James:
A note on the Zenith Trans-Oceanic [1] [tube-type general coverage receiver]s: I’ve been collecting these and refurbishing them on bad weather days. I replace all the paper and electrolytic capacitors, check the tubes, clean them up, and tune up the coil tower with an old tube RF [2] signal generator. The paper capacitors are very prone to failure. Then I construct a replacement battery pack using ten 9 V batteries and 5 “D” cells. I plan to make a 12 VDC [3] charger for these that I can run off my PV [4] panels. So far I’ve done nine of these. I am putting them along with instruction manual, schematics, battery pack into Space Bags with a desiccant pack and storing them. I figure these will be more valuable with time. Now: the special high frequency pentagrid converter tube for these, the 1L6, is getting really scarce. I’m buying all I can on eBay [5] if the price is right. There is a US Army manual of Korean War vintage with complete instructions on repair. There is an interesting variant of these, sold for only one year, the “Meridian” that is a general coverage shortwave receiver with the same tube set. These are rare as hen’s teeth. I’m refurbing my second right now. Next one I see on eBay [5], I’m getting it. Regards, – Doc Holladay