Zenith Trans Oceanic 3000

[DEADTIME]

This isn't a stereo but it is a radio so I figure I'd share some pics. I collect Zenith radios I have most of their tube Trans Oceanics but I love their transistor based models. For their time these were really exspensive radios and are still exceptional (to me anyway). The radio can do shortwave and AM but no FM, and does an amazing job of pulling in stations from around the world.

These radios are built like tanks and use direct point to point wiring as you will see in my pics. I was lucky enough to buy this one from its original owner who was a Zenith technician who worked at the radio building facility in Chicago.

The only thing I've added are LED's behind the frequency scroll and a rechargeable battery so I don't need to buy D batteries. Incidently a full charge will last me almost 2 weeks of heavy use. It will last forever on a set of batteries as well. Lately preppers have been scooping the Trans Oceanics up because of their tank like build quality and their resistance to EMP. You can get into the early model 1000 for a hundred bucks with the last model 7000's going for 500 to a 1000 based on condition and extras like the original box.

These are fantastic, rugged, American built radios and if ya need a good radio I'd suggest getting yourself a Trans Oceanic.

 

[ggregg]

I've had at least a dozen of them. Mostly this model. The older tube ones are really cool also, although the 1L5 tube some of them take has become very expensive. Zenith made Transoceanics from about 1941 until the 1980's. The 7000 was the last American made radio they manufactured. The 1000 and 3000 look almost identical but the 3000 has FM which makes it more desirable. The 7000 is similar but typically higher performing on AM and SW. The 3000-1 seems to be the most common model. About half I come across are this exact model. It was made in the early sixties. Every one I've come across had worked. The only one that didn't had a transistor loose in it's socket. Reseating it brought the set to life. The 3000-1 sold for around $300 if I remember correctly. Not a cheap radio by any means.

 

[ryuuoh]

I had one of those back in the '80s, I somehow managed to kill it. Very nice radios.

 

[audiojones]

I still kick myself for not accepting one of these years ago when it was offered to me for free. It didn't have FM so I turned it down like a dummy! It was in perfect condition too, it belonged to my friends grandfather who bought it new and really took care of his things.

 

[rxonmymind]

I have VERY fond memories of this radio. One of the few things my dad had and played every morning while living in Okinawa. He took this to every country we went to. I still remember his voice as he'd explain to me when each station would come on.
Come to think about it THIS was my first introduction into radio. Good times & thanks for rekindling the nice memories.

 

[Pio1980]

I've had problems with the RCA oem germanium transistors in the front end of the 1000 and 3000 developing problems.

 

[DEADTIME]

I have VERY fond memories of this radio. One of the few things my dad had and played every morning while living in Okinawa. He took this to every country we went to. I still remember his voice as he'd explain to me when each station would come on.
Come to think about it THIS was my first introduction into radio. Good times & thanks for rekindling the nice memories.

Your welcome and I to have fond memories of the Trans Oceanics. My grandfather had one and would let me play with it if I brought him a beer. I inherited a whole Drake short wave radio set up from him along with the Trans Oceanic with the cartoonish B17 on its speaker. A war time radio apparently. My whole life has centered around radios and music it seems and it all started with me and a TO 3000 laying on the floor of my Grand Dads home trying to find the BBC or voice of Russia etc.

 

[comish4]

My dad sold the Zenith TVs back in the day and they made you carry products in many categories to get and keep their brand. When i was a kid we played with the TO's because they were so cool. He let me use one when I worked at Cedar Point in the summer the bitch was someone stole it and I had to explain to my pop his expensive radio was gone.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

While the Zenith Trans-Oceanic Royal 1000 and 3000 are built like tanks, their handles are very delicate creatures (and known to crack and break with age). As the FM and SW antenna is built into that antenna, critical. Treat that handle gently!

 

[SiliconTi]

Nice! I have a 7000-1 and love it.

 

[ggregg]

While the Zenith Trans-Oceanic Royal 1000 and 3000 are built like tanks, their handles are very delicate creatures (and known to crack and break with age). As the FM and SW antenna is built into that antenna, critical. Treat that handle gently!

I think more often, at least back in the day, someone forgot to latch it all the way, picked up the radio, and boom, on the floor it goes. Easy to do as you unlatch it and turn it vertical to pull the antenna out of it, which you then need to put back, turn down and lock, to make a handle out it again.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Big issue is the plastic and chrome trim on these sets. Both delicate and didn't age well. Both deteriorated on many examples. The handle was much improved on the Royal 7000 sets and those had fewer issues. The Royal 1000 and 30000 sets were designed by Budlong Associates in Chicago, who did Zenith's industrial and styling design then.