At work we have a Sencore isoformer and variac in one case.Nice instrument-it also shows voltage you are applying to the device under test and the current draw.Some sets did have CHEAP power supply transformers that ran hot-often undersized.Iused to use a isolation former I salvaged out of a piece of surplus equipment.Long lost though-was tough- nameplate says 1A but I could draw a 10A load off it and it wouldn't even get warm!
1942 zenith and other radio projects.
- Thread starter brando_husky
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real1shep
Well-known member
Hmmmm....
I have an old radio sitting in my garage holding up some other stuff on top. It was said to work when I tucked it away...no way was I gonna test that without a full restore/Variac. I haven't looked at it for yrs.....don't remember if it has FM. Missing a few knobs....assume those are replicated these days.
There's a guy over in Portland that restores these...never answered my emails. He's probably older and doesn't want to bother with newbies. That's OK, as I'm not begging him to take a grand, or whatever he charges for a full restoration. I'd do the restoration myself if I had more interest in that hobby....I do not. I took in the radio as part of a debt collection.
Kevin
I have an old radio sitting in my garage holding up some other stuff on top. It was said to work when I tucked it away...no way was I gonna test that without a full restore/Variac. I haven't looked at it for yrs.....don't remember if it has FM. Missing a few knobs....assume those are replicated these days.
There's a guy over in Portland that restores these...never answered my emails. He's probably older and doesn't want to bother with newbies. That's OK, as I'm not begging him to take a grand, or whatever he charges for a full restoration. I'd do the restoration myself if I had more interest in that hobby....I do not. I took in the radio as part of a debt collection.
Kevin
real1shep
Well-known member
<a name="start_32739.358879"></a>I think it will be most easiest to replace the cracked wiring. Trying to slide some heat shrink tubes over the wiring sounds difficult
Use quality 'appliance wire' and it will outlast you. Made for heat and tough environs. Beautiful cabinet BTW....don't do a thing to it but clean it. Very few people can replicate the factory finish...most over do it and/or get too much gloss. Most finishes back then were hand rubbed tongue oil, which took a lot of coats and some finesse.
Kevin
Use quality 'appliance wire' and it will outlast you. Made for heat and tough environs. Beautiful cabinet BTW....don't do a thing to it but clean it. Very few people can replicate the factory finish...most over do it and/or get too much gloss. Most finishes back then were hand rubbed tongue oil, which took a lot of coats and some finesse.
Kevin
cb123
Well-known member
Heat shrink is as easy as falling off a log. All you have to do is us it a couple of times and you'll learn to love it, just like anything else. Believe me, after as many times I've used it, it's good. If you ever decide to use it, use a lighter instead of a heat gun, works even better.
That's a pretty radio! I have this Admiral in my basement shop...I need to do some work on it but it still puts out the good, old AM
Andy
Andy
real1shep
Well-known member
Insultube comes in different grades...that stuff you buy at say, Home Depot is a far cry from commercial shrink tubing where you can pick the application, color, thickness etc. The black stuff in the different sizes is just the tip of the iceberg.
Kevin
Kevin
cb123
Well-known member
You don't buy nothing at Lowe's are at that Home Depot, that garbage is for low voltage, solid state crap only!
brando_husky
Well-known member
Where's the best place to get the tubing?
cb123
Well-known member
From your local, if your so blessed to have one in your area, professional electronic store -- Not any of those left over RadioShack's mind you! Why, I wouldn't even buy de-soldering braid from that joke of a RadioShack, much less, any of that garbage from the big box stores. I get all my essentials from my local Spectronics store. If you can't find anything close to you, there's a couple of places on the internet, in which I'm told.
