25-Tube Zenith Stratosphere 1000Z on eBay

[OldRadioZone]

Well, its finally happened...a 25 tube Stratosphere is on eBay! I have seen
the 16-A-61 and 16-A-63 on eBay, but never a 1000Z. Let the bidding begin!

While the sellers have quoted my website www.oldradiozone.com in the auction
text. I have nothing to do with this auction or sellers;. If you type Zenith
Stratosphere in most search engines, my site usually comes up first.

Here is the auction link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38034&item=6502999
316&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Most Strats over the years are the amazing "antique mall finds" or "estate sale
finds" and some have traded hands privately and quietly...so this very public
auction will be interesting to watch.

ORZ

[Jim Menning]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6502999316

Brighter pictures at alt.binaries.pictures.radio

jim menning

[Bill M]

Post by Jim Menning

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6502999316

Brighter pictures at alt.binaries.pictures.radio
jim menning

Looks like "trading up" will not be an option for me.

-Bill

[Uncle Peter]

Post by Bill M
Looks like "trading up" will not be an option for me.
-Bill

I could sell the house and move into the radio.

Peter

[John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird]

Post by Uncle Peter
I could sell the house and move into the radio.
Peter

I can say that I actually bid on a real 25 tuber....
John k9uwa

[R Oxley]

Post by John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird

Post by Uncle Peter
I could sell the house and move into the radio.
Peter

I can say that I actually bid on a real 25 tuber....
John k9uwa

I bid on a real Waltons 7 tube today. I saw it when the price was still low
enough for me to do so safely! It's already double my bid, and climbing
steadily.

Bob

[Uncle Peter]

Post by R Oxley

Post by John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird

Post by Uncle Peter
I could sell the house and move into the radio.
Peter

I can say that I actually bid on a real 25 tuber....
John k9uwa

I bid on a real Waltons 7 tube today. I saw it when the price was still low
enough for me to do so safely! It's already double my bid, and climbing
steadily.
Bob

Keep your mitts away from my 10S130!

Pete

[Paul Dietenberger]

Post by Uncle Peter
Keep your mitts away from my 10S130!

Does this mean your 9S30 is available? ;-)

[Phil B]

At this instant the bid is up to $16,501.00 (Reserve not met) and there
are 6 days 12 hours left to end of auction.

Why the heck are there 23 bids already? Are these people all nuts
bidding so early? I bet the winning bidder will come out of nowhere in
the final few seconds. I added it to my watch list just for fun.

Phil B

Post by Uncle Peter

Post by Bill M
Looks like "trading up" will not be an option for me.
-Bill

I could sell the house and move into the radio.
Peter

[xrongor]

Post by Phil B
At this instant the bid is up to $16,501.00 (Reserve not met) and there
are 6 days 12 hours left to end of auction.
Why the heck are there 23 bids already? Are these people all nuts
bidding so early? I bet the winning bidder will come out of nowhere in
the final few seconds.

i bet the winning bidder is the one who bids the most....

randy

[John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird]

Post by Phil B
Why the heck are there 23 bids already? Are these people all nuts
bidding so early? I bet the winning bidder will come out of nowhere in
the final few seconds. I added it to my watch list just for fun.
Phil B

just so we can at least say that ... "Yup We did Bid" on the 25 tuber
strat.... no way I could compete at the end of this one...
John k9uwa

[Bill M]

Post by John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird
just so we can at least say that ... "Yup We did Bid" on the 25 tuber
strat.... no way I could compete at the end of this one...
John k9uwa

Yup, I bid. $16,000 and something. I was outbid by proxy.
For a guy like me placing such a bid is like "living on the edge". One
doesn't often get the opportunity to enter that big number and hit SEND.

Kind of a rush like buying a house when you have to sign that big check
as it passes thru your hands from the mortgage company to the seller at
closing.
:)
Bill

[Ken Scharf]

Post by Bill M

Post by John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird
just so we can at least say that ... "Yup We did Bid" on the 25 tuber
strat.... no way I could compete at the end of this one...
John k9uwa

Yup, I bid. $16,000 and something. I was outbid by proxy.
For a guy like me placing such a bid is like "living on the edge". One
doesn't often get the opportunity to enter that big number and hit SEND.
Kind of a rush like buying a house when you have to sign that big check
as it passes thru your hands from the mortgage company to the seller at
closing.
:)
Bill

John, I think that radio is going to sell (or at least the bidding war
will end) at a price greater than what my wife and I just paid for a
new 2005 Dodge Grand Carivan (replaced our old '95 that has been
halfway to the moon).

[Phil Nelson]

Post by Ken Scharf
a price greater than what my wife and I just paid for a
new 2005 Dodge Grand Carivan

A local antique dealer has a nicely restored red 1971 Jaguar XKE for sale at
$16K and change. I would probably get more everyday enjoyment from the Jag
(including having it towed to the repair shop every few months). And I
wouldn't worry half as much about scratching the finish :-)

Phil Nelson

[hagstar]

Post by Phil Nelson
A local antique dealer has a nicely restored red 1971 Jaguar XKE for sale at
$16K and change. I would probably get more everyday enjoyment from the Jag

Which is more likely to get you laid- the Jag or the Strat :) ?

[Rick Yerke]

Post by hagstar

Post by Phil Nelson
A local antique dealer has a nicely restored red 1971 Jaguar XKE for sale at
$16K and change. I would probably get more everyday enjoyment from the Jag

Which is more likely to get you laid- the Jag or the Strat :) ?

Neither would.I`m married.Rick


Rick Yerke
101 William St ***@adelphia.net
PO Box 392
Moscow Pa. 18444
USA

[Uncle Peter]

Post by Ken Scharf
John, I think that radio is going to sell (or at least the bidding war
will end) at a price greater than what my wife and I just paid for a
new 2005 Dodge Grand Carivan (replaced our old '95 that has been
halfway to the moon).

The question is: What are the Dodge and the Strat going to
be worth in ten years?

Pete

[Ken Scharf]

Post by Uncle Peter

Post by Ken Scharf
John, I think that radio is going to sell (or at least the bidding war
will end) at a price greater than what my wife and I just paid for a
new 2005 Dodge Grand Carivan (replaced our old '95 that has been
halfway to the moon).

The question is: What are the Dodge and the Strat going to
be worth in ten years?
Pete

Well I DON'T need the Strat, and we will get a LOT of use out of
the Dodge. Pratical vs nostaliga. But you're right, in ten
years you might be able to sell the Strat for quite a bit
more than you paid for it. (If termites don't get to it)
Guess you could compare that radio with a violin of a similar
nick-name.

[hagstar]

Post by Uncle Peter
The question is: What are the Dodge and the Strat going to
be worth in ten years?

The Dodge will in an ultimate sense be worth more- full of irreplaceable
memories of vacations, camping trips, radios discovered, near death
experiences, etc. In my house the Strat would be in a huge plexiglas box.

[R Oxley]

Post by Jim Menning

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6502999316

Brighter pictures at alt.binaries.pictures.radio
jim menning

Now remember folks, "it's just a radio. It's just an appliance." Another one
will be along tomorrow. Just bid your $15,000 and don't worry if someone
else bids $15,001 and snipes you out of it.

