| ..extracts from 1932/33 Zenith advertising. |
Zenith Model 715 Tombstone Tube Radio (1934)
This very ornate and handsome Zenith model 715
tombstone radio was introduced in 1933 for the 1934 model
season. It was one of the line of 700 series radios referred
to by Zenith as their "new Challenger line". In September of
1933 this radio could be purchased for $49.95 complete.
The 715 features shadowgraph tuning (see ad copy @ foot of
page), introduced by Zenith the previous season and very
similar to that used for certain contemporaneous Philco
sets, such as the 19B. In promoting this tuning aid, Zenith
used advertising copy very much like Philco's, proclaiming it
as a "device that makes every child or grown-up an expert tuner".
Whereas Philco would continue to use their basic electro-
mechanical shadowgraph through 1938 (after which time
they abandoned visual tuning aids altogether), Zenith, for
1937 refined it to provide "target" or "bullseye" tuning. A
year later they adopted "all-electric" target tuning, based
upon "magic" eye tubes, which they would continue to use
through at least 1946. Tuning eyes can be counted as one
of the features that make the latter 1930s Zenith sets so
popular amongst collectors today.
The 715 is an 8-tube ac-powered super-het covering the
standard broadcast band. Tube line-up is 58 (RF amp), 58
(mixer), 56 (LO), 58 (IF amp), 55 (2nd det/ AVC/1st AF), 59
* 2 (AF push-pull power output) and 80 (rectifier). The
schematic can be found here, courtesy of NostalgiaAir.
tombstone radio was introduced in 1933 for the 1934 model
season. It was one of the line of 700 series radios referred
to by Zenith as their "new Challenger line". In September of
1933 this radio could be purchased for $49.95 complete.
The 715 features shadowgraph tuning (see ad copy @ foot of
page), introduced by Zenith the previous season and very
similar to that used for certain contemporaneous Philco
sets, such as the 19B. In promoting this tuning aid, Zenith
used advertising copy very much like Philco's, proclaiming it
as a "device that makes every child or grown-up an expert tuner".
Whereas Philco would continue to use their basic electro-
mechanical shadowgraph through 1938 (after which time
they abandoned visual tuning aids altogether), Zenith, for
1937 refined it to provide "target" or "bullseye" tuning. A
year later they adopted "all-electric" target tuning, based
upon "magic" eye tubes, which they would continue to use
through at least 1946. Tuning eyes can be counted as one
of the features that make the latter 1930s Zenith sets so
popular amongst collectors today.
The 715 is an 8-tube ac-powered super-het covering the
standard broadcast band. Tube line-up is 58 (RF amp), 58
(mixer), 56 (LO), 58 (IF amp), 55 (2nd det/ AVC/1st AF), 59
* 2 (AF push-pull power output) and 80 (rectifier). The
schematic can be found here, courtesy of NostalgiaAir.
New Challenger Model 715 ..a masterpiece in tone, design, reception.
| "8-tube Superheterodyne, Shadowgraph tuning, advanced type automatic volume control. 8" dynamic speaker. The cabinet has matched butt-walnut front with pilasters inlaid with genuine marquetry and overlaid with maple burl. Reeded ends. Hand rubbed, hand polished finish. Size 191/2" high, 16" wide, 91/2" deep" Shadowgraph Tuning "Here's the device that makes every child or grown up an expert tuner. When a station is not tuned to exact resonance a wide black shadow appears on the screen [ed]. As the station comes closer to the peak, the shadow becomes smaller, until finally, when tuned "on the nose", only a narrow black vertical line shows. Result: full rich resonance, not a rasping sound." |
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