Zenith Model 288 Tombstone Radio (1934)
This large art-deco model 288 tombstone was one of Zenith's first all-
wave receivers. It was introduced late in 1933, ready for the 1934
season, at a sales price of $69.95. The model shown here features
the 8-tube 2056 chassis, having 5 frequency bands, a three-gang
tuning condenser, an RF stage, 2 IF stages, phono input and a total
of 6 control knobs! (See Riders Zenith page 4.15 for the schematic).
The radio is sometimes referred to as the model 288 Challenger
Tombstone, presumably because in 1933 Zenith had issued the
following challenge to both the radio buying public and to their
competitors:-
wave receivers. It was introduced late in 1933, ready for the 1934
season, at a sales price of $69.95. The model shown here features
the 8-tube 2056 chassis, having 5 frequency bands, a three-gang
tuning condenser, an RF stage, 2 IF stages, phono input and a total
of 6 control knobs! (See Riders Zenith page 4.15 for the schematic).
The radio is sometimes referred to as the model 288 Challenger
Tombstone, presumably because in 1933 Zenith had issued the
following challenge to both the radio buying public and to their
competitors:-
"We challenge anyone to name a single demonstrable
improvement in radio not found in the 1933 Zenith line;
and we further challenge anyone to name another radio
line which contains all the improvements found in the new
1933 Zenith line"
improvement in radio not found in the 1933 Zenith line;
and we further challenge anyone to name another radio
line which contains all the improvements found in the new
1933 Zenith line"
Cones and Bryant, in their book "Zenith Radio - The Early Years
1919 - 1935" state that the styling of this and similar contemporary
cabinets by Zenith marked "the first incursion of modern industrial
design into the Zenith line".
The tube line-up is 58 (RF amp), 58 (mixer), 56 (LO), 58 (1st IF), 58
(2nd IF), 2A6 (detector/AVC/1st AF), 59 (power amp) and 80
rectifier. Frequency coverage is in 5 bands from 540-1560kc, 1.45
-3.4mc, 3.2-6.9mc, 6-12.6mc and 11.5-25mc. The 6 knobs perform
the functions of, from left to right, tone control, volume/on/off, tuning
(upper center), sensitivity/phono-jack-switch (lower center), band
switch and short wave antenna trimmer.
This radio also allegedly came with a 2051 chassis that had 8 tubes
but 5 knobs instead of 6. Although I have never seen a photo of this
variant, I did come across an illustration of a 5 knob set in an early
advertisement - it had no lower-center knob.
1919 - 1935" state that the styling of this and similar contemporary
cabinets by Zenith marked "the first incursion of modern industrial
design into the Zenith line".
The tube line-up is 58 (RF amp), 58 (mixer), 56 (LO), 58 (1st IF), 58
(2nd IF), 2A6 (detector/AVC/1st AF), 59 (power amp) and 80
rectifier. Frequency coverage is in 5 bands from 540-1560kc, 1.45
-3.4mc, 3.2-6.9mc, 6-12.6mc and 11.5-25mc. The 6 knobs perform
the functions of, from left to right, tone control, volume/on/off, tuning
(upper center), sensitivity/phono-jack-switch (lower center), band
switch and short wave antenna trimmer.
This radio also allegedly came with a 2051 chassis that had 8 tubes
but 5 knobs instead of 6. Although I have never seen a photo of this
variant, I did come across an illustration of a 5 knob set in an early
advertisement - it had no lower-center knob.
..a standard and shortwave model with an 8-tube superheterodyne chassis
| "Zenith All-Wave Model 288 is a standard and shortwave radio with an 8-tube superheterodyne chassis - a full size dynamic speaker - automatic-volume-control - waveband selector (5 wavebands) - tone control - sensitivity control - antenna trimmer that makes shortwave tuning easier - rotating mask dial - 530-25,000 kilocycles (565 to 12 meters). A handsome table model cabinet." |
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Copyright TubeRadioLand.com
| "...housed in a European-style modernistic cabinet of butt walnut with black lacquer trim" |