Speaking of which, I wonder what the last 10 seconds' snipe offers are going
to be?



Bob

[Henry Kolesnik]

You would think he would get help in getting decent pictures, or does he
want them that way?
--
73
Hank WD5JFR

Post by OldRadioZone
Well, its finally happened...a 25 tube Stratosphere is on eBay! I have seen
the 16-A-61 and 16-A-63 on eBay, but never a 1000Z. Let the bidding begin!
While the sellers have quoted my website www.oldradiozone.com in the auction
text. I have nothing to do with this auction or sellers;. If you type Zenith
Stratosphere in most search engines, my site usually comes up first.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38034&item=6502999
316&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Most Strats over the years are the amazing "antique mall finds" or "estate sale
finds" and some have traded hands privately and quietly...so this very public
auction will be interesting to watch.
ORZ

[Uncle Peter]

Post by Henry Kolesnik
You would think he would get help in getting decent pictures, or does he
want them that way?

Serious bidders will be demanding them.

Peter

[John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird]

In article <4j2Cd.18726$Q%***@fed1read06>, ***@cox.netSPAM
says...

Post by Uncle Peter
Serious bidders will be demanding them.
Peter

the real serious ones will be flying in to look at it in person...
up real close...

John k9uwa

[Art's Antique Radios]

Since I am spitting distance, I really do want to go look. But he bidding
already more than I dare(really more than my wife will let me)

And to think that was found in my back yard

Darn

Post by John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird
says...

Post by Uncle Peter
Serious bidders will be demanding them.
Peter

the real serious ones will be flying in to look at it in person...
up real close...
John k9uwa

[Uncle Peter]

Post by Art's Antique Radios
Since I am spitting distance, I really do want to go look. But he bidding
already more than I dare(really more than my wife will let me)
And to think that was found in my back yard
Darn

That would have paid for several Vegas trips, at the
Bellagio.

Pete

[abc go 123]

Post by Uncle Peter

Post by Art's Antique Radios
Since I am spitting distance, I really do want to go look. But he bidding
already more than I dare(really more than my wife will let me)
And to think that was found in my back yard
Darn

That would have paid for several Vegas trips, at the
Bellagio.
Pete

Still....I just cannot fathom $19,000 at the current bid price.

I guess I shouldn't talk however, as I own a restored 66 and
71 'vette(s) and I've been offered that much and more for
each of them...(grin)

[John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird]

Post by abc go 123
I guess I shouldn't talk however, as I own a restored 66 and
71 'vette(s) and I've been offered that much and more for
each of them...(grin)

And since you obviously have had the vettes for a while.... what
happens to the price of each of them per year?... Think you answered
your own question on the 25 tuber Zenith .... whats it been since
that one surfaced here on this very newsgroup?... Three years...
that guy and his wife .. school teachers in KY someplace... found
one... stopped here and ask a few questions.... the radio sold to
a guy from Atlanta .... drove up ... paid cash... and took it home
with him .... if memory serves me correctly that one brought 42K ...

Once again while U guys on this newsgroup were pooh poohing the
guy that asked about it as a troll etc.... I had a very nice
lengthy email conversation with him about his radio .... just that
I didn't have the money to go buy the radio .... same unfortunately
applies to this one.....

will be interesting to see where it finishs at the end of the auction.
John k9uwa /w4 snowbird

[Jim Bailey]

Post by John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird

Post by Uncle Peter
Serious bidders will be demanding them.
Peter

the real serious ones will be flying in to look at it in person...
up real close...
John k9uwa

I was going to snipe it for $9999, but I'm already out of the running.

Considering the value of the radio, cosmetic and electronic repairs are not
an issue IMO. I would be asking, are any irreplacable parts missing? Not
likely.

So you buy the radio for $99,000 and have to fork out another $500 to fix it
up cosmetically and electronically. No big deal for the high roller radio
collectors ;-)

Jim

[Paul Dietenberger]

Post by Jim Bailey
have to fork out another $500 to fix it
up cosmetically and electronically.

Times ten. This piece isn't in very good shape; assuming it's touched at
all, salvaging the original finish is going to take some real black magic
by someone who routinely handles high end antiques. The sort of people who
buy sets like these are not the sort of people who take Airline tombstones
out in the garage for refinishing I think.

just my 37c worth
regards, paul

[Jim Bailey]

Okay, $5K (times 10) to salvage the original finish is way high. This is not
a high end antique, but a rare radio. Bill M (and others) would have this
radio looking brand new for about $500 methinks without black magic. This
is, by no means, a high end antique piece of furniture.

You seem to be coming from an antique dealer's, not a radio collector's,
perspective. Entirely refinishing this radio (making it look brand new) may
detract somewhat from its value, but not much. I, personally, prefer to
preserve the original finish on a radio, if at all possible, warts and all,
but, if all else fails, I will strip it down to bare bones and try to make
it look brand new, but authentic.

regards, jim

Post by Paul Dietenberger
Times ten. This piece isn't in very good shape; assuming it's touched at
all, salvaging the original finish is going to take some real black magic
by someone who routinely handles high end antiques. The sort of people who
buy sets like these are not the sort of people who take Airline tombstones
out in the garage for refinishing I think.
just my 37c worth
regards, paul

[Bill M]

Post by Jim Bailey
Okay, $5K (times 10) to salvage the original finish is way high. This is not
a high end antique, but a rare radio. Bill M (and others) would have this
radio looking brand new for about $500 methinks without black magic. This
is, by no means, a high end antique piece of furniture.
You seem to be coming from an antique dealer's, not a radio collector's,
perspective. Entirely refinishing this radio (making it look brand new) may
detract somewhat from its value, but not much. I, personally, prefer to
preserve the original finish on a radio, if at all possible, warts and all,
but, if all else fails, I will strip it down to bare bones and try to make
it look brand new, but authentic.
regards, jim

IMHO, Jim, the value in this set is in order:
1. Bragging rights
2. Investment vehicle
3. Vintage 'piece'
4. Radio

Why would I put it this way? Consider the dollar value...in backwards
order.
4. You can get a very nice, just as pretty if not prettier, console
radio for a thousand bucks.
3. It is a unique piece of vintage 'anything'. They didn't make
zillions of them and it was the top of its line.
2. The buyer could expect to turn it around in the short-term for a
decent profit because there is a strong market for these. Long-term,
its probably better than buying diamonds! Lots of items can do that, though.
1. The remaining reason is of course, to be the proud owner of what we
radio folk consider one of the holy grails. That has a very high dollar
value in itself to those that have such interest and the pocket to back
it up...certainly more at stake than the other three.

I haven't seen the radio but even unseen I'm sure I could make it look
like new even with my "Airline in the garage' skills. I don't know if I
would do it though. The big expense would be travelling around looking
at other original models to see what a good one is supposed to look like.
The keep-it-original aspect becomes a big deal when big money starts
getting tossed around. You'd hate to kill 10 grand off the value
because your peers judged your choice of coloring as being incorrect or
that type of thing. The value judgment shifts from the positive "what I
could do to improve it?" and having the 100% original claim vs the
refinish job being negatively scrutinized for its faults by our peers in
that #1 category where the bucks are most inflated and fragile.

