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Copyright TubeRadioLand.com
Zenith Model 9-S-30 (9S30) Tombstone Radio (1936)
Zenith introduced their models for the 1935/36 radio season at
their distributor's convention held in Chicago during mid-June of
1935. The three-day convention was described in Radio Retail-
ing as "an affair bristling with innovations", and according to a
statement made by Zenith's president, E. F. McDonald Jr, the
new sets offered "the trade and the public feature after feature
they can see, that can be demonstrated as new and better".
The 9-S-30, initially listed at $85, was Zenith's top-of-the-line
table set for the season and was one of 15 new ac-powered
receivers in the line up. As well as being offered with a traditional
walnut finish, the set also came in ebony with a chrome escutch-
eon and matching knobs.
A side-by-side comparison of the 9-S-30 and the following sea-
son's 10-S-130 reveals that there was an obvious design pro-
gression between them.This progression was however artfully
executed, with the result that the 10-S-130 is very much the more
visually interesting of the two models. In fact, though both sets
are rare and highly sort after in today's collectibles marketplace,
some of the accolade accorded the 9-S-30 seems perhaps a
trifle exaggerated. Its somewhat plain, almost monotone cabinet
does not have the finesse and general composure of its succ-
essor the 10-S-130. Nor does it offer the distinct deco flare and
visual immediacy of its predecessors from 1934/35, the grand-
daddy 835 and its two juniors, the models 809 and 829. In fact it
sits as a bridge betwixt the two neighboring seasons, gloriously
utilitarian but forever outshone by its kin resplendent upon the
reaches at either side.
Electrically, the 9-tube 9-S-30 is fairly unremarkable. The front-
end and IF are basic, with much of the tube count devoted to the
AF section. It is quite a contrast to the previous year's model
835, which although having one more tube, demonstrated soph-
istication at every level.
The all-wave 9-S-30 covers three bands from 550-23,000 kcs.
The 9-tube line-up is 6K7 (RF amp), 6A8 (mixer/LO), 6K7 (IF
amp), 6H6 (2nd det/AVC), 6C5 (1st AF amp), 6C5 (2nd AF amp),
6F6 * 2 (push-pull AF output) and 5Y3G (rectifier). The schem-
atic is available here, courtesy of NostalgiaAir.
their distributor's convention held in Chicago during mid-June of
1935. The three-day convention was described in Radio Retail-
ing as "an affair bristling with innovations", and according to a
statement made by Zenith's president, E. F. McDonald Jr, the
new sets offered "the trade and the public feature after feature
they can see, that can be demonstrated as new and better".
The 9-S-30, initially listed at $85, was Zenith's top-of-the-line
table set for the season and was one of 15 new ac-powered
receivers in the line up. As well as being offered with a traditional
walnut finish, the set also came in ebony with a chrome escutch-
eon and matching knobs.
A side-by-side comparison of the 9-S-30 and the following sea-
son's 10-S-130 reveals that there was an obvious design pro-
gression between them.This progression was however artfully
executed, with the result that the 10-S-130 is very much the more
visually interesting of the two models. In fact, though both sets
are rare and highly sort after in today's collectibles marketplace,
some of the accolade accorded the 9-S-30 seems perhaps a
trifle exaggerated. Its somewhat plain, almost monotone cabinet
does not have the finesse and general composure of its succ-
essor the 10-S-130. Nor does it offer the distinct deco flare and
visual immediacy of its predecessors from 1934/35, the grand-
daddy 835 and its two juniors, the models 809 and 829. In fact it
sits as a bridge betwixt the two neighboring seasons, gloriously
utilitarian but forever outshone by its kin resplendent upon the
reaches at either side.
Electrically, the 9-tube 9-S-30 is fairly unremarkable. The front-
end and IF are basic, with much of the tube count devoted to the
AF section. It is quite a contrast to the previous year's model
835, which although having one more tube, demonstrated soph-
istication at every level.
The all-wave 9-S-30 covers three bands from 550-23,000 kcs.
The 9-tube line-up is 6K7 (RF amp), 6A8 (mixer/LO), 6K7 (IF
amp), 6H6 (2nd det/AVC), 6C5 (1st AF amp), 6C5 (2nd AF amp),
6F6 * 2 (push-pull AF output) and 5Y3G (rectifier). The schem-
atic is available here, courtesy of NostalgiaAir.
| ZENITH 9-S-30. 9-tubes. Tunes American and Foreign stations, police, amateur, aviation, ships. Tuning range of 5 wavebands on three simplified dial ranges. 8-inch dynamic speaker. Black Magnavision dial. Automatic Band indication A-B-C. Split Second tuning. |
| ZENITH - gives you every worth-while feature. |
..every advanced feature for better world-wide reception.
| In July of 1935, Radio Retailing summarized the Zenith innov- ations for 1936 presented at the June convention as "triple filtering", "single and dual speakers", "laminated sounding boards", "very large open-faced dials - black body with mark- ings showing vividly in three colors according to the wave- band in use", "oversized chassis" and "metaglass tubes". |