Zenith Model 811 Art Deco Tombstone Radio (1935)
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Copyright TubeRadioLand.com
The Zenith 811 tombstone radio is an ultra rare and unusual model
that is a masterpiece of Art deco design. According to Cones &
Bryant, in their book "Zenith Radio The Early Years", the 811 was
possibly styled by Rosenow & Company of Chicago, responsible for
the contemporaneous models 809, 829 and 835, or perhaps by
Robert Budlong, who consulted with Zenith on cabinet design for
many years and later on did the industrial design for such sets as
the 6-D-311/315.
The 6-tube model 811 was introduced in the second half of 1934 for
the 1935 model year, along with Zenith's other small white dial sets.
The original sales price was $54.95, placing it on a par price wise
with the model 809 (6 tubes) and between models 808 and 829 (6
and 7 tubes respectively) in Zenith's 1935 line-up of table sets.
Why is this set so rare? One can only conjecture. Perhaps it's
because its bold, radical styling left most prospective purchasers,
while admiring the set, feeling that one of Zenith's more traditional
models would be better suited to their home decor. The fact that the
811 uses an ac/dc chassis may not have helped matters either,
especially given that it directly competed with Zenith's popular 808
model, an ac set also using 6 tubes that cost $5 less. Combine
these considerations with a dearth of advertising by Zenith and a
cabinet of somewhat fragile constitution and perhaps some of the
elusiveness can be explained.
It's an unfortunate fact that many of the Art Deco sets from the tube
radio era are today, for various reasons, very rare finds and as a
result most are highly coveted by collectors. I paid a veritable King's
Ransom for this set, one that, from my perspective, places it firmly
in the realm normally reserved for catalins!
that is a masterpiece of Art deco design. According to Cones &
Bryant, in their book "Zenith Radio The Early Years", the 811 was
possibly styled by Rosenow & Company of Chicago, responsible for
the contemporaneous models 809, 829 and 835, or perhaps by
Robert Budlong, who consulted with Zenith on cabinet design for
many years and later on did the industrial design for such sets as
the 6-D-311/315.
The 6-tube model 811 was introduced in the second half of 1934 for
the 1935 model year, along with Zenith's other small white dial sets.
The original sales price was $54.95, placing it on a par price wise
with the model 809 (6 tubes) and between models 808 and 829 (6
and 7 tubes respectively) in Zenith's 1935 line-up of table sets.
Why is this set so rare? One can only conjecture. Perhaps it's
because its bold, radical styling left most prospective purchasers,
while admiring the set, feeling that one of Zenith's more traditional
models would be better suited to their home decor. The fact that the
811 uses an ac/dc chassis may not have helped matters either,
especially given that it directly competed with Zenith's popular 808
model, an ac set also using 6 tubes that cost $5 less. Combine
these considerations with a dearth of advertising by Zenith and a
cabinet of somewhat fragile constitution and perhaps some of the
elusiveness can be explained.
It's an unfortunate fact that many of the Art Deco sets from the tube
radio era are today, for various reasons, very rare finds and as a
result most are highly coveted by collectors. I paid a veritable King's
Ransom for this set, one that, from my perspective, places it firmly
in the realm normally reserved for catalins!
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| "Zenith 811 - Triple Filtering. Operates on AC or DC current. Six-tube. Gets American and Foreign stations, police, amateur and airplane conversations. Tunes from 535 - 18,750 kilocycles. 18" High (ed: approx)" |
| Technical Details |
The Zenith 811 is a 6-tube ac/dc superheterodyne that tunes the
standard broadcast and police/amateur frequencies in two bands.
The tube line-up is 6D6 (RF amp), 6A7 (mixer/LO), 6D6 (IF amp),
75 (2nd det/AVC/1st AF), 43 (power amp) & 25Z5 (rectifier). The
set uses a resistive line cord. Schematic.
standard broadcast and police/amateur frequencies in two bands.
The tube line-up is 6D6 (RF amp), 6A7 (mixer/LO), 6D6 (IF amp),
75 (2nd det/AVC/1st AF), 43 (power amp) & 25Z5 (rectifier). The
set uses a resistive line cord. Schematic.