No. I personally wouldn't touch it beyond a good dusting off. No how,
no way. Consequently I wouldn't want it for that very reason. I
wouldn't derive any pleasure out of simply storing a beatup hulk,
regardless of value, for sale to the next guy. Thats not my personal
interest.

-Bill

[hagstar]

Post by Bill M
.
The keep-it-original aspect becomes a big deal when big money starts
getting tossed around.

It could easily happen that this would be sitting in my garage with the
chassis and cloth removed and I could accidentally trip and fall and
spill a whole gallon of lacquer thinner and retarder from a big bucket
ALL over it. Of course, I'd quickly have to run over it with a hundred
dollar camel's hair brush, just to minimize the repai...., err, damage.

Because if it happened accidentally it always can only add character,
whereas on purpose it would be "ruining" the original finish. In reality
a quality restorer would charge likely $400- to apply Olde English
Scratch Cover (no eddie this is NOT a finish).

[Eddie Brimer]

Post by hagstar
to apply Olde English
Scratch Cover (no eddie this is NOT a finish).

never siad it was a finish, although it is of sorts. i said it ruins an
original finish and patina. i stand by that.

Eddie Brimer
2480 S. Beersheba Rd.
Sharon SC, 29742

visit my web page "THIS OLD RADIO"
http://members.aol.com/EB062559/THISOLDRADIOINDEX.html

[hagstar]

Post by Eddie Brimer
never siad it was a finish, although it is of sorts. i said it ruins an
original finish and patina.

It's dye and mineral spirits, nothing else. After a day or so all that
remains is the dye in the scratches.

[Eddie Brimer]

Post by hagstar
It's dye and mineral spirits, nothing else. After a day or so all that
remains is the dye in the scratches.

john,
i know what it is. i also know that the original finish is the most important
element on any antique. it effects the value, collectibility and the overall
desireablity . that said, probably 95% of all the old radios out there are
neither rare nor particularly desireable. (to anyone other than a radio nut)
however, there are some sets...this being one, that do fall into that zone
where tampering with the original finish, (no matter how poor) will drastically
lower the value of the set. other examples i can think of are, AK breadboards,
catalins, any of the high end zenith (and others) consoles. some of the nicer
cathedrals and tombstones (walton etc.) and just about all of the early stuff.
i am not as zealous about original finishes as you obviously think i am. i
have at least 10 sets in various stages of refinishing. so, i am not obsessed
with original finishes. i do realize the importance of an original finish and
the non-reversible aspect of messing with one. all that said, i am going out
in the shop and start stripping my SC 231r chairside...why?...because it needs
it and the original finish is unpresentable.

Eddie Brimer
2480 S. Beersheba Rd.
Sharon SC, 29742

visit my web page "THIS OLD RADIO"
http://members.aol.com/EB062559/THISOLDRADIOINDEX.html

[hagstar]

Post by Eddie Brimer
(no matter how poor)

THAT'S the part I don't get. There must be SOME limit to this principle.
I agree with you if the radio isn't a hideous mess, and it's actually
rare, even Olde English isn't called for. I agree with you about this
one set- I probably would just clean it. But for 99.99% of radios, *no
one* will pay more money for a barn radio missing half it's toning
lacquer than for a nicely redone one. Try selling two identical 15 tube
Zeniths on eBay, one mostly bare wood and stains, the other refinished.
See which finishes higher.

[hagstar]

missing half it's toning lacquer

Sorry, "its".....

[Mark Oppat]

Bill wrote...
.....
"2. The buyer could expect to turn it around in the short-term for a
decent profit because there is a strong market for these. Long-term,
its probably better than buying diamonds! Lots of items can do that,
though.".....

NOT true! MANY antiques/collectables LOOSE value! Especially
reproduceable ones such as pet rocks or Beanie Babies.

Whatever it sells for is likely to be the current value of such radio at
this time, and it would NOT be able to be sold for much more very soon....
and, possibly would sell for LESS next time!

The idea that you can always make money on antiques is wrong. Remember how
desirable Model T Fords were in the 1970's? All the old timers wanted one.
today you can get them for LESS than they were paying back then!!! Except
for the cleanest, most perfect and most desirable ones.

Now, the Strat is certainly a MUCH rarer item, so that kicks it into a
special class, BUT , at the same time, the number of folks willing to pay
the "going rate" for one is very tiny.

Mark Oppat

[Scott W. Harvey]

Post by OldRadioZone
Well, its finally happened...a 25 tube Stratosphere is on eBay! I have seen
the 16-A-61 and 16-A-63 on eBay, but never a 1000Z. Let the bidding begin!
While the sellers have quoted my website www.oldradiozone.com in the auction
text. I have nothing to do with this auction or sellers;. If you type Zenith
Stratosphere in most search engines, my site usually comes up first.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38034&item=6502999
316&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Most Strats over the years are the amazing "antique mall finds" or "estate sale
finds" and some have traded hands privately and quietly...so this very public
auction will be interesting to watch.

What I see here is a very threadbare example of a top of the line Zenith
blackdial. It is now up to over $16K less than 12 hours after initial
auction listing.

It will be exciting to speculate how high this will go, but let's get
real.....frankly, I have a real hard time grasping why this radio is
worth so much, and I am a big fan of Zeniths.

There are radios out there that that are rarer than this one, and those
that have a higher tube count than this one, and those that have better
performance than this one (Yes, I have seen and tuned a 25 tube strat in
the flesh and the performance is great, but there are at least a
half-dozen Scott models that will beat it).

It seems that the Collectors Of High-End Things have anoited this model
of set as the holy grail of radio collecting, and are willing to bid up
the price of this one many times what a similar radio would fetch. My
question is, why? What is the mystical quality of this radio that places
it so far over the shoulders of every other radio made since the
beginning of time?

-Scott

P.S. That figure of 40 existing radios is probably on the low side. I'll
bet there's closer to a hundred out there that are held quietly by
collectors.

P.P.S. If this goes more than $25K without hitting the reserve, then the
seller is almost certainly using eBay as an appraisal service and is
just seeing how high the price goes. This one is in awfully rough
shape,so I wouldn't expect it to fetch anywhere near top dollar.
--
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE!
Instead, go to the following web page to get my real email address:
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Need a schematic? check out the Schematic Bank at:
http://techpreservation.dyndns.org/schematics/

Archive of alt.binaries.pictures.radio binary postings:
http://techpreservation.dyndns.org/abpr/

[Phil Nelson]

What is the mystical quality of this radio that places it so far over the
shoulders of every other radio made since the beginning of time?

The fact that it has been so hyped in the collector market -- a
self-fulfilling prophecy. Any newbie will talk about wanting a Stratosphere
or a Walton's. Every picker scrounging Value Village and garage sales is
already on the lookout for anything resembling those two radios (as well as
a Sparton Sled). Every unemployed person struggling to make ends meet on
eBay while looking for a day job is able to notice which things sell for big
bucks. And every time there is a big-buck sale, it just restarts the cycle.

