Anybody Remember The Zenith Trans-Oceanic Radio?

[williamr1248]

I got this as a graduation gift from my parents. It is 48 years old and still works like new. They weight a ton and are finished in Stainless Steel, black leather ends and the power to tune anyplace in the world. It works on electricity or battery power. It came with a hard, clear plastic cover to protect it when used outside. It has a time table for the world and came with a thick leather bound listing of radio stations all over the world and has soft lighted dial.
Interesting as it is stamped made by Zenith, Chicago, Ill.

There was an even bigger style that my grandfather had during the 1940's.
I think they were advertised as "The Power To Tune in the World"

 

[williamr1248]

Anybody remember the Zenith Trans-Oceanic Radio

Ops guys. I made a typing mistake. It should have been 44 years not 48 years. I was so excited because I had misplaced the power cord and I found it today.
I will be listening to some far away places tonight.

 

[bagintheback]

Is that a shortwave radio? My grandfather was a nightly listener to over-sea stations for many years before the internet provided greater sources. I always found it fascinating that we could sit in a little bedroom and receive signals from the English BBC and stations all the way across the world. Of course we couldn't understand most of what was available, but he's fluent in German so that helped a little.

But boy, that Zenith is huge. It looks great though. It must be exciting to get it up and working again. Let us know you find any interesting stations!

 

[williamr1248]

Anybody remember the Zenith Trans-Oceanic Radio

Yes it is a short wave, AM/FM.
I would have to pull the instruction book out to see what all bands it does offer.
Just fun to see how high quality goods used to be.
I did some research on the price. I was thinking it was about $280.00 but what I can find shows this model to have been about $300.00 which was a lot of money 43 years ago.
Of course this was long before we had all the discount stores. This came from our local Zenith dealer.

 

[tolivac]

The gov't agency I work for used to have these Zenith radios for correspondents going overseas to use-I maintained them along with other guys in the shop.Later they were replaced with Sonys.In my locker here at the transmitter I bought an older Zenith Trans-Oceanic radio from another guy that works here-perfect shape and only 10 bucks.the older radio is AM and SW.So many folks count short wave as dead-----FAR FROM IT!!!It is still used A LOT in 3rd world areas where it is difficult to use internet.Internet in many overseas areas is "filtered" by the countrys goverment.In the US you are largely free to look up on the internet whatever you want.In other areas folks are not as lucky.Satellite receivers are banned in many countries-SW to the rescue.And SW is a godsend in an area that has had a major disaster-like Hati a few years back.Their phone,internet,cell networks,local media network were destroyed.SW Broadcasts sent from here in Greenville were so useful to them.They were using radios powered by batteries and even car batteries to listen.AM SW ALWAYS works where other new technologies fail!Folks overseas own AM-FM-SW radios that are portable and run from batteries or line power.And some cars have a SW function on their radios-Blaupunkt as an example.

 

[kenkart]

I have

The older Tube Type Trans Oceanic, No FM..

 

[tolivac]

Same one I have black leatherette case."Wavemagnet" antenna in the top.Can also run from "D" and old "B" batteries to generate plate voltage for the tubes.The filaments run from the D battery.These radios work seems like no matter what.

 

[miskini]

Thats

Really cool and in great condition. I went on inflation calculator to check what $300 in today's money equals. $1684 back in 71. Nice chunk of change.

 

[human]

I think my grandfather had one of those. He was always buying old electronics at a pawn shop that a friend of his owned. That radio stayed at their beach house until Hurricane Hugo washed the place away in '89.

 

[arh1953]

Mine dates to about 1965, and has the ac converter with it. A dear friend I worked with in the 1980's gave it to me. I'll have to get it out of storage and start enjoying it again. I love your set, I'm thinking it's the last of the Trans-Oceanics. Beautiful styling and fittings on it! 

 

[williamr1248]

Anybody remember the Zenith Trans-Oceanic Radio

Alan,
I looked up some information about these and I think there was one model produced after mine.

 

[arh1953]

They ran until 1981

According to Wikipedia, no pix of the last model though. I wonder if it looked as great as yours does?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Oceanic

 

[arh1953]

The late, great Trans-Oceanic

Fascinating story! 



http://www.antiqueradio.org/zenithr7000-2.htm

 

[portable]

<span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I bought a very old one for my Dad several years ago. I found it in a thrift store. The dang battery inside was toast. You could have bench-pressed the thing for exercise! VERY heavy.</span>

 

[tazcatsdad]

I have that exact same radio!

<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">And they are awesome sets.  Well-built, beautiful sound, made to last a lifetime and then some.  Mine needs some work on the battery compartment -- the previous owners left some batteries in it to rot, so the terminals need serious restoration -- but on AC power the set works perfectly.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">Congratulations on your lovely radio!</span>


 


<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">Bill W.</span>