But because it's heaver (more tubes, more transformers, more everything) it is more fragile and specific blows -especially ones from the side or corner- can really take their toll. This is what happened to my first MJ; the blow from the side was so severe it ripped the chassis from the wood with a force so severe it shattered the tuner and snapped the volume shaft in half. Ouch. Sure, it's great to have a parts radio but I didn't feel so cheery when it happened. It is wise to know what you're getting into.
The whole eBay/shipping thing for antique radios is a mixed bag. eBay is great for finding specific sets or models...after all, how many times have you walked into an antique shop or second hand store and found the EXACT radio you're looking for? The flip side of course, is the shipping and the possible rip-offs that occur because of it. If the set was valuable enough, it might make sense to hire a dedicated shipping firm for delivery, but that opens a whole new can or worms. You buy the radio, you roll the dice...
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