New (Old) Zenith tube console questions

[Speedbump71]

Hello all,

I dragged home another old tube console today, and it looks to be a fairly well appointed old Zenith.

Model # is MH2685. It has a push/pull EL84 style amplifier, and a nicer preamp.

I was wondering about the speakers in this thing. They are all Zenith branded, but did they make their own or are these rebranded?

I have been told that the H in MH2685 would indicate that this was built in 1960. Any Zenith experts here that can verify that? There is almost nothing about this console on the internet that I have found, but it seems like the MK2685 is well representd (same-ish model, just from 1963).

I have attached a few pics of her backside to help identify what I am working with.

 

[Speedbump71]

More Pics:

 

[Poultrygeist]

I was impressed with the nice sounding Zenith wide band speakers I pulled from an old console.

In these experimental OB's I'm using them with Eminence woofers and horn tweeters. The black baffle is lifted straight from the console with added cardboard wings.

 

[larryderouin]

Speedbump. According to the speaker codes on the driver magnets they are as follows:
which means that the speakers were manufactured during these periods.

Bass Zenith 42nd week of '61

Mid OAKTRON 35th week of '61

Figure a month or 2 later for the parts to get thru the logistics chain to the assy point. So your MH is actually a 1962 model. Model years went from Sept. to Aug. like cars do, so there would be NEW MODELS for the Christmas buying season. As the 42nd week is in Mid Oct, I would speculate your's was built in late Dec. '61 to Feb. '62.

Larry

 

[Speedbump71]

Thanks Larry.

The last (admittedly horrible) picture shows the R106 driver of what turns out to be a Jensen RP-103 horn.

I tested all the tubes from the amplifier last night, and they are all original and strong (and very closely matched). I love finding these old things.

 

[tom3]

Probably find some good info searching for the amp series. 7f31 o3 7h31. Pretty decent stuff there. I'm jealous.

 

[Speedbump71]

Probably find some good info searching for the amp series. 7f31 o3 7h31. Pretty decent stuff there. I'm jealous.

Yeah, the amp looks pretty good. Stout power supply, bigger than average OT's for this type of console. It sounded good when I got it home and fired it up. Preamp is actually pretty nice too. I will probably get rid of the cabinet, as the turntable was hacked out and replaced with a BSR POS (poorly).

I have a guy at a local auction house that calls me when these show up and I just leave bids. Works out great

 

[jaymanaa]

6BQ5 PP maybe?

 

[Speedbump71]

6BQ5 PP maybe?

Yes. I always say EL84. It has 6BQ5's in it.

 

[Trio]

Zeniths of that era and older were considered among the top of the line manufacturers. 7H31 is the chassis. The bad thing is they did not give consideration to the amp chassis being used by itself. Yours is not bad, but I have seen worse.

 

[jkanclark]

I have a schematic for both of these chassis, but files too large for upload. I'll try to send via PM.

 

[Speedbump71]

Thanks. I will PM you my email address and you can send them there.