The Zenith T-O

[Steve_Green]

Does anyone use the Trans-Oceanics of yesteryear for good DXing?

How do/how did they rate?

From what I recall, at least in the older models, there were push buttons to tune in various short wave bands, rather than continuous tuning.

Knowing Zenith, the AM dial would have been pretty good, probably broad-band but sensitive (and most likely good fidelity). How about the short-wave bands on the T-O? Or some other characteristics?

 

[dxho]

I had the last model made, the R-7000 (I think). It wasn't especially impressive- average sensitivity, average selectivity. I had owned it from new since the late 70s, and finally sold it last year. Just never used it. For my purposes, it was too big for a shelf radio and too heavy for a portable. And other radios I had offered better performance, including so-called 'component' tuners.

On the other hand, it sounded very good, had all the control options you'd want, and was solidly built.

 

[cyberdad]

When I was in Junior High in the 60s my cousin had a vintage T-O from the 1940s.  It was a good radio...impressive looking...but overall I'd rate performance as not that much above average.  Both my own Hallicrafters rig, and my grandparents' 1938 Zenith floor model console outperformed it for both AM & SW dx.

The T-O may have had the best sound of the three, however. I also am pretty sure I recall the pushbuttons for the various bands.

 

[amfmsw]

There's several books that have been written on this American radio icon. And a zillion websites. Here's a good place to start: http://www.radioera.com/t-o_museum.htm

I own several 500 models (it's getting hard to find those 1 volt tubes!) , a Royal 1000, and a Royal 3000, which are basically the same, but with the addition of FM on the later. All work. A great utilitarian radio, but not the best. One of the 500's has the original bill of sale, purchased at a PX in the Azores in 1954 for $84.50...a princely sum for a soldier in that time.

 

[Tube Shortwave]

I use an A600 all the time. It works great! Thus, my user name.

I had it rebuilt a couple years ago by a well-known broadcast engineer that restores tube radios. he replaced the capacitors, a few resistors that were out of tolerance, and the rectifier with silicon diodes. The tubes were strongs, so they are still original. He aligned it, etc. It works like a champ! I can hear stuff on the T.O. loud and clear that my Grundig can't even tell is there. Also, the T.O. sound is nice.

I have been thinking that now might be the time to buy a spare set of tubes for this radio. Not that it needs i, but I am worried that when I ever do need to replace a tube, they might not be available anymore. I searched online and found a few places, but one of the tubes in my radio is REAL expensive! So, I am saving up for them.

Once all shortwave goes digital, I am screwed.