History - The Trans-Oceanic (abbreviated T/O) was the name given to a series of portable radios produced from 1942 to 1981 by Zenith Radio. They were characterized by their heavy-duty, high-quality construction and their performance as shortwave receivers.
The Zenith 'T/O' began life in 1942 as the Model 7G605 'Trans-ocean Clipper'. Priced at $75, it was released in January but ceased production in April as Zenith shifted their production to war-related equipment. During this short production run, some 35,000 units were produced and sales data showed that many were sold to customers in the 'above average' income group - a demographic that would characterize the line throughout its history.
The first post-war T/O was the 8G005Y. Priced at $125, it was in production from 1946 to 1949 in several variants.
From 1949 to 1963 Zenith produced three more series - 500 series, 600 series and the Royal 1000/3000 series with higher and average price points for portable radios.
The Royal 7000 series Trans-Oceanic was introduced in 1968. The new model sported a completely new look and many improvements over the weaknesses of the earlier 1000/3000 series models. Besides a new look, a BFO was added for SSB/CW reception. Also a wide/narrow filter switch was added for increased selectivity. The 13-meter band was re-introduced along with extended coverage from 1620 kHz through 2000 kHz and the VHF weather band. The electrical design was an improvement in both selectivity and sensitivity, and used modern silicon NPN transistors rather than the previous germanium types. Sound quality was much improved. The internal mechanical design was quite similar to the earlier models, and still used a steel chassis and point-to-point wiring, rather than PC boards. Production of the Royal 7000 is estimated at 130,000.
The last model Trans-Oceanic was the R7000 series introduced in 1979. That model had complete coverage from 150 kHz through 30 MHz. Gone was the electrical band spread for improved tuning. The R7000 sported a new electrical design using modular circuit boards instead of the point to point hard wired chassis of all previous models. There were many other new features also such as dual tuning meters, squelch and several added bands such as Air, VHF 144 MHz through 175 MHz. The R7000 was built in Chicago for the first year but production was moved to Taiwan for the final two years, while all the models before had been made in the USA. The new Royal line sold well, around 10,000 per year for the 3 year run but Zenith's lead was steadily eroded. By the time of the release of the 'R7000' in 1979, fierce competition from Sony in Japan —who, with their digital readout tuning dial had, in many ways, a superior product—meant the end of a famous product line.
For most collectors, the Zenith Trans-Oceanic D7000Y is the most desirable model. It is the last "true" Zenith Trans-Oceanic. It was made and assembled in the United States, and featured the electronic band spread tuning pioneered in the original tube Trans-Oceanic of 1941. Zenith introduced the Royal D7000Y solid state Trans-Oceanics just before Christmas, 1972. Electronically, the main difference between the D7000Y and earlier 7000 series Trans-Oceanics is that the weather band was tunable rather than fixed crystal controlled.
This radio was featured in several episodes of the cable network FX spy series ‘The Americans’ set in the 1970’s. Sadly, many of the D7000Y Trans Oceanics seen on eBay are deteriorated to various degrees and do not represent the beauty--and the 70's vintage quality--of the renowned Zenith "T-O" line. I picked up this one at a reasonable price and had it restored by a dedicated repair outfit. It was not "new in the box" (those are TRUE rarities in 2021!) but it is a wonderfully maintained working vintage receiver.
This radio has minimal use marks considering its age, primarily a few minor scrapes. It works well and has powerful, clean audio on VHF Weather, FM, AM, and most of the shortwave bands. Using the set in my living room near electrically noisy computers, etc., I was able to receive shortwave from Radio Havana Cuba; WWV time signals on 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 MHz; USA stations WTWW and WWCR; Radio New Zealand International, and others. Signals on my local AM broadcast band were plentiful and strong, as was the FM band. I also heard three of my local VHF weather frequencies on the radio. (No signals were noted when tuning indoors on the LW or the highest 16- and 12-meter bands--perhaps no signals were audible on those frequencies). All these stations were heard with the built-in whip (and ferrite MW) antenna indoors.
