This gorgeous Art Deco console radio is the 1940 Zenith 10S464. We spared no expense to restore it. The radio has a premium grade 10-tube, high output chassis, and with its 10-inch speaker and is an incredible performer. The radio picks up many stations with its built-in antenna and the wood cabinet gives everything you play a deep, rich sound.
History - This model first appeared in the fall of 1939 and sold into the 1941 model year. This model has some nice showroom features. The chassis is mounted on springs, which you can sense as you adjust the tuning knob or volume control. Also, it has a heavy flywheel mounted on the tuning shaft, giving the tuning knob a luxurious, heavy-duty feel. When the tuning knob is spun, the momentum of the flywheel keeps it spinning slightly. The "Wavemagnet" internal antenna can be rotated for peak reception. The chassis is colored in a gold hammertone finish. The chassis is remarkably deep, five inches, allowing for lot of component separation inside.
The set has three bands: standard AM broadcast and two shortwave bands. The tuning dial is the Zenith's signature aviation-style round black dial with a green “magic eye”. The radio has a tuned RF stage is ahead of the converter tube. The audio power amplifier section uses two 6V6 tubes in a push-pull circuit, providing plenty of power to drive the 10-inch electrodynamic speaker. This is a sign of a high-quality design.
Today, this attractive radio is sought after by collectors but almost never found restored to this near perfect condition. We acquired this radio in early 2020 from a collector who had not restored it. The cabinet was in good shape but had its original finish. The chassis was working but needed a full restoration and upgrade.
Cabinet – The cabinet got a complete restoration and several upgrades. We stripped the original shellac and toned the top and bottom piping and footer with an ebony lacquer. All other wood got a simple (almost clear) maple stain. All of it was conditioned with grain filler and sander sealer. We then finished the entire cabinet with a flat matte lacquer. This makes the original multi-colored veneers pop. While it was stripped, we replaced faux paper finish on speaker slats and at great time and expense replace them with real elm burl Carpathian wood edge banding.
We fixed a small abrasion in the lower left corner that is now barely noticeable. We added a period correct Zenith reproduction grille cloth and retained the original control knobs. No detail was overlooked including replacing the band switch indicator with new decals. The result is this handsome looking radio that will last many, many years into the future.
Dial – The very stylish black dial with its white propeller pointer is quite an impressive sight - especially in a dim or dark room. The dial glass is free & clear of any chips, breaks or cracks and we replaced the rubber gasket - which was dry cracked. The surrounding brass escutcheon has been cleaned and will keep its antique (but not worn) look well into the future.
Chassis – We took extra steps and worked with a top expert at the California Historical Radio Society to ensure this radio produces no hum and will last for another 80 years or more. For its age there was no damage and only minimal, small spots of rust on the chassis. We cleaned the chassis exterior and added rust inhibitor or paint to stop future corrosion. We went through the entire underside of the chassis replacing all the capacitors, checking, and replacing resistors and wires where needed. We also removed the main tuning capacitor, cleaned, and lubricated it and then replaced the main grommets that support it.
It now plays stations well across the dial with its “Wave Magnet” antenna. All tubes were checked and replaced where needed with NOS (new old stock) tubes. We replaced the two 6X5 rectifiers with the more reliable GE X-style tubes. The green Magic Eye tuning tube was in great shape and it is bright and works well. We disassembled and lubricated the main tuning capacitor and flywheel tuning mechanism for smooth tuning operation. We replaced the tuning belt with a new polyurethane one that will last indefinitely. A new polarized power cord and power resistor and 1.5A fuse were installed for electrical safety. We added an Auxiliary RCA jack input on the back for the Bluetooth adapter then performed a complete IF and RF alignment.
Speaker – Even though it performed well, we had the all-original 10 -inch speaker cleaned and fixed some exceedingly small hole. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size and the great sound will fill the room. See link to demo on YouTube below.
Bluetooth - Additionally, this radio has been fitted with our custom Bluetooth / MP3 adapter which allows you to switch between the radio or your smartphone or music device. Access your streaming audio service or the playlist on your smart device to provide classic tunes and bring the warm, bright, analogue sound to any music or recording you choose. The quality of the sound is excellent. You will have the best of “digital” and “analogue” combined.