For scarce, high-visibility items, I think macho swagger is another factor.
"My wallet's bigger than yours" syndrome.

:-)

Phil Nelson

[Phil B]

Seller feedback is 100%. That is indeed rare!

Phil B

Post by OldRadioZone
Well, its finally happened...a 25 tube Stratosphere is on eBay! I have seen
the 16-A-61 and 16-A-63 on eBay, but never a 1000Z. Let the bidding begin!
While the sellers have quoted my website www.oldradiozone.com in the auction
text. I have nothing to do with this auction or sellers;. If you type Zenith
Stratosphere in most search engines, my site usually comes up first.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38034&item=6502999

Post by OldRadioZone
316&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Most Strats over the years are the amazing "antique mall finds" or "estate sale
finds" and some have traded hands privately and quietly...so this very public
auction will be interesting to watch.
ORZ

[Eddie Brimer]

it is a piece of fine furniture. look at the wood. i don't see all the
missing veneer he is talking about. you think he is thinking the missing
finish is missing veneer? i would like to see it in my living room.

Eddie Brimer
2480 S. Beersheba Rd.
Sharon SC, 29742

visit my web page "THIS OLD RADIO"
http://members.aol.com/EB062559/THISOLDRADIOINDEX.html

[Uncle Peter]

Post by Eddie Brimer
it is a piece of fine furniture. look at the wood. i don't see all the
missing veneer he is talking about. you think he is thinking the missing
finish is missing veneer? i would like to see it in my living room.
Eddie Brimer
2480 S. Beersheba Rd.
Sharon SC, 29742

I'd like to see it's equivalent in my bank account. Having that
much "money" laying around in any form would make me
nervous. I could never enjoy the radio, worring about
scratches, the sun hitting the lacquer...

Pete

[robert casey]

Post by OldRadioZone
Well, its finally happened...a 25 tube Stratosphere is on eBay! I have seen
the 16-A-61 and 16-A-63 on eBay, but never a 1000Z.

Does this set use 25 tubes "International Kadette" style?
That is, running up the count with liberal use of many
ballast tubes (instead of a cathode resistor for the
audio output, use a ballast tube) or lots of single
function tubes instead of the more usual multifunction
tubes (say a triode and a few diodes). A well designed
set can make good use of separate triode and diodes
instead of being stuck with a common cathode as in
a 12AV6, but it's meaningless if they just wired
all those cathodes to ground anyway. A good design
would use a cathode follower to buffer the diode detector
to avoid the "AC/DC ratio distortions" coming from
back biased AVC and coupling caps.

[Mike Schultz]

As I recall, the Strat uses eight 45's in push-pull parallel. That kind of
design does wonders for the tube count.
--
Mike Schultz

Post by robert casey

Post by OldRadioZone
Well, its finally happened...a 25 tube Stratosphere is on eBay! I have seen
the 16-A-61 and 16-A-63 on eBay, but never a 1000Z.

Does this set use 25 tubes "International Kadette" style?
That is, running up the count with liberal use of many
ballast tubes (instead of a cathode resistor for the
audio output, use a ballast tube) or lots of single
function tubes instead of the more usual multifunction
tubes (say a triode and a few diodes). A well designed
set can make good use of separate triode and diodes
instead of being stuck with a common cathode as in
a 12AV6, but it's meaningless if they just wired
all those cathodes to ground anyway. A good design
would use a cathode follower to buffer the diode detector
to avoid the "AC/DC ratio distortions" coming from
back biased AVC and coupling caps.

[Bruce Mercer]

Post by Mike Schultz
As I recall, the Strat uses eight 45's in push-pull parallel. That kind of
design does wonders for the tube count.
--
Mike Schultz

What would have been the alternative? The 2A3 didn't come out until '34
during the time
the 1000Z was on the drawing board at a time that was probably too late to
utilize it.


Bruce

[Alan Douglas]

Hi,
The 2A3 was introduced in the second week of February 1933. The
Stratosphere *shouldn't* have taken that long to design, but perhaps
it did. I suspect it was a WPA project to keep Karl Hassel employed.

While I'm on the subject, here's a quote from a letter dated May
18, 1978, from Fred Cassens (who worked at Zenith from 1922 to 1945,
in the late 30s and 40s as superintendent of final assembly and
shipping):

"Only 450 Stratospheres were made, to my knowledge. The first 300
are the best. The last 150 had an audio problem. The writer worked
with Karl Hassel on the problem, but we never did find out why the
second release of 150 sounded different as the parts were all
identical. Karl finally reversed the primary and secondary wiring of
one of the audio transformers and o.k.'d shipment. There was no scope
available in those days."

73, Alan

[Bruce Mercer]

Post by Alan Douglas
Hi,
The 2A3 was introduced in the second week of February 1933.

Thanks Alan....I thought it was '34. I need to get that tatooed on
my forehead (or at least write it in my tube manual).

Bruce

[Uncle Peter]

Post by Bruce Mercer

Post by Bruce Mercer
Thanks Alan....I thought it was '34. I need to get that tatooed on

my forehead (or at least write it in my tube manual).
Bruce

Do a tatoo something like "EAS" have some clue when
looking at it in the mirror.

Pete

[Bruce Mercer]

Post by Uncle Peter

Post by Bruce Mercer

Post by Bruce Mercer
Thanks Alan....I thought it was '34. I need to get that tatooed on

my forehead (or at least write it in my tube manual).
Bruce

Do a tatoo something like "EAS" have some clue when
looking at it in the mirror.
Pete

Just exactly what is that supposed to mean?

Bruce

[Uncle Peter]

Post by Bruce Mercer

Post by Uncle Peter

Post by Bruce Mercer

Post by Bruce Mercer
Thanks Alan....I thought it was '34. I need to get that tatooed on

my forehead (or at least write it in my tube manual).
Bruce

Do a tatoo something like "EAS" have some clue when
looking at it in the mirror.
Pete

Just exactly what is that supposed to mean?
Bruce

Good deal. Now I can set the hook...

Closest thing to a "2A3" tattoo backwards so you
can read it in the mirror. If you just tattoo 2A3 on
your forehead, someone will have to read it for you.
EAS--that works in the mirror and eliminates the
middleman. I should charge for this world class
advice.

Next...

Pete :)

[Bruce Mercer]

Post by Uncle Peter
Good deal. Now I can set the hook...

"Humor" snipped...

Post by Uncle Peter
Next...
Pete :)

Ha Ha.........good one Surely. ;-)

ps. Hey, they're looking for good acts at Branson...



.........could somebody help me get this hook out?................

[John Byrns]

Post by Alan Douglas
Hi,
The 2A3 was introduced in the second week of February 1933. The
Stratosphere *shouldn't* have taken that long to design, but perhaps
it did. I suspect it was a WPA project to keep Karl Hassel employed.
While I'm on the subject, here's a quote from a letter dated May
18, 1978, from Fred Cassens (who worked at Zenith from 1922 to 1945,
in the late 30s and 40s as superintendent of final assembly and
"Only 450 Stratospheres were made, to my knowledge. The first 300
are the best. The last 150 had an audio problem. The writer worked
with Karl Hassel on the problem, but we never did find out why the
second release of 150 sounded different as the parts were all
identical. Karl finally reversed the primary and secondary wiring of
one of the audio transformers and o.k.'d shipment. There was no scope
available in those days."

