This tombstone radio from Zenith’s 1937 model year is a superb example of late Art Deco design. Standing a little less than two feet tall, it will provide a focal point for any room. This six-tube, three-band (Standard Broadcast, Police, and Shortwave) radio with its original 8-inch speaker has plenty of volume and brilliant fidelity.
History - This model first appeared in the fall of 1936 and sold into the 1937 model year. This model has some nice showroom features. The front face is covered in a very dense walnut burl making it stand out as a focal point for any room. The tuning dial is the Zenith's signature aviation-style round black dial with a gold two-prong “propeller” indicator and a red sweeping needle “split second” hand for fine tuning. The chassis is colored in a gold brass like finish and has a heavy flywheel mounted on the tuning shaft, giving the tuning knob a luxurious, heavy-duty feel. It is remarkably deep, five inches, allowing for lot of component separation inside.
Today, this attractive radio is sought after by collectors but almost never found restored to this near perfect condition. We acquired this radio in early 2020 from a collector who had not restored it. The cabinet was in good shape but had its original finish. The chassis was working but needed a full restoration and upgrade.
Cabinet - The cabinet was stripped, and we did total restoration using the proper toners and lacquers. The result is a piano-like matte finish showing the original walnut burl and wood grain. We added an exact match Zenith reproduction grille cloth and retained the original wooden knobs.
Dial – The big black dial displaying all the station frequencies is quite an impressive sight - especially in a dim or dark room. The dial displays the three bands and numerous foreign countries for reference each in a unique color. All letters and number of the main faceplate are legible and show virtually no signs of wear. The dial is illuminated by two dial lamps creating a warm orange glow. Instead of using traditional incandescent bulbs, which can burn the faceplate, we use LED bulbs. These provide more brightness and will assure a long life.
The knob control functions are situated at the top and bottom corners of the dial. However, the knob control dials were worn, and we replaced them with modern reproductions utilizing the original brass collars. The dial glass is clear and free from any chips, breaks are cracks. The surrounding brass escutcheon was cleaned up, but we kept the patina so assure an elegant antique look.
Chassis - We went through the chassis replacing all the capacitors, checking, and replacing resistors and tubes where needed. The tuning belt was replaced with a modern polyurethane round belt that will last indefinitely. We then properly positioned the tensioner for smooth tuning. We completely removed the main tuning capacitor, thoroughly cleaned it, and replaced the worn seating grommets. It now spins easy and has proper cushioning when spinning the dial. We aligned the radio (both IF and RF), and it plays well across the dial and all bands. Like most old tube radios shortwave reception is best done using a long wire.
Speaker - Even though it performed well, we had the all-original 8-inch speaker cleaned and reinforced it for longevity. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size and the great sound will fill the room. See link to demo on YouTube below.
Bluetooth - Additionally, this radio has been fitted with our custom Bluetooth / MP3 adapter which allows you to switch between the radio or your smartphone or music device. Access your streaming audio service or the playlist on your smart device to provide classic tunes and bring the warm, bright, analogue sound to any music or recording you choose. The quality of the sound is excellent. You will have the best of “digital” and “analogue” combined.
This model radio is getting scarce as people are buying them and putting them in collections. If you have been looking for a wonderful, restored Zenith tombstone for your collection or just to decorate your room, then this is it!
See demo video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/NTTPn5LJM8o
Dimensions: 22"H x 16-1/2"W x 12"D
Weight: 35 Pound
History - This model first appeared in the fall of 1936 and sold into the 1937 model year. This model has some nice showroom features. The front face is covered in a very dense walnut burl making it stand out as a focal point for any room. The tuning dial is the Zenith's signature aviation-style round black dial with a gold two-prong “propeller” indicator and a red sweeping needle “split second” hand for fine tuning. The chassis is colored in a gold brass like finish and has a heavy flywheel mounted on the tuning shaft, giving the tuning knob a luxurious, heavy-duty feel. It is remarkably deep, five inches, allowing for lot of component separation inside.
Today, this attractive radio is sought after by collectors but almost never found restored to this near perfect condition. We acquired this radio in early 2020 from a collector who had not restored it. The cabinet was in good shape but had its original finish. The chassis was working but needed a full restoration and upgrade.
Cabinet - The cabinet was stripped, and we did total restoration using the proper toners and lacquers. The result is a piano-like matte finish showing the original walnut burl and wood grain. We added an exact match Zenith reproduction grille cloth and retained the original wooden knobs.
Dial – The big black dial displaying all the station frequencies is quite an impressive sight - especially in a dim or dark room. The dial displays the three bands and numerous foreign countries for reference each in a unique color. All letters and number of the main faceplate are legible and show virtually no signs of wear. The dial is illuminated by two dial lamps creating a warm orange glow. Instead of using traditional incandescent bulbs, which can burn the faceplate, we use LED bulbs. These provide more brightness and will assure a long life.
The knob control functions are situated at the top and bottom corners of the dial. However, the knob control dials were worn, and we replaced them with modern reproductions utilizing the original brass collars. The dial glass is clear and free from any chips, breaks are cracks. The surrounding brass escutcheon was cleaned up, but we kept the patina so assure an elegant antique look.
Chassis - We went through the chassis replacing all the capacitors, checking, and replacing resistors and tubes where needed. The tuning belt was replaced with a modern polyurethane round belt that will last indefinitely. We then properly positioned the tensioner for smooth tuning. We completely removed the main tuning capacitor, thoroughly cleaned it, and replaced the worn seating grommets. It now spins easy and has proper cushioning when spinning the dial. We aligned the radio (both IF and RF), and it plays well across the dial and all bands. Like most old tube radios shortwave reception is best done using a long wire.
Speaker - Even though it performed well, we had the all-original 8-inch speaker cleaned and reinforced it for longevity. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size and the great sound will fill the room. See link to demo on YouTube below.
Bluetooth - Additionally, this radio has been fitted with our custom Bluetooth / MP3 adapter which allows you to switch between the radio or your smartphone or music device. Access your streaming audio service or the playlist on your smart device to provide classic tunes and bring the warm, bright, analogue sound to any music or recording you choose. The quality of the sound is excellent. You will have the best of “digital” and “analogue” combined.
This model radio is getting scarce as people are buying them and putting them in collections. If you have been looking for a wonderful, restored Zenith tombstone for your collection or just to decorate your room, then this is it!
See demo video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/NTTPn5LJM8o
Dimensions: 22"H x 16-1/2"W x 12"D
Weight: 35 Pound