Restored Zenith 7G605 “Bomber” Trans - Oceanic Radio (1942)
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:31458559 | Brand: Zenith |
The Zenith 7G605 is one of nicest examples of this radio you will get. I have had four of these radio before in very good condition this one is in great condition, has original map chart.The Zenith Trans-Oceanic Clipper was the world's first portable, battery powered short wave radio. Originally developed for sailing enthusiasts who needed a radio to get weather reports while sailing on the Great Lakes, the radio, introduced in January, 1942, became the go-to radio for soldiers and civ...ilians following the action of WWII. The radio had a short run as production ended in, 1942 as civilian radio production at Zenith was halted. . 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. However, many also found their way into various theatres of war and in to the hands of appreciative servicemen—demand for a resumption of production at war's end was kept high. The T/O was a dual-powered radio receiver; it could operate from mains line AC or DC and via a pair of "A" and "B" dry cell batteries for portability. The batteries are obsolete but the early T/O models live on either due to the ability to use mains line power to operate or by enthusiasts who fabricate a battery supply from modern cells (six "D" cells for the filaments and either ten 9-volt or sixty "AA" cells for the plates). Also notable was the lack of a vacuum tube or valve as a rectifier. Zenith used a selenium rectifier in the T/O. Inserting the power plug into a socket on the chassis or the side of the radio (depending on model) switched the T/O to battery operation. The first post-war T/O was the 8G005Y, designed by Robert Davol Budlong, an industrial design consultant responsible for many of the Zenith radio products. Priced at $125, it was in production from 1946 to 1949. This was replaced in December 1949 by the G500—a 'changeover' model that had updated electronics but the same appearance. The G500 held its price at less than $100 until it was withdrawn in mid-1951. The H500 'Super Trans-Oceanic' was introduced in May 1951 at an initial price of $99.95. It had a redesigned front face and incorporated many frequency coverage and electronic changes ordered by McDonald. There also was a small production run of "militarized" Trans-Oceanic's, ordered by the U.S. government. After 1953, there was competition to the Trans-Oceanic from both Hallicrafters, with their 'Trans-World' series sets, and RCA, with their 'Strato-World' models. In the spring of 1954, the 600 series was introduced with its 'slide-rule' type dial and a mains supply cord which coils inside the set on a spring-loaded reel. This model stayed in production, with minor changes, until the end of the T/O tube era in 1962. During the tube or valve T/O model run, this receiver did not include an 88-108 MHz FM radio band. Eugene McDonald died in 1958, but he was personally involved in the design changes to 'his' radio to the very end. In November 1957. Radio works fine and was serviced, gets sw and am fine antenna extends full length, I have sold other one like this this is the best I have ever seen. Cabinet is nearly perfect inside is clean. Handle was replaced in the past not surprised the radio is quite heavy with battery, it has original battery.