Rider's shows two different schematics for the Stratosphere, the second
one is labeled "Revised". The configuration of the two RF amplifiers, the
band switching, and the design of the RF coils is completely different in
the two schematics. Even the number of RF amplifiers active on each band
is different between the two versions. I wonder where in the model run
the "Revised" circuit came in?

I notice that the Stratosphere uses mechanically variable coupling in the
IF transformers to provide variable selectivity. Does anyone know if
Zenith used this type of variable selectivity in any other radios? Did
Zenith even use the more common electrical switching of IF transformer
coupling to provide several discrete selectivity options in any radios, as
was done by many other manufacturers?


Regards,

John Byrns


Surf my web pages at, http://users.rcn.com/jbyrns/

[Paul Dietenberger]

Post by John Byrns
I notice that the Stratosphere uses mechanically variable coupling in the
IF transformers to provide variable selectivity. Does anyone know if
Zenith used this type of variable selectivity in any other radios? Did
Zenith even use the more common electrical switching of IF transformer
coupling to provide several discrete selectivity options in any radios, as
was done by many other manufacturers?

1937 Zenith chassis (10S153 is the example in front of me, ch #1004) had a
foreign-local sensitivity switch. In the closed position the cathode of the
6K7 IF amp tube went directly to ground; when open the cathode went through
a C-R network to ground. Cap was .01mF, resistor 9900 ohms.

My only other set with a sensitivity switch (Wells Gardner A12) switched a
tertiary winding in an IF transformer.

-paul

[Paul Dietenberger]

Post by Paul Dietenberger
Cap was .01mF

Argh. No. It's .01uF. Sorry

[Phil B]

Post by Paul Dietenberger
Argh. No. It's .01uF. Sorry

Argh. Sensitivity or Selectivity? :-)

Phil B

[Paul Dietenberger]

Oops, you're right. Can't read today, apparently. That's what I get for
running on 4 hours sleep. *yawn* Bedtime.

Post by Phil B

Post by Paul Dietenberger
Argh. No. It's .01uF. Sorry

Argh. Sensitivity or Selectivity? :-)
Phil B

[Ken Scharf]

Post by Mike Schultz
As I recall, the Strat uses eight 45's in push-pull parallel. That kind of
design does wonders for the tube count.

And probably ANOTHER two as the driver.

They could have used half as many type 50's instead.

Anybody know what the entire tube lineup in this set was.
How many rectifier tubes did it have in parallel.
If the 5Z3 wasn't yet available it probably has 4 80's
in parallel!

[Mike Schultz]

The 5Z3 was around then, the Strat has 3 of them. The full tube lineup is:

6D6 RF1
6D6 RF2
6A7 Det/Osc
6D6 IF1
6D6 IF2
76 Det (diode connected)
76x2 First audio (in parallel)
42x2 Audio driver (push pull, triode connected)
45x8 Audio output (push pull parallel)
6D6 Tuning meter amp
6D6 AVC amp
85 AVC
79 Muting
5Z3 Radio chassis rectifer
5Z3x2 Rectifier for audio output stage
--
Mike Schultz

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by Mike Schultz
As I recall, the Strat uses eight 45's in push-pull parallel. That kind of
design does wonders for the tube count.

And probably ANOTHER two as the driver.
They could have used half as many type 50's instead.
Anybody know what the entire tube lineup in this set was.
How many rectifier tubes did it have in parallel.
If the 5Z3 wasn't yet available it probably has 4 80's
in parallel!

[Ken Scharf]

Post by Mike Schultz
6D6 RF1
6D6 RF2
6A7 Det/Osc
6D6 IF1
6D6 IF2
76 Det (diode connected)
76x2 First audio (in parallel)
42x2 Audio driver (push pull, triode connected)
45x8 Audio output (push pull parallel)
6D6 Tuning meter amp
6D6 AVC amp
85 AVC
79 Muting
5Z3 Radio chassis rectifer
5Z3x2 Rectifier for audio output stage

hmm. Pre-Octal. I'm surprised they didn't add another tube
for the local oscillator and use the 6A7 as a mixer. This was
done in other sets (esp. later Military sets).

Wonder how the 76 detector was connected. Some used the grid as a plate
and grounded the plate as a shield. Interresting that it used all
transformer coupled push-pull audio, including the 'voltage' amplifier
stage. By muting, I assume they mean squelch.
At least none of the tubes (except the 45's) are too rare these days.
Lot's of luck on the 45's though! And you can socket-adapt most of them
with octal or miniature equals to at least get the set working.

[Mark Oppat]

Ken wrote>>

Post by Ken Scharf
Lot's of luck on the 45's though! And you can socket-adapt most of them
with octal or miniature equals to at least get the set working.

Where do you get the idea that 45's are rare? I have about 60 in stock, and
nearly every catalog has them! priced $16-$27 ea. ($27 ea for matched
pairs)

What is this "tubes are rare" thing that has been coming back recently?
TUBES ARE NOT RARE! Easier to find today than at any time in the last 40
years! Most are priced way under their original cost, too, if you take
inflation of money into account!

Mark Oppat

[Paul Dietenberger]

Post by Mark Oppat
Where do you get the idea that 45's are rare? I have about 60 in stock, and
nearly every catalog has them! priced $16-$27 ea. ($27 ea for matched
pairs)

True. But I bet finding eight identical-looking 45 tubes with the engraved
Zenith logo would prove a serious challenge, especially if you're demanding
enough to want all NOS. :-)

[John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird]

Post by Paul Dietenberger
True. But I bet finding eight identical-looking 45 tubes with the engraved
Zenith logo would prove a serious challenge, especially if you're demanding
enough to want all NOS. :-)

well I might be hard pressed to find 8 Zenith engraved ones.... might have
them ... and guess I just don't understand NOS ones... if a tube tests
good .... and you find 8 tubes that all come pretty close to matching
on the old Hickok tester ... then why in hell would you want to spend
the money for NOS ones?....

and Ken .... the "Value" of this 25 tuber or a Walton is in the
collectablility of them.... thats all ... just perceived value... simple
market demand.... same with an 85K Nocturne ... they sure aren't worth
anything close to that.... even knocking off a zero or two off the end
of the price .... the radio thats in the things is nothing special...

Post by Paul Dietenberger
A lot of activity goes on behind the scenes on these deals. eBay may
not show a final winner but you can expect that the radio gets sold.
-Bill

Definitely agree with Bill on this one.... it will sell... I for one
hope that it really does finish auction in open venue as opposed to
a closed deal that we only wonder about..

Post by Paul Dietenberger
The guy quoted me a cash 'n carry price.
"Write a check and haul it away now, I'll cancel the auction."
Phil

I have also done similar to this... actually having the buyer become
the high seller and then close the auction .... and the guy did his
bidding on my computer .. that way FleaBay got their money and no
complaints from them ... and nobody can yell at me legally for killing
the auction early ... and the top bidder got the radio..

