1940 Zenith 10S464 Antique Tube Radio Part 8 of 8 Cabinet Install

[@paulrauch1034]

Beautiful job on that radio! New to the hobby, I learn something from everyone of your offerings. Thanks !

[@thattubesound2214]

Thank you very much, Paul. I really enjoy doing it and I try very hard not to appear to be a "know it all". We are all learners at YTU. I learn as much from the awesome comments as anyone might learn from my vids. I hope I can keep making ones that you enjoy! Cheers! Michael

[@BrumAdam]

That, sir, is a beautiful radio! I really enjoyed this series and shall check out your next project with interest. Great work

[@thattubesound2214]

Thank you so much! I enjoy these pre-war Zenith consoles. They were well made and made excellent performers. I am slogging my way through a particularly difficult Philco right now. I've done most of the recording and will be uploading the rest of the videos over the next several days. Thank you for watching, and especially for taking your time to comment. I am truly grateful for comments. Cheers! Michael

[@jackgraham505]

I have enjoyed your videos. Great job in explaining what you are doing and why. Valuable information. Thanks keep up the good work.

[@SuperBuzzbomb]

I hope my work on my radios turns out half as good as yours does. Magnificent!!! And that radio sounds soooo good.

[@thattubesound2214]

You are very kind. I am a big, big fan of the "Zenith sound". I don't know how to explain it, but few radios, cheap or expensive, ever sounded as rich and vibrant as these pre-war Zenith consoles. I'm sad that their radios started on a decline path in the decade after the war. I used to pass by the big Zenith factory off the 294 tollway near Chicago. I'd try to imagine what it was like when it was bustling with workers, suppliers, and salespeople. Thank you very much for all of your generous comments. I am grateful that you watch and take your time to comment. Take care. Michael

[@clydesight]

Congratulations. The radio looks and sounds awesome! Another great job!

[@thattubesound2214]

Thank you so much. I'm sorry about being slow to respond. I've been setting up a new computer. Man, the time it takes! Cheers! Michael

[@clydesight]

Didn't notice. was busy watching "A Little Chaos" as you recommended. very good film! I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks

[@smckelvey1959]

Thanks again for posting. You're right about the Zenith sound...nothing like it.

[@thattubesound2214]

When I was growing up, I had a late-fifties Zenith tabletop radio. It was one of those ugly boxes with the vertical dial on the left side of the front. It was in a cheesy "colonial American" cabinet style, and it looked sort of silly to me. But man, did it ever sound good. It was made of REAL wood, it had a pretty big speaker for a tabletop, and it could really pump out the tunes. I still remember how it took a long time to warm up and start to play. It even had a unique smell, when it was warm. I used to sit in my bedroom late at night, peering through the back cover at the tubes, and listen to WLS out of Chicago. It was a top-40 station then, and late at night is when the "King Biscuit Flower Hour" would come on and I'd get to hear some great rock that they wouldn't play during prime time. I eventually took the back cover off so I could see the tubes better. I loved the sound that Zenith made! Thanks for reminding me, Steven! Cheers! Michael

[@Backtothefutureradios]

ThatTubeSound I used to listen to 89---WLS, Chicago. Larry Lujac. When ai was driving home at night from dating my wife! Lol many moons ago!

[@cristrigotti9933]

Well done Michael!

[@thattubesound2214]

Thank you so much, Crist! It was quite an experience getting to know Mr. Curtis and I felt honored to be the one charged with bringing it back to life for him. I'm glad that you watch and comment, my friend. Cheers! Michael

[@Backtothefutureradios]

Sweet! Very nice set. Whoever drilled that modification hole was spot on with it. Wonder if Mr Curtis knows anything about that? Im sure he will be very pleased with it Michael. You did a great job! Thanks foe letting me help, lol. Best--Larry

[@thattubesound2214]

Mr. Curtis drilled that hole, Larry...about 40 years ago! He did not elaborate on how he did it. He's into stones and gems and, when he came to pick up the radio, he gave my wife a beautiful polished and perfectly round red jasper sphere about eight inches in diameter. My wife was really touched. I'm glad you are watching. Take care, sir! Michael

[@Rebel9668]

If someone invents a magnetic floor I'll manage to step on it on the day I'm wearing brogans with heel plates and there I'll be stuck fast, lol. Usually the harbor freight stuff I buy is stuff that gets used very infrequently, or barring that it's stuff that is pretty foolproof like shrink tubing. I only have one power tool that's from them and I didn't buy it, lol. I asked for a dremel for Christmas and my little brother (who mind you always asks for the best of everything) gave me a Chicago Electric generic dremel for Christmas, LOL! BTW, I did try to stop you. I was yelling that your line was too short to plug the antenna into the chassis that way, lol.

[@thattubesound2214]

Well, you shoulda' yelled louder, Gary. I was so tired after putting that thing together, that I fell asleep half way through the movie with Wifey. You know, when HF first opened, I was so excited and I went and spent hundreds of dollars. But little by little, I kept getting burned by cheap tools breaking or worse. I only buy gloves and simple tools that I use on tasks for which precision is completely unnecessary. You should try the shrink tubing that I get from RA Elco. It's good stuff. Anyway, thanks for watching, Gary and as always, thanks for commenting! Take care, my friend. Michael

[@jackgraham505]

Could you tell what color and brand of paint you used on the chassis and the Wavemagnet ante nae bracket.

