Garage Sale Find - Tubes!

Nightfall
Nightfall Posts: 10,086
edited September 2013 in Electronics
Just picked these two vacuum tube radios at a garage sale for $10. Can anybody tell me anything about them? The Zenith has 3 tubes and says it's 30 watts, but it is missing it's speaker. Any ideas what I can put in it as far as a speaker? The other is a Sparton. I can see one of the tubes from the back but can't tell how many it has. The Sparton is made of wood and is pretty heavy, whereas the Zenith is plastic and light. The Sparton works great. The Zenith, I can watch the tube glow so I think all it needs is a speaker. At any rate, I think they're neat!

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afterburnt wrote: »
They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

Village Idiot of Club Polk
Post edited by Nightfall on
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited September 2013
    very cool design on the zenith. The bakelite sparton may be more collectible to some but non original speaker will hurt it. For funnsies, just get a full range 4-5" driver from parts express and see how it does.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited September 2013
    Lots of websites devoted to old radio restoration. I would get your read on before you start messing with them.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    edited September 2013
    The Sparton is all original. It's the Zenith that's missing it's speaker. I guess I'll need to measure the size and depth of the driver I need but thanks for the suggestion of Parts Express, I'll check the place out.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    edited September 2013
    dkg999 wrote: »
    Lots of websites devoted to old radio restoration. I would get your read on before you start messing with them.
    Thanks! I'll start hunting for antique radio forums.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    edited September 2013
    TNHNDYMAN wrote: »
    very cool design on the zenith. The bakelite sparton may be more collectible to some but non original speaker will hurt it. For funnsies, just get a full range 4-5" driver from parts express and see how it does.
    Lots of options for tiny speakers at this website, thanks! Interesting little 3" subwoofer that plays down to 50Hz, very neat. I don't expect the Zenith is worth much money, it's plastic and cheap feeling, though I could be wrong. If it's not worth anything I will do something cool with it...
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    edited September 2013
    Very cool... Get them working and clean them up... make sure you check/replace the power cords as sometimes the old ones are dangerously deteriorated. I have a couple of collectibles from the 30's, and have been trying to find a classic zenith... Here are my American Bosch, and Detrola. They are from an era when people watched the radio :cool:

    Detrola.jpg
    ambosch.jpg
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    edited September 2013
    Those are awesome! I watch the Andy Griffith show almost every night and Aunt Bee "watches" her soap operas on the radio. Makes you wonder, with the age of these radios, what they have been through and where. I really like yours Mikey.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    edited September 2013
    Nightfall wrote: »
    Those are awesome! I watch the Andy Griffith show almost every night and Aunt Bee "watches" her soap operas on the radio. Makes you wonder, with the age of these radios, what they have been through and where. I really like yours Mikey.

    They sure are fun to "watch". Back when these were everyday technology staples, people got all of their information from these. You should be able to find a speaker for the zenith. I don't follow the bakelite ones much, but look at what this one is worth, and he will get at least 5hunge for it: The ones with the racetrack dial are hot

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/beautiful-working-Zenith-Racetrack-Wood-Tabletop-Vacuum-Tube-Radio-AWESOME-/161046678217?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257f214ac9
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    edited September 2013
    Dang, that's some money for an old little radio. Much cooler than the Zenith I just got, it's wood instead of plastic.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    edited September 2013
    Good lord, this almost looks like my Sparton. $300! Time to clean and fix this thing up and flip it...

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sparton-Vintage-Bakelite-Tube-Radio-Restored-Custom-Paint-/290963538349?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43bec741ad
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    edited September 2013
    Nightfall wrote: »
    Dang, that's some money for an old little radio. Much cooler than the Zenith I just got, it's wood instead of plastic.

    I keep scouring the flea market looking for treasure. The sparton's can be worth something... I would never sell mine... But I would like to find a Zenith like the one on ebay.
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    edited September 2013
    Mikey081057 wrote: »
    I keep scouring the flea market looking for treasure. The sparton's can be worth something... I would never sell mine... But I would like to find a Zenith like the one on ebay.
    Maybe you're right. They sure look cool sitting on the shelf and it's not like they're going to get any less valuable.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    edited September 2013
    Nightfall wrote: »
    Good lord, this almost looks like my Sparton. $300! Time to clean and fix this thing up and flip it...

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sparton-Vintage-Bakelite-Tube-Radio-Restored-Custom-Paint-/290963538349?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43bec741ad

    yup the sparton is a keeper for sure
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,338
    edited September 2013
    Mikey those radios are real beauties! At times, I have considered investing in a real nice "floor standing" vintage radio. Since I am not bat **** crazy about having everything original, one that was refinished would look awesome and could sound good too. It certainly would be a conversation piece. These old radios are great!
    Carl

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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    edited September 2013
    It seems everytime i drive by a garage sale someone has one out there. i usually don't stop though...But if i had the space....hmmmm
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,640
    edited September 2013
    Nightfall those are a great find from garage sale deals. I had a old Zenith. It wasnt much but i semi restored the wood cabinet. It was tube. It had am-fm so i was thinking around 1958-61 era. Not as old as those :) Those are cool & you may have staggered apon a small pot of gold to the right person. Enjoy them. You dont see many of them anymore.
    ..
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