Me I am just happy that I found a nice little Firestone Table radio
with Eye tube at the Flea yesterday ....
John k9uwa /w4 snowbird

[Ken G.]

Interesting indeed . I cant figure out why anyone would pay that much
for a 25 tube radio to hear AM signals & theres not much left on SW .. i
admit its a beautifull piece of furniture and its a Zenith but for that
much you could fill your house with eyewatering beautifull antique
furniture .

Same thing with the Walton . I had one here to look at for 2 days ( a
friends ) i just ``cant see the value`` the chassis is common as dirt in
these and the case itself is nice but not 3K nice .
He looked at my 10S130 sitting on a table and said as he left packing
his walton ``i like that one better``
I said to him ``me too `` and would never trade .

My eyes just dont grasp the idea on these 2 sets .

[Jim Menning]

Post by Ken G.
Interesting indeed . I cant figure out why anyone would pay that much
for a 25 tube radio to hear AM signals & theres not much left on SW .. i
admit its a beautifull piece of furniture and its a Zenith but for that
much you could fill your house with eyewatering beautifull antique
furniture .

Rarity and status price these out of most people's collections.

This looks like a far better deal:

http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=6502013717

When you can't afford a Strat, a baby Strat will do!

And this may go pretty reasonable for a high tube count Philco in
great shape:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6502825116

Not a 690, but a very good radio indeed.

jim menning

[Robert J]

Post by Jim Menning

Post by Ken G.
Interesting indeed . I cant figure out why anyone would pay that much
for a 25 tube radio to hear AM signals & theres not much left on SW
.. i
admit its a beautifull piece of furniture and its a Zenith but for that
much you could fill your house with eyewatering beautifull antique
furniture .

Rarity and status price these out of most people's collections.
http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=6502013717
When you can't afford a Strat, a baby Strat will do!
And this may go pretty reasonable for a high tube count Philco in
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6502825116
Not a 690, but a very good radio indeed.
jim menning

What on God's earth does the technical or performance aspect of the
2500x matter at this point in time? As a collectible it has reached a
well deserved "holy grail" status. Many modern pieces of equipment can
outperform ANY classic radios just as many new cars can outperform the
million dollar + classics of the past. However to a true collector, the
early radio, automobile et. al is the ONLY thing just as it should be.

[Eddie Brimer]

Post by Ken G.
My eyes just dont grasp the idea on these 2 sets

ken,
you have been doing this a long time. don't you get it? it is COLLECTING. it
IS strange by the very nature of the beast. it ain't about what the collectible
does or how it looks...it is about how desireable it is. why certain sets are
more desireable? you would have to do a study on the human mind and come up
with an answer. if you figure it out, the world is yours.

Eddie Brimer
2480 S. Beersheba Rd.
Sharon SC, 29742

visit my web page "THIS OLD RADIO"
http://members.aol.com/EB062559/THISOLDRADIOINDEX.html

[saki]

Post by Ken G.
Interesting indeed . I cant figure out why anyone would pay that much
for a 25 tube radio to hear AM signals & theres not much left on SW .

There's a lot left on SW, actually. I have a 10S690 and pick up all sorts
of stations on a regular basis with just a 25 foot random wire (which
isn't all that optimally placed, either).

The radio is particularly strong on 25 meters for some reason. In
addition to the expected powerhouses like the Beeb, DW, Radio Netherlands
and such I can regularly listen to R. New Zealand International, Voice of
Greece, North Korea (which was a surprise the other day, booming in with
a particular brand of propaganda not heard much since the demise of Radio
Moscow), Voice of Croatia, R. Sweden and R. National in Brazil, plus lots
I've probably forgotten.

I don't use the Zenith for DX work of course (I have an Icom R75 for
that) but it's a marvel for pleasant-sounding shortwave listening. Even
AM radio sounds better on this than any of my other tube radios
(Blaupunkt, Grundig, Telefunken, Philco....). I suppose it helps to have
several good AM music stations in town too.

I don't have to convince you...you've got a 10S130. You know how nice
Zeniths can be.

I'm curious to hear the 1000Z someday but I'd rather buy more Zenith
consoles than own a Strat. Assuming I had the money, of course...which I
don't. :-)

----
***@ucla.edu

[Ken G.]

Saki i know what you mean about the Zenith consoles i have restored &
sold many . I have a 15 tube robot dial Zenith chassis and speaker here
that really has nice sound .. also have one of those mid 80`s panasonic
communications receivers thats pretty hot . Short Wave has alot of
preachers and languages i dont understand . The signals fade to bad to
enjoy for long . I did pick up some great music the other night tough .

[R Oxley]

It's up to $19,999 now. Just needs one more dollar to see if my $20K reserve
prediction was correct. Ain't anybody gonna bid another buck?

Bob

[R Oxley]

Post by Ken G.
Saki i know what you mean about the Zenith consoles i have restored &
sold many . I have a 15 tube robot dial Zenith chassis and speaker here
that really has nice sound .. also have one of those mid 80`s panasonic
communications receivers thats pretty hot . Short Wave has alot of
preachers and languages i dont understand . The signals fade to bad to
enjoy for long . I did pick up some great music the other night tough .

You can always tune into Radio Pyongyang, North Korea, and listen to the
announcer telling the world how the "great leader president Kim Jong Il" is
single handedly kicking America's tail militarily, economically,
diplomatically, and otherwise. And other bovine scatology of that sort and
sillier. It is an interesting way to pass a sleepless night. But be warned,
it is wise to visit the little boys room before tuning in, so you don't have
an accident in bed from laughing so hard that you lose control! Somewhere
around 11700 Khz a few hours before sunrise PST.

Or, as you say, Dr Gene Scott can often be heard on 3 or 4 freqs. Often
rather amusing in his own way. For short periods of time.

Bob

[BH]

Post by Ken G.
Interesting indeed . I cant figure out why anyone would pay that much
for a 25 tube radio to hear AM signals & theres not much left on SW

You can bet that the collector who buy this isn't purchasing it just for
the purpose of listening to AM or SW.

[hagstar]

Post by Ken G.
theres not much left on SW

Why don't you humor us and TRY using a signal generator and aligning per
Rider's procedure, Ken, please ? I'm well aware of your position on the
issue, but how can you otherwise be sure aligning by ear is REALLY
working for you? I often use that for AM only sets of 5 or 6 tubes, but
big nice sets, well..... I really think you should try it and see if
your SW doesn't improve, just in case. Because here in Vermont I get
plenty of SW, although it is down just a tad from years past.

[Ken G.]

John its not just on old tube gear its also on the many short wave bands
on my super hot Panasonic comm. receiver . short wave is fun dont get me
wrong its just full of preachers and languages i dont know .