[@KennethScharf]

I wonder how many SMT parts (not to mention small nuts, screws, 1/4 watt resistors, etc) are lost SOMEWHERE among the dust bunnies on the floor of my 'man cave' / ham shack / work shop?

[@thattubesound2214]

That's hilarious, Kenneth. I'm REALLY glad that I'm not the only one. What I want to know is, how in the heck do they always end up under the heaviest piece of furniture or equipment in the room? [: 0) Take care, my friend. Michael

[@Rebel9668]

They wind up there because the rest of them get picked up, lol. It's kind of like when something is lost it's always in the last place you look because when you find it you're no longer looking for it. I have a theory that socks lost in the dryer return to us in the form of dust bunnies under our beds.

[@carlwaldrop9152]

Do you work on other peoples radios ?how would I contact you?

[@jeremygoodnow1489]

Just picked up the same radio and it looks like it's all there but there is no power cord.I know nothing about radios.Is it a good idea to try to put one in it or is it missing for a reason? Wish you lived in Florida cause you sure do a great job.

[@hansanderson6607]

Yes, you can try to put one in it, somebody probably cut off the old one because the insulation was dry rotted, but you should still have the chassis checked out and rebuilt so that it doesn't cause a fire and works properly.

[@ianbutler1983]

Michael, Just wondering if you use an ultrasonic cleaner. I don't recall seeing one in your videos. I have a small one and it gives excellent results on some items, for instance knobs and variable capacitors. I have a question-I did not think television was in use very much in 1940, so why would a 1940 radio have a TV input? Thanks and I appreciate your efforts in making these videos, I really enjoy them.

[@ianbutler1983]

Never mind the TV question, I missed the written message you put in the video.

[@thattubesound2214]

Ian, I do have a small ultrasonic cleaner. I use it sometimes on tuning condensers, but seldom for anything else. I've never thought of using it for knobs. What soap or other cleaning brew do you add to the water? Thank you for watching, my friend. And, I really appreciate you taking time to write comments and questions. They are more helpful to me than you know! Cheers! Michael

[@ianbutler1983]

I use hot water and toss in a few ounces of 409, Fantastic, or something like that, whatever is at hand. The results on knobs are dramatic. It sometimes removes the white pointer lines in the recess on some knobs, which is usually yellowed anyway. I just paint over the line with White-out, let it dry, and scrape the excess with the edge of a credit card (which will be nearby if you restore old radios!) which seems to be sharp enough to remove the dried Whiteout but soft enough not to mar the Bakelite or plastic of the knob. Works like a charm, I just did it on a Heathkit signal generator and they look new with about 5 minutes of effort. I just bought the Xuron needle-nose pliers on your strong recommendation and I love them. Thanks. What a great value for $15 or so. By the way, have you ever watched Glasslinger on KZbin? He actually makes his own vacuum tubes. I doubt I'll ever do it, but it is fascinating to watch. If you have not, take a look. He wears a dress while doing it, but to each his own.

[@pointdexter3606]

13:34 You already have a magnetic floor! The nut dropped to the floor right?, point

[@thattubesound2214]

Actually, the force of nature involved regarding my floor is Gravity. So, my floor is gravitational, or gravitatic, or gravitoric, or something!

[@pointdexter3606]

Why would you not put in a Grounded 3 prong power cord? , point

[@thattubesound2214]

For radios with main power transformers, there is no compelling reason to have a grounded plug. It doesn't hurt anything, but it's not really needed and it doesn't look authentic to have a three-conductor wire and plug on the radio. I think it actually looks sort of odd. I suppose that there are unusual situations, like a radio in a damp basement, where a grounded 3-wire connection would be helpful, but I have never run into one of those situations. This one is sort of a "you say tomato, and I say tomaato..." Thank you for asking a great question, Point. This has been a source of debate for old radio guys, since there have been old radio guys! Cheers! Michael

[@pointdexter3606]

Maybe some video you can explain how came about to Freddy?, point

[@thattubesound2214]

We brought Fred home from a shelter because our first cat, Buster the Cat, needed a playmate. Freddie has been great for Buster, and they are both happy chasing around the house. I have a basement full of radios and televisions, and those two cats really like to play hide and seek in all of those sets! Drives me nuts! Cheers! Michael

[@pointdexter3606]

No kitty pics this video? I am disappointed, point

[@thattubesound2214]

Yep, Freddie and Buster have been slouching! I better break out the whip!

[@pointdexter3606]

I have noticed your voice is lagging behind and is not in sync with video, point

[@thattubesound2214]

Yep. That's reason number 382 why I don't like Power Director. It does that during video rendering, so I cannot control it. Adobe Premiere Pro does not do that. I just got my replacement computer and my future vids will be done on Premiere Pro. My work computer did not have the muscle to run Premiere Pro. You are very observant, my friend! [: 0) Cheers! Michael

[@thattubesound2214]

Actually, it turns out that Adobe Premiere Pro does it, too. I have since learned about some issues with most editing programs that relate to the way the camera records video. I am learning as I go, but I didn't want to give you bad info. Thanks again, Point.