Zenith Bomber 7G605 Vintage Shortwave Radio

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This is an electronically restored Bomber, 7G605,Serial # T869740 (This puts it in the 2 nd run of production. A total of 35,000 were made between 1941 and April 22, 1942 when production was halted due to the war.) NO more were ever made. Not many have survived to today. I have restored well over 30 of these radios in the last 5 years. They are very difficult to do correctly. The radio is 100% original and the only thing that I have replaced is the paper and electrolytic capacitors with new. The old ones are absolutely defective in all original Bombers, which is why no Bomber works correctly, unless the capacitors have been replaced with new high quality capacitors. By the way today's capacitors will last much longer than the originals. What I did to bring this radio back to original working condition. All paper capacitors and all electrolytes have been replaced. Thats about 25 or more. (note I install the new electrolytes in the old electrolytic cans so the look is original) Any resistor not in tolerance has also been replaced. A diode replaces the 117Z6 rectifier tube thus making this radio very reliable. The 117Z6 tube caused much heat and was one of the main reasons for power supply failure, which cause's about 75% of all radio failures in this model 15 % are tube failure and the balance 10% are who knows what? I have left the 117Z6 tube in place for originality but it does not function any more. This radio should function for many years without trouble. All contacts have been cleaned and all tubes replaced that were not above 95% as new. I have aligned all 6 bands using a digital controlled signal generator and voltmeter. The radio now receives SW stations and AM broadcast bands as it did when new. The radio also looks about 85% as good as new. The weak points are the hinges that function but, not up to as they did when new. If I were to replace them the radio would not look like it did when new so I have left them alone. They are riveted into the wood and replacing them would destroy the wood. I have seen them replace and the restorers used screws to re-fasten them. This takes away from the originality of the radio! In restoring these 7G605 Bombers, I try to leave them 100% original, as they came from Zenith. The case of this radio will have scuff marks and a few little tears that can be seen in the pictures. The alligator covering is also original. I do many other things to these radios to restore them to original working condition. I enjoy working with this fine rare radio and bringing it back to life. Most of these Bombers have not made a sound for 50 years or more. If you have a Bomber please feel free to contact me about any problems with your radio, maybe I can help. The leather handle has been exactly reproduced to match the original handle, its made by a saddle maker in Colorado, using the inside part of the old handle, It is a exact duplicate of the original Bomber handle that came with this radio in 1941. The cost is over $50 dollars a piece, just for this handle. The Bombers came with either a red Plastic ball antenna tip or a small chrome one. This one has the small chrome tip. I have included a detailed picture of the restored electronics of this radio. Please know that this radio was made over 65 years ago and it will show some ware etc. But in general it is a clean no corrosion Bomber that has survived for all this time. Most of them did not. My guarantee is that if this radio fails I will repair it at no cost to you for 6 months. You must pay the shipping both ways. read more

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