Year of Manufacture: 1939
Band Frequency Ranges:
AM Broadcast Band..............530 – 1600 kHz
Shortwave Band 1……………….1.6 – 5.5 MHz
Shortwave Band 2……………….5.5 – 18.5 MHz
See demo video here: https://youtu.be/fY1KIC78JUo
Dimensions: 28.5” W x 41.5” H x 15.8" D
Weight: 55 pounds
History - This model first appeared in the fall of 1939 and sold into the 1941 model year. This model has some nice showroom features. The chassis is mounted on springs, which you can sense as you adjust the tuning knob or volume control. Also, it has a heavy flywheel mounted on the tuning shaft, giving the tuning knob a luxurious, heavy-duty feel. When the tuning knob is spun, the momentum of the flywheel keeps it spinning slightly. The "Wavemagnet" internal antenna can be rotated for peak reception. The chassis is colored in a gold hammertone finish. The chassis is remarkably deep, five inches, allowing for lot of component separation inside.
The set has three bands: standard AM broadcast and two shortwave bands. The tuning dial is the Zenith's signature aviation-style round black dial with a green “magic eye”. The radio has a tuned RF stage is ahead of the converter tube. The audio power amplifier section uses two 6V6 tubes in a push-pull circuit, providing plenty of power to drive the 10-inch electrodynamic speaker. This is a sign of a high-quality design.
Today, this attractive radio is sought after by collectors but almost never found restored to this near perfect condition. We acquired this radio in early 2020 from a collector who had not restored it. The cabinet was in good shape but had its original finish. The chassis was working but needed a full restoration and upgrade.
Cabinet – The cabinet got a complete restoration and several upgrades. We stripped the original shellac and toned the top and bottom piping and footer with an ebony lacquer. All other wood got a simple (almost clear) maple stain. All of it was conditioned with grain filler and sander sealer. We then finished the entire cabinet with a flat matte lacquer. This makes the original multi-colored veneers pop. While it was stripped, we replaced faux paper finish on speaker slats and at great time and expense replace them with real elm burl Carpathian wood edge banding.
We fixed a small abrasion in the lower left corner that is now barely noticeable. We added a period correct Zenith reproduction grille cloth and retained the original control knobs. No detail was overlooked including replacing the band switch indicator with new decals. The result is this handsome looking radio that will last many, many years into the future.
Dial – The very stylish black dial with its white propeller pointer is quite an impressive sight - especially in a dim or dark room. The dial glass is free & clear of any chips, breaks or cracks and we replaced the rubber gasket - which was dry cracked. The surrounding brass escutcheon has been cleaned and will keep its antique (but not worn) look well into the future.
Chassis – We took extra steps and worked with a top expert at the California Historical Radio Society to ensure this radio produces no hum and will last for another 80 years or more. For its age there was no damage and only minimal, small spots of rust on the chassis. We cleaned the chassis exterior and added rust inhibitor or paint to stop future corrosion. We went through the entire underside of the chassis replacing all the capacitors, checking, and replacing resistors and wires where needed. We also removed the main tuning capacitor, cleaned, and lubricated it and then replaced the main grommets that support it.
It now plays stations well across the dial with its “Wave Magnet” antenna. All tubes were checked and replaced where needed with NOS (new old stock) tubes. We replaced the two 6X5 rectifiers with the more reliable GE X-style tubes. The green Magic Eye tuning tube was in great shape and it is bright and works well. We disassembled and lubricated the main tuning capacitor and flywheel tuning mechanism for smooth tuning operation. We replaced the tuning belt with a new polyurethane one that will last indefinitely. A new polarized power cord and power resistor and 1.5A fuse were installed for electrical safety. We added an Auxiliary RCA jack input on the back for the Bluetooth adapter then performed a complete IF and RF alignment.
Speaker – Even though it performed well, we had the all-original 10 -inch speaker cleaned and fixed some exceedingly small hole. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size and the great sound will fill the room. See link to demo on YouTube below.
Bluetooth - Additionally, this radio has been fitted with our custom Bluetooth / MP3 adapter which allows you to switch between the radio or your smartphone or music device. Access your streaming audio service or the playlist on your smart device to provide classic tunes and bring the warm, bright, analogue sound to any music or recording you choose. The quality of the sound is excellent. You will have the best of “digital” and “analogue” combined.
Year of Manufacture: 1939
Band Frequency Ranges:
AM Broadcast Band..............530 – 1600 kHz
Shortwave Band 1……………….1.6 – 5.5 MHz
Shortwave Band 2……………….5.5 – 18.5 MHz
See demo video here: https://youtu.be/fY1KIC78JUo
Dimensions: 28.5” W x 41.5” H x 15.8" D
Weight: 55 pounds