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Request: Help Identify Zenith Console

dstroup

dstroup

Member
Could anyone here help me identify this Stereo Console? I am picking her up later this evening (free post on local CL), but don’t know a thing about Zenith consoles. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Seller said that he thinks it hasn't been used in 40 years. Yikes!zenith01.jpg Zenith02.jpg Zenith03.jpg Zenith04.jpg
 
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Looks to be about 1960 give or take with tubes. The Garrard is definitely not original. The original Cobra Matic would be nice but the Garrard is a better turntable.
 
Very possible but we need to see a nudie of the chassis. Wouldn't surprise me if it had a transformer though.
 
I believe I've rebuilt a cousin of that one. The one I have came with a tuner but its a similar looking amp. Mine at least is series string, rocking a pair of odd tubes that I can't recall the number of right now. They look like a 7868, but with the small pin circle base, a 50v heater and something like a 160 volt plate rating.
 
That single center woofer and 2 smaller midrange on each side...makes me think it might be a 3 channel single ended amp...?
 
Thanks for everyones input! Here's the photos the guts + paperwork. Looks like a Zenith Model SFF2500 with a Garrand SL 55B turntable and a Realistic 42-2930 Solid State Stereo Pre-Amp. Came with some extra tubes in their boxes as well: International C Servicemaster 6BQ5 EL84(x2) and an Amperex 12AX7A 7025.

IMG_3788.JPG IMG_3789.JPG IMG_3790.JPG IMG_3791.JPG IMG_3792.JPG IMG_3799.JPG IMG_3800.JPG IMG_3802.JPG
 
Thinking that is a mono unit that had another cabinet with amp and speakers to add as an option to make it full stereo. Turntable and preamp are stereo, then mono amp and another mono amp in a different cab. Not uncommon at the dawn of stereo. I never saw a Zenith three channel rig although Motorola made quite a few. EL84 push pull should be about 10 watts, looks like the Garrard has a mag cartridge also. Bet it sounds pretty good.
 
That is a 3 channel amp. You can see the 3 output transformers. Zenith did make a couple of 3 channels that I recall. There is a thread around here somewhere where Zenith, Motorola, or some other brand used just two 6BQ5 tubes for single ended stereo and combined the two for a center channel.
 
I concur. 3 channel! You can definitely see 3 output transformers and one power transformer. There is a thread around somewhere that shows a single ended stereo using the same output tubes for a center channel. I'm no good at searching here so someone else might find it or someone else will chime in with pics or specs.
 
Well thats a better amp than what mine has. 3 channel makes it a bit odd, but at least its not an electrocution hazard. Must be that odd summed stereo thing that uses 2 tubes to generate 3 channels.
 
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