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Zenith Model 835 Chrome-Grille Tombstone Radio (1934/35)
Zenith "small white dial" series
more...
The model 835 chrome-grille tombstone radio was Zenith's top-of-
the-line table set for the 1935 model year. Introduced in the sum-
mer of 1934 with a list price of $89.95, it was one of three magnif-
icent small-white-dial chrome-grille tombstone radios offered by
the company that year (the others being the 809 & 829).
This radio, considered by many to be the holy grail of Zenith
tombstones, makes a bold and powerful statement, both in terms
of appearance and performance. Its large machine-age cabinet,
embellished with chrome grille and elegantly contrasting veneers,
houses an impressive 10-tube all-wave chassis that had precious
few rivals amongst its peers. If one compares, for instance, the
early Philco 16B tombstone set introduced around the same time,
on paper at least the 835 takes the prize*. The five-band 16B has
dual IF amplifier stages but lacks an RF stage, whereas the 835
has all of the above. Both sets do have similar audio, based upon
triode-connected type 42 push-pull stages driving a 10" speaker.
I believe that Zenith had reached their pinnacle of technical prow-
ess with the models of their '34/35 line (which included the three
Stratospheres). For the remainder of the pre-war era, while prod-
ucing competent electronics, they focused their energies on ergo-
nomics and aesthetics rather than on chasing endless perform-
ance refinements. With few exceptions, never again would Zenith's
pre-war sets match the technological sophistication they demon-
strated in 1934/35. Even their flagship Stratosphere 1000Z, which
continued to be offered through 1937, never progressed beyond
what it was when first introduced in late 1934.
* see footnote at bottom of this page
the-line table set for the 1935 model year. Introduced in the sum-
mer of 1934 with a list price of $89.95, it was one of three magnif-
icent small-white-dial chrome-grille tombstone radios offered by
the company that year (the others being the 809 & 829).
This radio, considered by many to be the holy grail of Zenith
tombstones, makes a bold and powerful statement, both in terms
of appearance and performance. Its large machine-age cabinet,
embellished with chrome grille and elegantly contrasting veneers,
houses an impressive 10-tube all-wave chassis that had precious
few rivals amongst its peers. If one compares, for instance, the
early Philco 16B tombstone set introduced around the same time,
on paper at least the 835 takes the prize*. The five-band 16B has
dual IF amplifier stages but lacks an RF stage, whereas the 835
has all of the above. Both sets do have similar audio, based upon
triode-connected type 42 push-pull stages driving a 10" speaker.
I believe that Zenith had reached their pinnacle of technical prow-
ess with the models of their '34/35 line (which included the three
Stratospheres). For the remainder of the pre-war era, while prod-
ucing competent electronics, they focused their energies on ergo-
nomics and aesthetics rather than on chasing endless perform-
ance refinements. With few exceptions, never again would Zenith's
pre-war sets match the technological sophistication they demon-
strated in 1934/35. Even their flagship Stratosphere 1000Z, which
continued to be offered through 1937, never progressed beyond
what it was when first introduced in late 1934.
* see footnote at bottom of this page
The model 835 is a 5-band receiver
providing frequency coverage from 530kc
- 46.15mc. The tube line-up is 6D6 (RF
amp), 6A7 (mixer/LO), 6D6 (1st IF), 6D6
(2nd IF), 75 (2nd det/1st AF/AVC), 42
(triode-connected driver), 42 * 2 (triode-
connected push-pull output), 76 (tuning
control) and 5Z3 (rectifier). The radio uses
a 4-gang tuning condenser with separate
coils for each band. A shadow graph meter
is employed for accurate tuning. The
schematic may be found here, courtesy of
NostalgiaAir.
providing frequency coverage from 530kc
- 46.15mc. The tube line-up is 6D6 (RF
amp), 6A7 (mixer/LO), 6D6 (1st IF), 6D6
(2nd IF), 75 (2nd det/1st AF/AVC), 42
(triode-connected driver), 42 * 2 (triode-
connected push-pull output), 76 (tuning
control) and 5Z3 (rectifier). The radio uses
a 4-gang tuning condenser with separate
coils for each band. A shadow graph meter
is employed for accurate tuning. The
schematic may be found here, courtesy of
NostalgiaAir.
Zenith adds the "Minute Hand"... in Split-Second Tuning
For the first time in history... one radio defintely superior to all others
Many ads for this model state the upper limit of the frequency coverage to be 48MHz (as seen above right). Radio Retailing in their Sept of
1934 Specifications Listing shows it as 46.15MHz, however, which appears consistent with the actual dial markings. The error in the ad copy
appears to have not been caught and to have been distributed widely.
I was fortunate enough to find this radio on Craigslist in the fall of 2009. The cabinet is original and complete and in excellent shape, as is the
loudspeaker. The chassis had been "restored" prior to me obtaining the set. Unfortunately, the well-meaning restorer had replaced most of
the caps and resistors with a mis-mash of types, some of which were the incorrect values. The soldering was so bad that merely pulling on
many of the components was sufficient to detach them. I ended up reworking the set, replacing most of the caps yet again. I would normally
have re-stuffed the original paper caps on a set such as this, but these were long gone. So be it. Nevertheless, the set is now an impressive
performer!
1934 Specifications Listing shows it as 46.15MHz, however, which appears consistent with the actual dial markings. The error in the ad copy
appears to have not been caught and to have been distributed widely.
I was fortunate enough to find this radio on Craigslist in the fall of 2009. The cabinet is original and complete and in excellent shape, as is the
loudspeaker. The chassis had been "restored" prior to me obtaining the set. Unfortunately, the well-meaning restorer had replaced most of
the caps and resistors with a mis-mash of types, some of which were the incorrect values. The soldering was so bad that merely pulling on
many of the components was sufficient to detach them. I ended up reworking the set, replacing most of the caps yet again. I would normally
have re-stuffed the original paper caps on a set such as this, but these were long gone. So be it. Nevertheless, the set is now an impressive
performer!
Note: ad near right shows list price as of June 1934. The
ad far right was from the 1934 Nov/Dec holiday season.
ad far right was from the 1934 Nov/Dec holiday season.
* To be fair to Philco, their 5-band 16B chassis was introduced in the 16B cathedral set in June of 1933, a full year ahead of Zenith's 835. This leaves open the possibility that the 835 was in
fact Zenith's answer to Philco's popular 16B; was the use of triode-connected type 42s in the driver and push-pull output stages by both manufacturer's sets just a coincidence? Just a few
months after the 835's release, in the fall of 1934 Philco upgraded their 16B to use an RF stage, though they did reduce its band count to 4. However if one discounts the 835's fifth band,
providing marginal coverage of the range 18 ~ 46 MHz, the two sets are remarkably similar.
fact Zenith's answer to Philco's popular 16B; was the use of triode-connected type 42s in the driver and push-pull output stages by both manufacturer's sets just a coincidence? Just a few
months after the 835's release, in the fall of 1934 Philco upgraded their 16B to use an RF stage, though they did reduce its band count to 4. However if one discounts the 835's fifth band,
providing marginal coverage of the range 18 ~ 46 MHz, the two sets are remarkably similar.