Zaney-Gill Model 2445 "Music Box" Radio (1930)
I have been unable to find out much about this early depression
era compact from Zaney Gill. The company itself, according to one
of their own advertisements, started out in the radio business in
Los Angeles in 1915. However, the earliest models I have found
attributed to them are dated 1930 and I have no information on
what they did prior to that time. In late 1930 they relocated their
headquarters to Illinois and not long after, in May of 1931, they
were bankrupt, yet another victim of the Great Depression.
On May 19th of 1931, perhaps as a last ditch effort to save their
company, they filed suit in Chicago against RCA, amongst others,
claiming $1.5 million in damages for monopolistic trading practices.
I have included a newspaper report describing the filing of this suit
at the foot of this page. One presumes they were unsuccessful in
this effort as no more was heard from the company after 1931.
During their short span, they produced several compact models,
including the one photographed here, known as the "music box".
The sticker on the rear of this set shows it to be model number
2445 manufactured by Zaney Gill of Chicago, Illinois. That places
the date of its manufacture at no earlier than late 1930.
This 6 tube radio covers the standard broadcast band only. The
two controls are for tuning (the dial is graduated 0 to 100) and
volume/on/off. The TRF chassis has tube line-up:- 224+224+224
(tuned RF amps), 227 (detector), 245 (AF output) and 280
(rectifier). I have found no schematic for this model, however it is
likely similar to Zaney Gill's Vivatone model 54.
era compact from Zaney Gill. The company itself, according to one
of their own advertisements, started out in the radio business in
Los Angeles in 1915. However, the earliest models I have found
attributed to them are dated 1930 and I have no information on
what they did prior to that time. In late 1930 they relocated their
headquarters to Illinois and not long after, in May of 1931, they
were bankrupt, yet another victim of the Great Depression.
On May 19th of 1931, perhaps as a last ditch effort to save their
company, they filed suit in Chicago against RCA, amongst others,
claiming $1.5 million in damages for monopolistic trading practices.
I have included a newspaper report describing the filing of this suit
at the foot of this page. One presumes they were unsuccessful in
this effort as no more was heard from the company after 1931.
During their short span, they produced several compact models,
including the one photographed here, known as the "music box".
The sticker on the rear of this set shows it to be model number
2445 manufactured by Zaney Gill of Chicago, Illinois. That places
the date of its manufacture at no earlier than late 1930.
This 6 tube radio covers the standard broadcast band only. The
two controls are for tuning (the dial is graduated 0 to 100) and
volume/on/off. The TRF chassis has tube line-up:- 224+224+224
(tuned RF amps), 227 (detector), 245 (AF output) and 280
(rectifier). I have found no schematic for this model, however it is
likely similar to Zaney Gill's Vivatone model 54.
Big Suit Filed by Radio Firm
Chicago, May 19 (AP) - Suit for $1,500,000 damages was filed in federal court today on behalf of the Zaney Gill Corporation of
Illinois, manufacturers of radio receiving sets, against the Radio Corporation of America and affiliated concerns on charges of
conspiracy to violate the Sherman anti-trust law and conspiracy to restraint of trade.
The complaint charged that through cross licenses and the pooling of more than 4000 patents and the exaction of confiscatory
royalties the defendants had created a monopoly to the exclusion of independent dealers and manufacturers.
The other defendants were the General Electric company, the American Telephone and Telegraph company, the Westinghouse
Electric and Manufacturing company, R-C-A Victor company and R-C-A Radiotron company.
The Zaney Gill Corporation was petitioned into bankruptcy in the United States district court yesterday.
Source: Newspaper report (several local editions), dated Tue May 19th, 1931.
Chicago, May 19 (AP) - Suit for $1,500,000 damages was filed in federal court today on behalf of the Zaney Gill Corporation of
Illinois, manufacturers of radio receiving sets, against the Radio Corporation of America and affiliated concerns on charges of
conspiracy to violate the Sherman anti-trust law and conspiracy to restraint of trade.
The complaint charged that through cross licenses and the pooling of more than 4000 patents and the exaction of confiscatory
royalties the defendants had created a monopoly to the exclusion of independent dealers and manufacturers.
The other defendants were the General Electric company, the American Telephone and Telegraph company, the Westinghouse
Electric and Manufacturing company, R-C-A Victor company and R-C-A Radiotron company.
The Zaney Gill Corporation was petitioned into bankruptcy in the United States district court yesterday.
Source: Newspaper report (several local editions), dated Tue May 19th, 1931.
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