real1shep
Well-known member
Here's a link, but shop around online for your best price....just make sure it's the same quality:
Kevin
http://https//www.wirecare.com/index.asp
Kevin
http://https//www.wirecare.com/index.asp
vacosaurus
Well-known member
Your Zenith radio
is in beautiful condition and when properly restored is an excellent sounding radio. Be careful of the front corners you do not damage or scratch it the finish on it is called photo finish and not easily repaired. I collect Zeniths this model is very common and does not sell for too much money mainly because of the plastic wiring insulation problem and also the styling is too modern looking for most collectors of that era. 1941 and 1942 Zeniths have the wiring problem. Zeniths from 1939 and earlier and most 1940's used a cloth covered wire that to this day remains in good condition.Do not let the wiring bum you out you just have to replace it piece by piece. What I usually do is replace the wire with the same gauge size and color and run the wire the same exact way as original as sometimes varying will make the radio do strange things. one trick I learned with the original solid wire is to just un solder one end and clean off the old insulation chunks and take a piece of new wire the same color and just a little bit bigger gauge and strip the insulation off it intact and slip the new tube of insulation on the old wire and re solder the wire back again. I have done this to wires as long as 7 inches. if it hesitates slipping on shoot a little silicone in the tube. Some wire is easily just replaced if so replace it.Pay attention to where you clip a wire from and make note as it is very easy to instantly forget where it came from. If you were talking about your big power transformer they usually are good on this model the wires coming from it might look black and shiny but that is how they usually look. You have to change the big electrolytic capacitors with new ones just make sure they are the same micro farad size and voltage rated. Also if you want it to play reliable replace all the smaller capacitors with the same exact micro farad size. The voltage rating can be the same or more. replace the power cord if needed and try it out. Sorry to be long winded but it's easy to screw up a radio with this much work involved. A good source for information and parts is ( Antique radio forums )it is a forum dedicated to radio restoration and there are people there that would be happy to help with any questions. Good Luck Bill,
is in beautiful condition and when properly restored is an excellent sounding radio. Be careful of the front corners you do not damage or scratch it the finish on it is called photo finish and not easily repaired. I collect Zeniths this model is very common and does not sell for too much money mainly because of the plastic wiring insulation problem and also the styling is too modern looking for most collectors of that era. 1941 and 1942 Zeniths have the wiring problem. Zeniths from 1939 and earlier and most 1940's used a cloth covered wire that to this day remains in good condition.Do not let the wiring bum you out you just have to replace it piece by piece. What I usually do is replace the wire with the same gauge size and color and run the wire the same exact way as original as sometimes varying will make the radio do strange things. one trick I learned with the original solid wire is to just un solder one end and clean off the old insulation chunks and take a piece of new wire the same color and just a little bit bigger gauge and strip the insulation off it intact and slip the new tube of insulation on the old wire and re solder the wire back again. I have done this to wires as long as 7 inches. if it hesitates slipping on shoot a little silicone in the tube. Some wire is easily just replaced if so replace it.Pay attention to where you clip a wire from and make note as it is very easy to instantly forget where it came from. If you were talking about your big power transformer they usually are good on this model the wires coming from it might look black and shiny but that is how they usually look. You have to change the big electrolytic capacitors with new ones just make sure they are the same micro farad size and voltage rated. Also if you want it to play reliable replace all the smaller capacitors with the same exact micro farad size. The voltage rating can be the same or more. replace the power cord if needed and try it out. Sorry to be long winded but it's easy to screw up a radio with this much work involved. A good source for information and parts is ( Antique radio forums )it is a forum dedicated to radio restoration and there are people there that would be happy to help with any questions. Good Luck Bill,
Re transformers
The transformer in my early 60s Zenith stereo burned out about 20 years ago, I sent it to some guy in Colorado and he rewound it, if I could only find his name and number!!!!It has worked perfectly ever since..It was my cousins then, She passed away and now its mine, about as good as any radio I ever heard, and plays records great too, the 45 adapter is made into the turntable and folds up to use it.
The transformer in my early 60s Zenith stereo burned out about 20 years ago, I sent it to some guy in Colorado and he rewound it, if I could only find his name and number!!!!It has worked perfectly ever since..It was my cousins then, She passed away and now its mine, about as good as any radio I ever heard, and plays records great too, the 45 adapter is made into the turntable and folds up to use it.