I know how to align radios without that equipment . the radios work
correctly . Many of you started out aligning radios with the equipment
and now its like smoking sigs. and dont know how to go without , old
habits are hard to break .. I learned for the last 30 years without it
and its not hard ... radio waves are the best `signal generator` you
need :-)

[hagstar]

Post by Ken G.
I learned for the last 30 years without it
and its not hard ... radio waves are the best `signal generator` you
need :-)

I'm not denying it works pretty well. But as someone who started late on
the whole test equipment thing, I can tell you it works BUT some of your
sets may be a bit off. I realigned the sets done by ear in the first two
years I collected with the generator and meter later, and most were
quite close but a for a couple the tweaking made a WORLD of difference!

[TomTMP58]

Ridiculous to mortage your life over a radio if you asked me!! But then again,
you have money to burn then help those poor Indonesian people out in the far
East!!.

[John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird]

In article <***@mb-m03.aol.com>, ***@aol.com
says...

Post by TomTMP58
Ridiculous to mortage your life over a radio if you asked me!! But then again,
you have money to burn then help those poor Indonesian people out in the far
East!!.

For the type that will be buying this radio ... the price isn't a mortgage
on their lives.... difficult I know for some to understand ... think about
it this way ..... Me ... I drive a couple of used... several year old
Chevy Astro Vans... and for me thats all I am willing to spend for
a vehicle to get me from point a to point b ... then we have the type
of people that have a matched pair of brand new Hummer 2's setting in
the driveway .... and for them ... thats what they are willing to pay
to get from point a to point b ...

Now I might add... that if one buys this Zenith Strat ... it is probably
still a better investment than the brand new Hummer 2 ...

John k9uwa / w4 snowbird

[Bill Turner]

AN IF ALL ELSE FAILS, BUY A SUB. FROM ME FOR $18.00 FOR A BRAND NEW TUBE
AND ADAPTOR.


CHECK MY WEBSITE: www.dialcover.com
Bill Turner, excuse caps, short answers, stroke.
Business SASE, each order a copy of The Pocket Resource Guide.

[DaveW]

Post by Bill Turner
AN IF ALL ELSE FAILS, BUY A SUB. FROM ME FOR $18.00 FOR A BRAND NEW TUBE
AND ADAPTOR.
CHECK MY WEBSITE: www.dialcover.com
Bill Turner, excuse caps, short answers, stroke.
Business SASE, each order a copy of The Pocket Resource Guide.

Come on guys! Somehow, I think the owner of a 25 tube strat wouldn't
settle for anything less than matched Zenith branded tubes. Used or NOS
shouldn't make much difference, but come on guys, after paying in excess
of $20k for the radio, I can't imagine that the cost of a few 45s
(assume that at least some of the ones already there are good) would
matter.

Heck, I like to have Zenith branded tubes in my 10S464, at least for the
ones that are visible from the back. Yes, the 6X5Gs are bypassed so they
can cause no harm. As we used to say about the bank manager, their job
is to look good.

Regards,

DAve

[Mark Oppat]

I sell Zenith branded tubes. There are the pre 1936 etched (RARE!), the
36-38 etched and the "painted" 1939-1942.

Mark Oppat

Post by DaveW

Post by Bill Turner
AN IF ALL ELSE FAILS, BUY A SUB. FROM ME FOR $18.00 FOR A BRAND NEW TUBE
AND ADAPTOR.
CHECK MY WEBSITE: www.dialcover.com
Bill Turner, excuse caps, short answers, stroke.
Business SASE, each order a copy of The Pocket Resource Guide.

Come on guys! Somehow, I think the owner of a 25 tube strat wouldn't
settle for anything less than matched Zenith branded tubes. Used or NOS
shouldn't make much difference, but come on guys, after paying in excess
of $20k for the radio, I can't imagine that the cost of a few 45s
(assume that at least some of the ones already there are good) would
matter.
Heck, I like to have Zenith branded tubes in my 10S464, at least for the
ones that are visible from the back. Yes, the 6X5Gs are bypassed so they
can cause no harm. As we used to say about the bank manager, their job
is to look good.
Regards,
DAve

[Ken G.]

Pull the Zenith bases from bad tubes and put good tubes into them if you
need matching tubes .

[Bill Turner]

SIMILIAR MIGHT BE A BETTER WORD THAN "MATCHING".


CHECK MY WEBSITE: www.dialcover.com
Bill Turner, excuse caps, short answers, stroke.
Business SASE, each order a copy of The Pocket Resource Guide.

[John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird]

In article <1019-41DBEF0C-***@storefull-3254.bay.webtv.net>,
***@webtv.net says...
ps.... Ken the reserve is larger than 20K ... I checked
John k9uwa

[Uncle Peter]

Post by John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird
ps.... Ken the reserve is larger than 20K ... I checked
John k9uwa

Ha ha... that is a hard way to "check"!!!!

Pete

[John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird]

Post by Uncle Peter

Post by John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird
ps.... Ken the reserve is larger than 20K ... I checked
John k9uwa

Ha ha... that is a hard way to "check"!!!!
Pete

Well at that level I would take it... but we all know it will probably
come closer to double that number... and I won't be there at the end
of this game...

John k9uwa / w4 snowbird

[Ken Scharf]

Post by Uncle Peter

Post by John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird
ps.... Ken the reserve is larger than 20K ... I checked
John k9uwa

Ha ha... that is a hard way to "check"!!!!
Pete

No matter, he was ALREADY out bid (and the reserve is STILL
not met!)

[John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird]

Post by Ken Scharf
No matter, he was ALREADY out bid (and the reserve is STILL
not met!)

yup I am safe now....
John k9uwa

[Bill Turner]

WHAT IF MATCHED ZENITH TUBES WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.


CHECK MY WEBSITE: www.dialcover.com
Bill Turner, excuse caps, short answers, stroke.
Business SASE, each order a copy of The Pocket Resource Guide.

[hagstar]

Post by Bill Turner
WHAT IF MATCHED ZENITH TUBES WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.

Bill, using anything but an ST 45 in a 25 tube Strat would be like
making a fresh MacIntosh apple pie and sweetening it with Sweet'nLow.
I prefer KenRads or Hytrons myself, or Slivertone :)

[Bill Turner]

FOR THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WITH DIABETES Sweet'nlow OR Splenda (BECAUSE
YOU CAN'T HEAT Sweet'N low TO COOKING TEMPERATURES) WOULD BE A
SATISFACTORY REPLACEMENT. WORKING IS BETTER THAN NONWORKING.


CHECK MY WEBSITE: www.dialcover.com
Bill Turner, excuse caps, short answers, stroke.
Business SASE, each order a copy of The Pocket Resource Guide.

[Mike Schultz]

The 2nd detector 76 had the grid and plate connected together. The 79 is
actually an avc driven relay driver which kills the audio between stations.
And, as for the 45's, if you can afford to buy the radio, you can afford the
tubes. In fact, you can afford to use them as ornaments on your Christmas
tree!

The audio section is weird. From the Zenith service info:

"In order to eliminate any possibility of overloading, two 76 tubes are used
in parallel in the first audio stage. Two audio transformers of special
design couple the first audio stage to a push-pull driver stage using two 42
tubes. The smaller transformer only handles frequencies above 400 cylces
and has a rising characteristic. The large transformer handles frequencies
below 400 cycles and is resonated at 30 cycles. The voltage output of each
of these transformers is controlled by the tone control."

