1938 Zenith 9S262 Shutter Dial Console Tube Radio Part 2 of X Fragile Stuff

[@greggsvintageworkshop8974]

What a great video Michael, so detailed and instructional. If I ever get one of these I will have the confidence to tackle it and help from your video to assist me. Thank you!

[@jerushaelliott281]

I'm following right along as I just bought a 12S67 that needs to be redone and its my first restore! Thanks for the lessons! Cant wait until the next video!

[@thattubesound2214]

John, Awesome, sir! You picked a very cool radio that will be an excellent performer. Zenith chassis are a bit messy and they look really disorganized. After you do a few, they start to make sense. All of the late-thirties Zenith chassis are similar in layout and build, so I'm hoping that my little series is useful to you. Sadly, the vids will be coming out a little slow for a while. My wife is very sick and she needs a lot of help. But, while she rests, I work on radios and edit videos. Thank you so much for watching. I really appreciate that you took time to comment. Do a slow, careful job on your Zenith, and it won't let you down. Cheers! Michael

[@jerushaelliott281]

Thanks for the words of encouragement! Prayers for you and your wife!

[@Backtothefutureradios]

Thanks Michael for the guided tour thru the shutter dial! Im sure we will see more good stuff upon reassembly. I have a Zenith 6s362 coming up, it does not have a shutter dial, but similar. I know some of the same mechanisms will be similar and this video will help with it! Hope you are doing well! Take Care--Larry

[@clydesight]

Nice explanation on how to -- and how-to-be-careful -- when dealing with that shutter dial! Pot metal - really unstable. I have worked on tape recorders where it has been used to make flywheels, and it has either warped or cracked and flaked.When used to make controls that push and pull springs, etc. I have seen it break down completely. I repaired a tape recorder that had a support arm made of pot metal that broke apart. I had to surround it with epoxy putty. Who knows how long THAT will last! I think you have great expertise with your radios, and watching you -- even on a SONY cam -- is a pleasure. Ooh, and speaking of pleasure, what a pleasure to see Marty and Wifey playing together. Marty sure looks like a very intelligent cat! He's adorable! Of course, so are Fred and Buster! Thanks for another great video! Please keep them coming. OOOH! WAIT -- have you seen the thumbnail that KZbin attached to your video " 1934 Grunow 501 Antique Tube Radio Part 9 of 10 Odds & Ends"? It is adorable-- Blue eyed Fred looking at us through the camera! I assume YT grabbed that, but if you made it yourself, then double BRAVO!

[@AMStationEngineer]

The Zenith dealer for whom I worked (1975 thru 1978), was a partnership which began in 1934. "Robert", the principal owner, worked only on tube type radios - which were manufactured before 1965, and B&W TV's made prior to '62. I'm fairly certain that he had a Stratosphere, and a McMurdo-Silver in his "Man Cave for Elderly Men". They used to joke that he served only "Dewar's and prune juice" in that part of the shop. I was wet behind the ears then, and only spied a few quick looks, but he had at least 15 consoles, and three portholes on his terraced display. My primary task, was to help with rework from the ChromaColor II "HV Safety Cap Problem". I became really good at replacing/converging their CRT's, and reworking their HV sections. I do remember that Shutterdials gained popularity as the Walton's episodes progressed. Robert wouldn't touch the shutterdial assemblies; he would, instead, take them to a clockmaker in Quarryville, PA, who would clean/align, and align the radio's front end. I'd guess that is a luxury we can no longer take advantage of, however, I believed more than a few clockmakers and watchmakers worked on them in their heyday?? Mike, after seeing you standing next to a Philco console in one of your video thumbnails, you absolutely must take one to one of your future speaking engagements; you appeared to be accessorized well - by the radio.

[@thattubesound2214]

Hey, thank you for the cool recollections. I wish that I had been around when tubes ruled. I don't say it like an old man, but I think that young folks now are really missing out. The black plastic junk being pawed off as audio gear these days is laughable when compared to even the most modest tube gear of the 50s and 60s. I really enjoy your stories and I'll bet those younger than me do as well. As always, thanks for watching. I hope that I can keep the videos interesting. Take care, my friend. Michael

[@Rebel9668]

I bet every kid's first experience with pot metal comes from either Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars. I think the chassis was always made of that stuff. I don't imagine I'll ever have to worry about working on a 30's Zenith as I've never found one that I could afford. Funny thing is, the black dial ones aren't my favorite ones anyhow. My favorite Zeniths are the cubes with the beige or whitish "racetrack dials and the white buttons and knobs. I think those things are just absolutely beautiful and one day I'll have one even if it's already been restored by someone else, lol. Good stuff, Michael. Take care, Gary

[@deadfreightwest5956]

Another problem with old pot metal castings, especially thin ones, is that over time the different metals seem to react or disassociate from one another, inducing stress and warping.

[@Wenlocktvdx]

Shutter dials are so cool. Wish they appeared in other countries but sadly most Australian an British radios don’t have a lot of innovative features. The US market is so big that a lot is viable that wouldn’t sell enough in other markets. Zenith did sell their Trans Oceanic models here in the 40s and 50s and Admiral sold TVs in the 50s and 60s. Muffy loved a nice warm bed, most of the day she would be curled up on one or the other. Mom didn’t show much affection for cats although she got Mr Boots aka Bootsie in school.

[@AMStationEngineer]

Please share any recollections about Roberts radios of the '50s and '60s, I had one while stationed at Lakenheath.

[@vcv6560]

The first time I did this, I loosened the tabs first and the convex bubble fell out, thank goodness it hit my chest and then the CARPETED floor. That's the only thing that saved it.

[@johnsweda2999]

With the ring fastener… you should be able to take it off with a Jewellers screwdriver the really small one to get behind it then use a bigger one! think would be better than banging it I don't like the idea. You might like to try taking the hands off, by using a piece of string wrapped around The the centre shaft pulling upwards and holding it in the other hand and wiggling/guiding it

[@thattubesound2214]

John, I get what you're saying about banging it. That's why I hold the tweezer nose plier very lightly. They usually just slide past the clip after pushing it a little. In that way, no destructive energy is transferred to the radio. Using a screwdriver carries the very real risk of bunging up the clip slot. That would make for a bad day. As always, thank you, my friend. Take care. Michael

[@deadfreightwest5956]

I remember my Dad showing me one of those clips: "You know what these are called, son?" "What's that, Dad?" "They're called Jesus clips, 'cause when they come off, you say, 'Jesus, where'd it go?!'"

[@AMStationEngineer]

The castellated nut atop the main rotor of some helicopters, is referred to as a "Jesus Nut"... I believe that one may have said a bit more, when encountering difficulty with one....

[@call5sam]

You had a special guest on your video called back to the future radio and I cannot find him on youtube. Could you post his youtube site?

[@call5sam]

is the dial lettering water soluble?

[@tubeDude48]

Your off-camera a lot!