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Zenith Model 7-S-363 (7S363) Console Radio (1939)
The Zenith 7-S-363 (7S363) is a popular Zenith floor model
from the 1939 model season. It is one of Zenith's more comp-
act console radios and, with its side buttresses and waterfall
style instrument panel all finished in contrasting veneers, it's
one of their most beautiful too. It was introduced in the sum-
mer of 1938 with an introductory price in eastern regions of
$69.95.
The radio has the following features:-
In the photograph, the radiorgan switches are to the right of
the dial and the tip-touch controls to the left. Click on the
expanded view of the dial for greater detail.
The tube line-up is 6A8G (mixer/LO), 6K7G (IF amp), 6J5G
(2nd detector/AVC), 6F5G (1st AF), 6F6G (power amp),
6X5G (rectifier) and 6U5 (tuning eye). See schematic here.
When I purchased this radio it needed a replacement grille
cloth and several of the small ivory colored station id and
RADIORGAN tabs (which have a habit over the years of
falling out and being lost). I obtained cloth from grillecloth.
com (now out of business - see my links page under "Sites
useful for finding parts" for alternates). The tabs are
available from gn4radios.com.
I completely re-capped the radio, replaced out-of-tolerance
resistors, replaced the dim and ailing 6U5 tuning eye tube
with a bright new one, along with the notoriously failure-
prone 1meg resistor hidden away in the eye tube socket,
and restrung the dial belts. This set uses a 6X5G rectifier
tube, another failure-prone item, known for shorting out
and taking the power transformer with it. I replaced it with
the later, more reliable 6X5GT type. The set now plays like
new.
from the 1939 model season. It is one of Zenith's more comp-
act console radios and, with its side buttresses and waterfall
style instrument panel all finished in contrasting veneers, it's
one of their most beautiful too. It was introduced in the sum-
mer of 1938 with an introductory price in eastern regions of
$69.95.
The radio has the following features:-
- 7-tube superheterodyne, all-wave
- tuning eye
- Radiorgan tone control for 64 tonal combinations
- Automatic tip-touch tuning (see my 5R317 page for
details) - 10" electrodynamic speaker
- Walnut cabinet
In the photograph, the radiorgan switches are to the right of
the dial and the tip-touch controls to the left. Click on the
expanded view of the dial for greater detail.
The tube line-up is 6A8G (mixer/LO), 6K7G (IF amp), 6J5G
(2nd detector/AVC), 6F5G (1st AF), 6F6G (power amp),
6X5G (rectifier) and 6U5 (tuning eye). See schematic here.
When I purchased this radio it needed a replacement grille
cloth and several of the small ivory colored station id and
RADIORGAN tabs (which have a habit over the years of
falling out and being lost). I obtained cloth from grillecloth.
com (now out of business - see my links page under "Sites
useful for finding parts" for alternates). The tabs are
available from gn4radios.com.
I completely re-capped the radio, replaced out-of-tolerance
resistors, replaced the dim and ailing 6U5 tuning eye tube
with a bright new one, along with the notoriously failure-
prone 1meg resistor hidden away in the eye tube socket,
and restrung the dial belts. This set uses a 6X5G rectifier
tube, another failure-prone item, known for shorting out
and taking the power transformer with it. I replaced it with
the later, more reliable 6X5GT type. The set now plays like
new.
You'll believe in miracles when you see and hear this
Zenith!
Zenith!
The radio with the Radiorgan.
Zenith's 1939 Radiorgan - Have the Music Your Way
"The new and exclusive radiorgan is an ingenious device,
providing through a series of six organ key-board tabs a
choice of 64 tonal combinations. E.F. McDonald Jr, former
Syracusan, and president of the Zenith Radio Corporation
describes this new control as the most original and most
exclusive tone improvement ever placed on a home radio.
McDonald claims the listener is able for the first time to
receive the complete range of tonal combinations, whether
they be treble, bass or alto. Through this radiorgan
development it is no longer necessary to sacrifice high notes
accentuated, or vice versa.
Through the six "organ" stops, the listener has control of six
different tone channels ranging from treble to low bass.
These six tone channels may be mixed into 64 different and
distinct tonal shades. For the first time it is said to be
possible to reproduce the high singing notes of the violin,
and the deep notes of the woodwinds at the same time
without losing the rich tone of either".
"The new and exclusive radiorgan is an ingenious device,
providing through a series of six organ key-board tabs a
choice of 64 tonal combinations. E.F. McDonald Jr, former
Syracusan, and president of the Zenith Radio Corporation
describes this new control as the most original and most
exclusive tone improvement ever placed on a home radio.
McDonald claims the listener is able for the first time to
receive the complete range of tonal combinations, whether
they be treble, bass or alto. Through this radiorgan
development it is no longer necessary to sacrifice high notes
accentuated, or vice versa.
Through the six "organ" stops, the listener has control of six
different tone channels ranging from treble to low bass.
These six tone channels may be mixed into 64 different and
distinct tonal shades. For the first time it is said to be
possible to reproduce the high singing notes of the violin,
and the deep notes of the woodwinds at the same time
without losing the rich tone of either".
..with tip-touch tuning. Touch the button.. there's your station.
Copyright TubeRadioLand.com
July 30th 1938, Bakersfield, CA
Dec 8th 1938, Iowa
