Zenith Model 6-S-222 "Cube" Table Radio (1938)
Beautiful example of a Zenith "cube" radio from 1938, found in restored condition in a NH antique
store. I had just missed one of these at a swap meet a few weeks before and was very pleased to find
this one for less money. Zenith produced a number of cube style radios in this era and all are popular
amongst collectors. Most have an upwards facing loudspeaker, as on this model.
This is a 3-band radio with 6-tubes (6F6G, 5Y4G, 6F5G, 6K7G, 6A8G, 6H6G) and a 6" upwards facing
loudspeaker. The Riders schematic calls for a 6H6G duo-diode tube in the AVC/Detector stage. The
6H6G (ST envelope) tube is somewhat rare and this particular set had it substituted by a plain old 6H6
metal type some time in the past.
It is interesting to note that although this is a 6-tube set, it basically provides the same performance as
many 5-tube receivers of the time that employed a duo-diode-triode, such as the 6Q7. This could do
the same job as the 6H6 and 6F5 tubes in this set. Manufacturers often played a game of "tube wars",
since there was a perception amongst the radio buying public that "the more the better". The reality of
the matter is that this was often not the case.
The photographed model has a bronze colored bezel surrounding the dial. When cleaning these sets
it is as well to bear in mind that this bronze colored patina is what was intended by Zenith. Over
polishing the bezel will shine up the metal but will remove the original patina, degrading the originality
of the set. Beware!
store. I had just missed one of these at a swap meet a few weeks before and was very pleased to find
this one for less money. Zenith produced a number of cube style radios in this era and all are popular
amongst collectors. Most have an upwards facing loudspeaker, as on this model.
This is a 3-band radio with 6-tubes (6F6G, 5Y4G, 6F5G, 6K7G, 6A8G, 6H6G) and a 6" upwards facing
loudspeaker. The Riders schematic calls for a 6H6G duo-diode tube in the AVC/Detector stage. The
6H6G (ST envelope) tube is somewhat rare and this particular set had it substituted by a plain old 6H6
metal type some time in the past.
It is interesting to note that although this is a 6-tube set, it basically provides the same performance as
many 5-tube receivers of the time that employed a duo-diode-triode, such as the 6Q7. This could do
the same job as the 6H6 and 6F5 tubes in this set. Manufacturers often played a game of "tube wars",
since there was a perception amongst the radio buying public that "the more the better". The reality of
the matter is that this was often not the case.
The photographed model has a bronze colored bezel surrounding the dial. When cleaning these sets
it is as well to bear in mind that this bronze colored patina is what was intended by Zenith. Over
polishing the bezel will shine up the metal but will remove the original patina, degrading the originality
of the set. Beware!
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