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My 1970s Zenith Nomad II (with Micro-Touch 2G Tonearm)

xXSHADoW93Xx

xXSHADoW93Xx

Active Member
For the past few years, I was on the search for a Micro-Touch 2G tonearm-equipped Zenith portable, and a week ago, that opportunity came when I saw a Nomad II on shopgoodwill and was able to win it for the starting bid of $6.95 (total was $25 after shipping/handling).

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Sure, it has a BSR C-129R changer which pales in comparison to the much nicer models with the VM changers or even the older models with Zenith's in-house changer, but at least I have plenty of BSR spare parts which made it easy to fix. Although it probably looks odd to many people seeing a BSR actually being factory-equipped with the Micro-Touch 2G tonearm.

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The amplifier only needed some deoxit on the controls, and the BSR changer needed the typical regreasing of the mechanism, but I was happy that I finally owned a Zenith portable equipped with the Micro-Touch 2G tonearm and cartridge. The amplifier and its speakers sounds great too! Runs like a dream after giving it the necessary TLC.

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While rebuilding and regreasing up the changer's mechanism, I also took this opportunity to install a cue lever as it wasn't originally equipped with one (I had the lever, the required spring and a plastic piece with a set-screw that the lever makes contact with to lift the tonearm)

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Also did a direct recording using a Hanimex PS-1000 which provides a high impedance input plus a line output to connect it to my USB ADC

 
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Nice work! Never seen a BSR/ micro touch before. Been around the block a few times too. Seen BSRs in Zenith consoles. Cues are are tough. Quit fixing them. Arthritis and cues don’t mix. BSR had many variation of that changer. A customer brought me Fisher compact. It’s BSR used a 24 volt brush motor. Looked at it from the top. Decided to replace the whole changer with NOS BSR with Radio Shack stamped on it. Has the normal 120 volt induction I sold in the 70s. Wired direct to AC. Dropped right in. Nice save on that Zenith!
 
I have a late tube era Zenith with a MicroTouch 2g changer, but that one is a Voice of Music 1200 series. Honestly not bad sounding for what it is either. Teeny speakers, ceramic cartridge, and an amplifier good for maybe 2 watts of output but it manages to be acceptable despite all that.
 
Man, old classic 45’s just HAVE to sound that much better coming out of that cool little Zenith! That’s awesome - I need one of those!
 
Zenith had a good relationship with VM and when VM began having financial problems in the early 70's due to imports, Zenith told them they would still use VM changers as long as they could get them when needed. At this time Zenith designed the mounting
for most of their models to be able to use VM or BSR so they could use what would be quickly available. Zenith also used Garrard
with the Micro Touch tonearm in a few models.
 
what a coincidence, saw one a few days ago at antique mall...didn't know the spkrs detached. looks good.
 
orthophonic said:
Zenith had a good relationship with VM and when VM began having financial problems in the early 70's due to imports, Zenith told them they would still use VM changers as long as they could get them when needed. At this time Zenith designed the mounting
for most of their models to be able to use VM or BSR so they could use what would be quickly available. Zenith also used Garrard
with the Micro Touch tonearm in a few models.
Click to expand...

I am curious to see a Garrard with the MT2G
 
The floating cartridge thing was also done by Shure and maybe some other cartridge makers. The idea was that it would minimize rumble and also protect the stylus but, really, it didn't do either very well and the loss of rigidity lead to loss of information. If you want floppiness, there are much easier and cheaper ways of achieving it.
 
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