1936 Zenith 25-Tube Stratosphere Model 1000Z Complete!

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Offered to the discriminating collector who desires only the very finest in radios, this big and beautiful 25-tube Zenith Stratosp high fidelity radio appears to be complete, unmolested and in very good original condition. I have been told that this is a 1936 model, based on the layout of the control knobs. This radio originally sold for $750.00 when it was brand new! Only the very wealthy people could afford to buy Zenith's very best top-of-the line radio, the Stratosp Consequently, t were not very many of them made. The finish on the cabinet appears to be in very good, untouched and original condition. The black lacquer accents on the cabinet appear to be original and untouched. T are some of the usual requisite scratches on the cabinet's exterior surfaces; however, they do not detract significantly from the overall appearance of this 70+ year old precious gem. The scratches could easily be touched-up in order to preserve the original finish. The speaker grill cloth is in very good original condition, with no noticeable rips or tears. The radio knobs are all present and original. The textured gold-fleck paint is also original and intact on most of the knobs. This radio that you are purchasing is somewhat famous because it is the same actual radio that was featured on the (worn and tattered) front cover of my November 1999 issue of Antique Radio Classified (see A.R.C. cover photo). This radio was also displayed by me in the big Zenith exhibit at the Elgin Radiofest XVIII swap meet during August 1999 (see photograph of original photo). I also displayed this radio at the Michigan Extravaganza 2004 swap meet. This IS the actual radio that you are purchasing! The finish on the concave wooden speaker grill could use some attention, as it is crazed, scratched and has begun to flake off. I understand that the speaker grill finish on these Stratosp cabinets is prone to crazing and flaking. Some of the veneer at the base of the cabinet has some stress cracks in it. The chrome on the tuner chassis is in excellent original condition. The multi-layered glass dial assembly is in very good original condition, with no noticeable chips or cracks. The tuner chassis was recapped about two decades ago; however, the radio's second owner has saved the original Zenith caps in a shoebox for you! The black satin paint on the amplifier chassis also appears to be in very good original condition. The main filter caps on the amplifier chassis appear to be original. The speakers are the correct original Zenith Stratosp speakers and the paper cones are in excellent original condition. This radio was purchased by me several years ago from the second owner. According to the second owner, this radio was found in an Indianapolis Coca-Cola distributor's attic (apparently the original owner). I have a newspaper article that shows a color photo of the home that I have been told this radio came from. On several occasions, fellow collectors have told me that this is one of the nicer Stratosps among the remaining original unrefinished ones that have survived. This radio has not been powered-up for at least the last decade or two. I have NEVER attempted to power it up and the second owner warned against trying to power it up until AFTER the tuner and amplifier chassis are re-capped. Although the radio chassis and speakers are being sold in "as-is" electrical condition, I have no reason to believe that any of the major electrical components would be damaged and/or in need of replacement. I would expect that the power transformers and speaker field coils are electrically good; however, I cannot guarantee this. I would not recommend trying to power this radio up under any circumstances until it has been properly recapped and electrically restored. Additional photos are available via e-mail for serious perspective buyers only. If you have any questions, then you may contact me through eBa... read more

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