Zenith Radios - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Andy - G8MNM · 30th Oct 2010, 8:50 pm

Hi Folks,

Having decided to go visit my brother and Sister in Law in Texas it seemed a good opportunity to pick up a distinctive American radio.
I managed to buy two on ebay.com. I had only intended to buy one but ended up with two (the first one has a damaged case) so I managed to buy another which was undamaged.
The US sellers were quite happy to ship to my brother in TX. I brought them over in my hand luggage - they went through airport security without a problem - even raised some interested from the folk scanning the items!
So does anyone know where I can get a schematic diagram for these?
Model Nos H724 and H724Z. chassis Nos 7H02Z2 & 7H02Z.
The valve (Tube!) line up is 6BJ6,12AT7,12BA6, 12BA6,12AU6,19T8 & 35C5.
The undamaged one was described as working and when I plugged it in (in The US!) it picked up quite a few stations. The other one is dead.
Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Andy

Mark the Mender · 30th Oct 2010, 9:00 pm

Try here my good man

http://www.transoceanic.nostalgiaair.org/

or Batterymaker on this forum may have a clue

regards Mark

Steve_P · 30th Oct 2010, 9:18 pm

Don't plug them straight into the mains over here!! You need to step the voltage down to 110V and still have enough current to power the radio. I use a variac!

The valves are in series, so take them out and check them. You can get pin-outs here:

http://www.r-type.org/

Check the mains input and for HT and LT.

Cheers,

Steve P.

murphyv310 · 30th Oct 2010, 9:19 pm

Hi.
Cracking radios I really like the quality of the construction.
I had a couple of them prior to be shutting my shop in 2005 and they had to go due to lack of space at home.
Good luck with the set.
Keep us informed.

AVO_VCM163 · 30th Oct 2010, 10:12 pm

Full details available here for the 724 - the 724Z also on the site.
R

Andy - G8MNM · 30th Oct 2010, 10:30 pm

Hi,

Thanks everyone for your quick responses!
I now have schematic diagram and alignment data for my radios.
Don't worry I'm not going to plug them into 240V! I have a large autotransformer with 110V output which I shall be using. In addition I am a qualified electronics technician so won't be doing anything daft.
I really like the looks of this model. When I have cleaned it up and checked it over it may end up as a success story.
Thanks again

Andy

joe · 30th Oct 2010, 10:52 pm

Hi,

A more general website is www.nostalgiaair.org This covers most US sets including Zenith and not just the Transoceanic range.

Joe

howard · 30th Oct 2010, 11:26 pm

Hello Andy,

I have a 1951 Zenith valve radio, an H615 which has MW only. Its restoration write-up is here ......

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=14349

The only serious fault was duff capacitors in the IFTs which is a fairly common problem with Zenith radios of its time. I got a set of NOS valves for it from the USA but most valves for US sets are available in the UK. I like American radios, I have a 1964 TransOceanic Royal 3000-1 transistor and an RCA Victor 1R81 AM/FM valve radio also built in 1951 and they all work very well.

Howard

Andy - G8MNM · 6th Nov 2010, 7:18 pm

Howard,

Thanks for the info. It may be a while before I get to work on the radios as my shed is still only part built....
By the way how many radios do you have?

Andy

30th Oct 2010, 8:50 pm	#1
Andy - G8MNM Hexode Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Perigord Noir, France Posts: 352	Zenith Radios Hi Folks, Having decided to go visit my brother and Sister in Law in Texas it seemed a good opportunity to pick up a distinctive American radio. I managed to buy two on ebay.com. I had only intended to buy one but ended up with two (the first one has a damaged case) so I managed to buy another which was undamaged. The US sellers were quite happy to ship to my brother in TX. I brought them over in my hand luggage - they went through airport security without a problem - even raised some interested from the folk scanning the items! So does anyone know where I can get a schematic diagram for these? Model Nos H724 and H724Z. chassis Nos 7H02Z2 & 7H02Z. The valve (Tube!) line up is 6BJ6,12AT7,12BA6, 12BA6,12AU6,19T8 & 35C5. The undamaged one was described as working and when I plugged it in (in The US!) it picked up quite a few stations. The other one is dead. Any help appreciated. Thanks Andy __________________ Member BVWS https://www.lushanda.com/

30th Oct 2010, 9:00 pm	#2
Mark the Mender Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Warrington, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 421	Re: Zenith Radios Try here my good man http://www.transoceanic.nostalgiaair.org/ or Batterymaker on this forum may have a clue regards Mark

30th Oct 2010, 9:18 pm	#3
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,645	Re: Zenith Radios Don't plug them straight into the mains over here!! You need to step the voltage down to 110V and still have enough current to power the radio. I use a variac! The valves are in series, so take them out and check them. You can get pin-outs here: http://www.r-type.org/ Check the mains input and for HT and LT. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

30th Oct 2010, 9:19 pm	#4
murphyv310 Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, UK. Posts: 5,422	Re: Zenith Radios Hi. Cracking radios I really like the quality of the construction. I had a couple of them prior to be shutting my shop in 2005 and they had to go due to lack of space at home. Good luck with the set. Keep us informed. __________________ Cheers, Trevor. MM0KJJ. RSGB, GQRP, WACRAL, K&LARC. Member

30th Oct 2010, 10:12 pm	#5
AVO_VCM163 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hampshire, UK. Posts: 297	Re: Zenith Radios Full details available here for the 724 - the 724Z also on the site. R

30th Oct 2010, 10:30 pm	#6
Andy - G8MNM Hexode Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Perigord Noir, France Posts: 352	Re: Zenith Radios Hi, Thanks everyone for your quick responses! I now have schematic diagram and alignment data for my radios. Don't worry I'm not going to plug them into 240V! I have a large autotransformer with 110V output which I shall be using. In addition I am a qualified electronics technician so won't be doing anything daft. I really like the looks of this model. When I have cleaned it up and checked it over it may end up as a success story. Thanks again Andy __________________ Member BVWS https://www.lushanda.com/

30th Oct 2010, 10:52 pm	#7
joe Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Edgware, North London. Posts: 307	Re: Zenith Radios Hi, A more general website is www.nostalgiaair.org This covers most US sets including Zenith and not just the Transoceanic range. Joe

30th Oct 2010, 11:26 pm	#8
howard Nonode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,593	Re: Zenith Radios Hello Andy, I have a 1951 Zenith valve radio, an H615 which has MW only. Its restoration write-up is here ...... https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=14349 The only serious fault was duff capacitors in the IFTs which is a fairly common problem with Zenith radios of its time. I got a set of NOS valves for it from the USA but most valves for US sets are available in the UK. I like American radios, I have a 1964 TransOceanic Royal 3000-1 transistor and an RCA Victor 1R81 AM/FM valve radio also built in 1951 and they all work very well. Howard

6th Nov 2010, 7:18 pm	#9
Andy - G8MNM Hexode Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Perigord Noir, France Posts: 352	Re: Zenith Radios Howard, Thanks for the info. It may be a while before I get to work on the radios as my shed is still only part built.... By the way how many radios do you have? Andy __________________ Member BVWS https://www.lushanda.com/