The Zenith 'T/O' began life in 1942 as the Model 7G605 'Trans-ocean Clipper'. Priced at $75, it was released in January but ceased production in April as Zenith shifted their production to war-related equipment. During this short production run, some 35,000 units were produced and sales data showed that many were sold to customers in the 'above average' income group - a demographic that would characterize the line throughout its history.
The first post-war T/O was the 8G005Y. Priced at $125, it was in production from 1946 to 1949 in several variants.
From 1949 to 1963 Zenith produced three more series - 500 series, 600 series and the Royal 1000/3000 series with higher and average price points for portable radios.
The Royal 7000 series Trans-Oceanic was introduced in 1968. The new model sported a completely new look and many improvements over the weaknesses of the earlier 1000/3000 series models. Besides a new look, a BFO was added for SSB/CW reception. Also a wide/narrow filter switch was added for increased selectivity. The 13-meter band was re-introduced along with extended coverage from 1620 kHz through 2000 kHz and the VHF weather band. The electrical design was an improvement in both selectivity and sensitivity, and used modern silicon NPN transistors rather than the previous germanium types. Sound quality was much improved. The internal mechanical design was quite similar to the earlier models, and still used a steel chassis and point-to-point wiring, rather than PC boards. Production of the Royal 7000 is estimated at 130,000.
The last model Trans-Oceanic was the R7000 series introduced in 1979. That model had complete coverage from 150 kHz through 30 MHz. Gone was the electrical band spread for improved tuning. The R7000 sported a new electrical design using modular circuit boards instead of the point to point hard wired chassis of all previous models. There were many other new features also such as dual tuning meters, squelch and several added bands such as Air, VHF 144 MHz through 175 MHz. The R7000 was built in Chicago for the first year but production was moved to Taiwan for the final two years, while all the models before had been made in the USA. The new Royal line sold well, around 10,000 per year for the 3 year run but Zenith's lead was steadily eroded. By the time of the release of the 'R7000' in 1979, fierce competition from Sony in Japan —who, with their digital readout tuning dial had, in many ways, a superior product—meant the end of a famous product line.
For most collectors, the Zenith Trans-Oceanic D7000Y is the most desirable model. It is the last "true" Zenith Trans-Oceanic. It was made and assembled in the United States, and featured the electronic band spread tuning pioneered in the original tube Trans-Oceanic of 1941. Zenith introduced the Royal D7000Y solid state Trans-Oceanics just before Christmas, 1972. Electronically, the main difference between the D7000Y and earlier 7000 series Trans-Oceanics is that the weather band was tunable rather than fixed crystal controlled.
This radio was featured in several episodes of the cable network FX spy series ‘The Americans’ set in the 1970’s. Sadly, many of the D7000Y Trans Oceanics seen on eBay are deteriorated to various degrees and do not represent the beauty--and the 70's vintage quality--of the renowned Zenith "T-O" line. I picked up this one at a reasonable price and had it restored by a dedicated repair outfit. It was not "new in the box" (those are TRUE rarities in 2021!) but it is a wonderfully maintained working vintage receiver.
This radio has minimal use marks considering its age, primarily a few minor scrapes. It works well and has powerful, clean audio on VHF Weather, FM, AM, and most of the shortwave bands. Using the set in my living room near electrically noisy computers, etc., I was able to receive shortwave from Radio Havana Cuba; WWV time signals on 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 MHz; USA stations WTWW and WWCR; Radio New Zealand International, and others. Signals on my local AM broadcast band were plentiful and strong, as was the FM band. I also heard three of my local VHF weather frequencies on the radio. (No signals were noted when tuning indoors on the LW or the highest 16- and 12-meter bands--perhaps no signals were audible on those frequencies). All these stations were heard with the built-in whip (and ferrite MW) antenna indoors.