Zenith 12H090 - 1947 horizontal console

[Motorola minion]

Out of the 15 post-war radio-phono consoles I own is this which I consider the heavyweight.
I do not consider Magnavox in this category.

Even my 1947 Berkeley will top the Zenith based on the pp 6L6 amplifier and 2x12" speakers alone.

The AM and SW sections on these are easy to restore and perform exceptionally well.
The FM discriminator is less advanced than later models, as it includes both old FM (42-50MC) and new FM bands.

The only drawback with most of the changers, they play only 78 rpm records.

I was getting bargains (free to $20) on these as they show up, I have the following:
1-Crosley (88CR)
1-Zenith 12H092 (similar)
1-Motorola (107F31)
1-Westinghouse (H-166)
1-RCA (8V112)
2-Sparton
1-Silvertone
1-Templetone
3-Stromberg Carlson
2-Capehart

[TC Chris]

"Radionic" phono? Link to a schematic?

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

What model of Stromberg-Carlson sets do you have? You can have my share of the Zenith radios. I hold their TV sets in high regard, but Zenith radios are problematic for me. Green crud and obscure problems with no apparent or practical fix. I have a Stromberg 1121 chassis that spent 40 years in a chicken house and was populated by a mouse family. S-C did not build junk, witnessed by this old one I have. Sparton made good sets as well, in Jackson, MI. I have a 1928 Temple radio that still runs its original filter caps. The later models may not have been so robust, but the one I have is well-built and still works well. The speaker is getting pretty delicate....

Capehart made good stuff as well.

The radio snoots turn their noses up at the horizontal consoles. I like them myself. They were early versions of console stereos. If you could find a later stereo VM changer with the snake head on it that Zenith used in their stereos, that would make a good sub for the 78-only changer in there now.

[Motorola minion]

"Radionic" phono? Link to a schematic?

Chris Campbell

Schematic is on Nostalgiaair, uses a 6AG5 for RF amp, early use of 7-pin miniature tube.
7F7 on separate chassis may be radionic, schematic shows magnetic cart but no cart part# listed in Sams.
The field coil speaker though.

[Motorola minion]

What model of Stromberg-Carlson sets do you have? You can have my share of the Zenith radios. I hold their TV sets in high regard, but Zenith radios are problematic for me. Green crud and obscure problems with no apparent or practical fix. I have a Stromberg 1121 chassis that spent 40 years in a chicken house and was populated by a mouse family. S-C did not build junk, witnessed by this old one I have. Sparton made good sets as well, in Jackson, MI. I have a 1928 Temple radio that still runs its original filter caps. The later models may not have been so robust, but the one I have is well-built and still works well. The speaker is getting pretty delicate....

Capehart made good stuff as well.

The radio snoots turn their noses up at the horizontal consoles. I like them myself. They were early versions of console stereos. If you could find a later stereo VM changer with the snake head on it that Zenith used in their stereos, that would make a good sub for the 78-only changer in there now.

My Stromberg Carlson starts with the 1121, in the middle is the 1210 and last is the 1409 (1949). These 3 seem to chronicle the waning interest in shortwave and rise of FM. I sold an S-C 430M, AM-SW with old FM band, a good looking radio in great condition that I had no interest in restoring for my self. The 1409 has some cool lighted tone controls, so I may have a go at that one first.

Im using a Sparton 7-AM46 for AM-SW in my shop, until I finish the cabinet. Sparton sold well as some old yellow pages ads often listed S-C and Sparton with Motorola Philco etc.

Those Temple 8-91s seemed to be around, I have one unrestored from Lebanon PAand another was spotted at a flea shop in Bedford PA

[electra225]

My understanding is that there are two versions of the 1121. One with octal tubes, one with miniature tubes. Mine is the 1946 version with the octal tubes. 1947 and newer sets have miniature tubes. The only gripe I have with S-C is the way they mark the FM dial. They use weird numbers instead of the station frequencies. "The Ride" at 94.1 comes in at something like 290 on the S-C. The 1121 is an eleven-tube chassis with a robust front end and 6V6G P-P audio. All the tubes except the rectifier and audio output tubes are metal and they get screeching hot. I believe I'd put the 1121 up against anything built in that time. The FM isn't drifty, like much of the sets without AFC are wont to do. The 1121 chassis came in a myriad of cabinet styles. The cabinet on my chassis didn't come with the chassis, but it is appropriate for it.

[TC Chris]

Your Zenith lists a 7F7 "phono osc.-amp.," which means it's the Zenith Radionic system, likely. The cartridge is just a moving vane between plates so there's nothing to fail. When I read about the cartridges becoming scarce, I wonder about sending them out to re-tipping services that replace the jewel stylus tip.

Chris Campbell

[Motorola minion]

Funny thing about the 1121 I noticed was no identification on the chassis. Like one I picked up later, was the octal tube version.

My neighbor found a chassis in his attic without anything else attached, I was pretty stumped at who made it. Noted only that " made in US of A " was prominently noted on the glass dial, which was intact. I sold it at Kutztown and only then realized what it was when the buyer ID'd it and said needed a spare for his 1121. Thats exactly why we go there

[electra225]

I've only seen pictures of the changer that belongs in a 1121 cabinet. Webster-Chicago, I believe. I have read that S-C used Seeburg changers as well. I think they were the typical 78-rpm model used in many other brands and models of sets in the day...