So, its the transformers which do the frequency response shaping, and the
tone control determines how much output from each transformer gets to the
next stage. I'd hate to have to replace one of those transformers!
--
Mike Schultz

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by Mike Schultz
6D6 RF1
6D6 RF2
6A7 Det/Osc
6D6 IF1
6D6 IF2
76 Det (diode connected)
76x2 First audio (in parallel)
42x2 Audio driver (push pull, triode connected)
45x8 Audio output (push pull parallel)
6D6 Tuning meter amp
6D6 AVC amp
85 AVC
79 Muting
5Z3 Radio chassis rectifer
5Z3x2 Rectifier for audio output stage

hmm. Pre-Octal. I'm surprised they didn't add another tube
for the local oscillator and use the 6A7 as a mixer. This was
done in other sets (esp. later Military sets).
Wonder how the 76 detector was connected. Some used the grid as a plate
and grounded the plate as a shield. Interresting that it used all
transformer coupled push-pull audio, including the 'voltage' amplifier
stage. By muting, I assume they mean squelch.
At least none of the tubes (except the 45's) are too rare these days.
Lot's of luck on the 45's though! And you can socket-adapt most of them
with octal or miniature equals to at least get the set working.

[Ken Scharf]

Post by OldRadioZone
Well, its finally happened...a 25 tube Stratosphere is on eBay! I have seen
the 16-A-61 and 16-A-63 on eBay, but never a 1000Z. Let the bidding begin!
While the sellers have quoted my website www.oldradiozone.com in the auction
text. I have nothing to do with this auction or sellers;. If you type Zenith
Stratosphere in most search engines, my site usually comes up first.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38034&item=6502999
316&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Most Strats over the years are the amazing "antique mall finds" or "estate sale
finds" and some have traded hands privately and quietly...so this very public
auction will be interesting to watch.
ORZ

I just tried to look at the auction, it has been removed by ebay.
Probably was a phony auction on a hijacked ebay ID. This happened to
my wife, somebody hijacked her ebay ID (to make use of her 100% positive
feedback) to sell some hot motorcycles. Ebay caught the fraud before
it got anywhere.
Sorry guys, there won't be any happy new strad owner.

[Brenda Ann]

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by OldRadioZone
Well, its finally happened...a 25 tube Stratosphere is on eBay! I have seen
the 16-A-61 and 16-A-63 on eBay, but never a 1000Z. Let the bidding begin!
While the sellers have quoted my website www.oldradiozone.com in the auction
text. I have nothing to do with this auction or sellers;. If you type Zenith
Stratosphere in most search engines, my site usually comes up first.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38034&item=6502999

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by OldRadioZone
316&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Most Strats over the years are the amazing "antique mall finds" or "estate sale
finds" and some have traded hands privately and quietly...so this very public
auction will be interesting to watch.
ORZ

I just tried to look at the auction, it has been removed by ebay.
Probably was a phony auction on a hijacked ebay ID. This happened to
my wife, somebody hijacked her ebay ID (to make use of her 100% positive
feedback) to sell some hot motorcycles. Ebay caught the fraud before
it got anywhere.
Sorry guys, there won't be any happy new strad owner.

The auction is still there... if you clicked on the link above, then it
would have taken you to item 6502999 instead of the proper item 6502999316

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38034&item=6502999316

Try that one instead...

[Ken Scharf]

Post by OldRadioZone

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by OldRadioZone
Well, its finally happened...a 25 tube Stratosphere is on eBay! I have

seen

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by OldRadioZone
the 16-A-61 and 16-A-63 on eBay, but never a 1000Z. Let the bidding

begin!

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by OldRadioZone
While the sellers have quoted my website www.oldradiozone.com in the

auction

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by OldRadioZone
text. I have nothing to do with this auction or sellers;. If you type

Zenith

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by OldRadioZone
Stratosphere in most search engines, my site usually comes up first.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38034&item=6502999

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by OldRadioZone
316&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Most Strats over the years are the amazing "antique mall finds" or

"estate sale

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by OldRadioZone
finds" and some have traded hands privately and quietly...so this very

public

Post by Ken Scharf

Post by OldRadioZone
auction will be interesting to watch.
ORZ

I just tried to look at the auction, it has been removed by ebay.
Probably was a phony auction on a hijacked ebay ID. This happened to
my wife, somebody hijacked her ebay ID (to make use of her 100% positive
feedback) to sell some hot motorcycles. Ebay caught the fraud before
it got anywhere.
Sorry guys, there won't be any happy new strad owner.

The auction is still there... if you clicked on the link above, then it
would have taken you to item 6502999 instead of the proper item 6502999316
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38034&item=6502999316
Try that one instead...

Yes, that worked.
Well be carefull it could still be a fraud.

[John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird]

Post by Ken Scharf
Yes, that worked.
Well be carefull it could still be a fraud.

I would bet money on it that this final winner on this radio .... will have
already flown in to have an up close personal viewing of the radio prior
to placing his bid on it ...

John k9uwa

[John Byrns]

Post by John Goller, k9uwa /W4 Snowbird

Post by Ken Scharf
Yes, that worked.
Well be carefull it could still be a fraud.

I would bet money on it that this final winner on this radio .... will have
already flown in to have an up close personal viewing of the radio prior
to placing his bid on it ...

What if no one makes the reserve and there isn't a "final winner"?


Regards,

John Byrns


Surf my web pages at, http://users.rcn.com/jbyrns/

[Bill M]

Post by John Byrns
What if no one makes the reserve and there isn't a "final winner"?
Regards,
John Byrns

A lot of activity goes on behind the scenes on these deals. eBay may
not show a final winner but you can expect that the radio gets sold.

-Bill

[Phil Nelson]

Post by Bill M
A lot of activity goes on behind the scenes on these deals.

A year or two ago, I went to look at a McMurdo Silver console that was
listed on eBay by a local seller. The guy quoted me a cash 'n carry price.
"Write a check and haul it away now, I'll cancel the auction." I didn't like
his price, and declined, but I could have simply driven home with the item.

Phil

[R Oxley]

Post by John Byrns
What if no one makes the reserve and there isn't a "final winner"?
Regards,
John Byrns

Anybody want to bet that the "hidden" reserve is really close to $20k? I was
looking in my Zenith Glory Years book by Cones (et al.) section 3, page 136.
It is the first color image in the gallery portion of the book, listing the
radio as "uncommon to rare $20,000+. I'll betcha that is how the seller came
up with that reserve price. Pretty radio, and if my name were Gates, I'd
probably own one!

Bob

[abc go 123]

Post by OldRadioZone
Well, its finally happened...a 25 tube Stratosphere is on eBay! I have seen
the 16-A-61 and 16-A-63 on eBay, but never a 1000Z. Let the bidding begin!

I've thought I'd seen radio insanity on e-Scare...until now.....

It's up to $19,000 and still no reserve met?

Good glub you'd think they were bidding on a 58 Corvette!!!

Guess I'll just never understand the "radio collector's mind"