Zenith 6S222 Project

I haven't submitted many posts since my introduction so I want to share my latest project. I picked up this Zenith 6S222 at the 2009 Kutztown show and got around to working on it a few months ago. This link shows the progress:

http://demandred.dyndns.org/540i/gallery/album18

The original chassis had been worked on some time before but it still needed a though cleaning, cap replacement, and alignment. Also the dial was in great shape but I fabricated new pilot light shades and repainted the white dial enclosure as it had yellowed.

I obtained missing feet from someone parting out another 6S222 and they required a total refinishing. The cabinet was in very good shape other than yellowed scratched lacquer. It only needed stripping, sanding, and a very light mahogany stain on the end strips to bring out the color. I decided to make the edge trim a dark brown for contrast, which may or may not be original but it is what I wanted.

The finish is six coats of Mohawk clear lacquer, wet sanded with 2000 grit paper, and polished with 3M hand glaze. Lastly a friend had a large can of 40 year old of Butchers wax which I applied two coats of. The speaker is not original but is at least a period electrodynamic Jenson, and the output transformer was burned up so I got a 7K primary impedance type from Edcor transformers. They custom make transformers and are half the price of Hammond.

Lastly the radio came with the loop antenna shown which is from another probably newer Zenith but it fits and works great so I left it installed.

My next project is a Sonora RCU-208 which seems complete but in a bit worse condition than the Zenith. I'll post progress updates.

Thanks,

Steve D

Thanks very much for the report. Very interesting.
Bill Cahill

Wow the chassis sure looks awful close to the one I posted on ARF as a Olympic Console.

Nice work on a very nice set.
Bill Cahill

Wow that is a outstanding job. Theses day,s show people
radio,s been working on yeah that,s nice . Unless it,s about something new ho- hum. But you really did a great job keep it up.