• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Zenith 7S657R Floor Console

cerwinvegaD9

cerwinvegaD9

Active Member
I picked one up for cheap at a local swap shop and I'm wanting to restore it from the ground up.The cabinet will be refinished and I hope to rebuild the chassis as well,it needs completely rebuilt to be safe to use. The chassis is a 7B01R with seven tubes.My problem is that I have no experience rebuilding a chassis and no experience with working on tube gear. I can solder half decent and understand the process of rebuilding a chassis,I've just never done it before. My knowledge of working on tube gear is limited (higher voltage is about all that I know regarding tube circuits). When I say complete rebuild I mean every wire is cracked, a coil or two are messed up,and I wouldn't trust a single cap in the whole unit. I'm looking for advice on how to go about rebuilding the chassis,or if i should just retrofit a newer unit into the cabinet.
:scratch2:
 
Register to hide this ad
Its probably not that bad to rebuild, as long as its not a rubber wire set. Those suck. Cloth wire, no problem.
 
you're good then. The stuff just pre-war was often rubber wiring under the chassis. You can tell because most if it has crumbled away. You end up having to replace all of it, and its a giant pain in the neck. Did that once on a 1939 Philco, and honestly once was enough for me.
 
Be careful when you refinish it those 4 decorative posts in the grill have a photo type finish kinda like how they wrap cars now. When it's gone it's gone. I use Mohawk toning lacquers to get the color close and ACE house brand clear lacquer to finish. ACE also has a house brand refinisher that won't suck all the color out of the piece. I've redone many a console and a lot of Zeniths. That nice golden tone the Zeniths have like on yours. I've never seen anyone who can recreate that finish with reasonable effort. I just get as close as I can and call it a day. Here's a couple I've done.

18449812553_c8e251df35_c.jpg


19044176486_c0b3717291_c.jpg


19070403825_86b434e85c_c.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the heads up! Those are really nice,hopefully I can get mine looking that nice. I'm wondering about grill cloth though,mine is torn.
 
I'm going to retrofit it with a newer receiver for now. The chassis is all rubber wires and the whole thing looks like it sat at the bottom of a lake for awhile.
 
The retrofit was a great success! It now has a Technics SA-EX140 receiver powering one GRS 12PF-8 12" woofer from parts express and two cheap little coaxial sparkomatic 4" mids pointed out the back. It's no face melter,but sounds awesome for what I've got in it money wise.

The best part is I didn't modify the cabinet in any way and can go back to original if I ever want to restore it.
 
Not sure if this still belongs here as it is solid state now,but I thought I'd update anyway. My grandmother and I redid the cabinet by patching missing veneer and staining the whole thing a darker color,I also repainted the bezel,cleaned the switches and knobs,installed new grill cloth,and touched up the dial face.

Before;




After;

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom