5 comments about The Zenith Trans-Oceanic, the Royalty of Radios: The Royalty of Radios (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. If you're a Trans-Oceanic aficionado like myself, you need this book! These sets command a mystique like no other and this book is an excellent tribute to these outstanding receivers.



2. As a collector of Trans-Oceanics, I found this to be the best book I have read in awhile. Couldn't put it down.
   
   The book covers several areas: the history of the Trans-Oceanics, details of the various models, restoration and repair information, and accessories.
   
   The history information is well worth reading, and told me a lot I didn't know about the radios.
   
   The repair/restoration sections are excellent, whether you are experienced with electronics or not.
   
   I would say this book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in Trans-Oceanics



3. This is easily the best written book for collectors that I've read. Not only are its 160 magazine-sized pages thorough and exhaustive in their presentation of history, key personalities, and technical data, but the book is thoughtfully structured to be as useful as a reference as it is an entertaining read. A wealth of pictures, many in color, come from ads, from Zenith archives, and from individual collections.

   The book places the genesis and subsequent evolution of the TO clearly in historical context and explains the impact of the TO on the commercial development and acceptance of the portable radio. The authors provide practical advice for collectors, even citing restoration techniques and specific restoration products used by museums.

   Especially gratifying is the use of endnotes that provide sources of historical information. More than just references, the endnotes contain enough interesting anecdotal data that you'll find yourself reading them in their entirety when you finish the main text.

   If you are interested in the history of radio for any reason, you won't go wrong with this fascinating, authoritative work. I expect that it has already significantly increased interest in the collecting of Trans-Oceanics.




4. I recently acquired a 1956-57 model Y600 at a flea market. The Zenith Trans-Oceanic is clearly in a class by itself and I wanted to learn as much about the history of this model as possible. What a pleasant surprise when I received "The Zenith Trans-Oceanic, The Royalty of Radios" and found it to be extremely well documented, highly entertaining and it even includes a restoration guideline section. The print quality is first class with all the historical photographs of related personages and reproduction of Trans-Oceanic advertisements that a reader could want. The writing style is both scholarly and entertaining. In short this book has provided significant additional pleasure in owning, restoring and listening to a radio worthly of being known as a historical benchmark in radio history. Thanks to Amazon Books the finding and acquiring this book was made easy!



5. Whenever radio-guys assemble to swap tales of great radios one name stands above the rest - the Zenith Trans-Oceanic. Considered the radio for listening to the world, Trans-Oceanic portables were one of the finest engineered and designed products made in America. I learned of the magic of the Trans-Oceanic from my foster Dad, who carried one (the R520\URR military version) in Korea. He told me it was the most reliable radio he had ever seen. A few years later I bought a 600 series and discovered for myself the joys of short-wave listening. I carried that Zenith from the States to Europe where, two years later, I bought a Royal 3000-1 which went back to the States and then on to Southeast Asia. The Zenith Trans-Oceanic - The Royalty of Radios, is one of the finest collector books I have ever seen. The author's spent more than two years researching the Zenith archives to bring this book to life. Page after page of beautifully produced color, combined with black and white photographs show each model inside and out, along with original magazine ads presented in their original format. Information covering the origin of the Trans-Oceanic and model changes through the years make for interesting reading. Also included are repair hints, as well as collecting information. The section on original cost compared to 1996 dollars demonstrates how expensive these sets were when new. The original Trans-Oceanic sold for $75 in 1942, which translates to $695 today. The most astounding price was on the first transistorized model, the 1000-D, introduced in 1958 at a 1996 price of over $1400! This is a book for anyone interested in the history of one of the finest products ever produced in the United States - the Zenith Trans-Oceanic radio. The authors, publisher and printer deserve a thank you for producing this fine volume. by Bob Moore The Roving Editor

1 comments about Genuine Plastic Radios of the Mid-Century.

1. If you collect mid-century plastic radios you should own this book. Sixty-six manufacturers are represented with 450 color photos, the popular companies, such as Crosley, GE, Motorola, RCA and Zenith each have several models shown.

   Besides a photo of the radio there are plenty of close-ups of tuning knobs, speaker grills, frequency ranges and each maker has a close-up of their logo. Also included are some period ads from the fifties.

   Page 176 shows the front of a Trav-ler 5022 from 1950 and on the facing page is a shot of the back of the set. What a contrast, while the front is the best the marketing/design folk could come up with the back shows a clutter of wires, batteries and evidence of cheap mass production.

   Looking at the design of the various models it becomes clear that as these radios all do the same thing it became important to sell the product on other (non-existant) virtues. The names (Wide-fi, Transitone) reflect high technology, big tuning knobs reflect scientific precision, some makers logos are heraldic reflecting snob values, the plastic cases were in bright eye-catching colors.

   I think it would have helped if the dimensions of the sets had been included and the photography is very bland with the radios set against insipid backgrounds. Radios can look good, have a look at Philip Collins 'Radios:The Golden Age' and 'Radios Redux', dozens of beautiful shots mostly against a black background which make the radios jump out from the page.

   This is a book though that any serious collector and those interested in fifties popoular culture and product design should have.

No comments about Old Radio Sets (Shire Albums).

2 comments about Valve Radio and Audio Repair Handbook (Newnes) (Newnes).

1. The 3-star rating reflects kind of an average between the useability for a British radiophile (probably 5 stars) and a US radiophile (probably 1 star). Though the book is well written and factual, it is written for the British radio enthusiast. Although all radios operate the same in any country, radio models, tubes (valves), test equipment and nomenclature in general are totally different in the UK than in the US. This makes it difficult to translate back and forth and I found myself trying to figure out what a particular term meant or what the equivalent US numbered tube might be. Not a quick read or reference if you're from west of "the pond."



2. ISBN 0 7506 3995 4

   An ever-increasing number of Electronics Engineers, born since the transistor (1955ish), are asked sooner or later to help with a "wireless" or amplifier which contains "valves", or "tubes". In spite of countless similarities, valve systems have many important differences; and advice about servicing them is hard to come by.

   But at last, here is a densely-packed book of advice, spiced with humour, reminiscences, and informed opinions - but only when and where they really help.

   Whilst a pedant might pick holes in some of the theory and treatment (misplaced dots and outdated units for example), the practical advice is invaluable and will save patience, fortune, and lives. (Besides, if we are working on gadgets where 4.7 m meant 4.7 megohms, better to say so. We are even told the alternative American notation.)

   If you are new to Vintage Electronics you will not be baffled by 50-year-old "slang", because commonplace terms are explained. But if you have been "at it" for 50 years you will not feel patronised. You will soon find out how much you "didn't know you had forgotten."

   Bill Jarvis

2 comments about Collector's Guide to Transistor Radios: Identification and Values.

1. This 2nd edition 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" size, softbound 320 page guide is handy to take with you when you go antiquing for transistor radio collectibles. It has about 400 great, large, clear, full color, sharp photos, and more than 2,000 values (1996). There is a nice introduction to collectible transistor radios and a very complete list of radio clubs. The book's emphasis is on the 50's and 60's. Descriptions are very complete and the radios are listed alphabetically by manufacturer, making location and identification easy. Add it to your library and you'll refer to it often.



2. One of the "must haves" if you are interested in transistor radios of the fifties and sixties. Hundreds, (thousands?) of listings with photos of some, descriptions of all, and date of manufacture for most. The book also contains estimated value ranges, and useful introductory information.

No comments about Machine Age to Jet Age, Volume 2: Radiomania's Guide to Tabletop Radios 1930-1959 (Machine Age to Jet Age).

No comments about Antique Radios: Restorations and Price Guide.

No comments about Poster's Radio & Television Price Guide 1920-1990.

1 comments about Official Price Guide to Movie/TV Soundtracks and Original Cast Albums: 2nd Edition (Official Price Guide to Movie/TV Sound Tracks and Original Cast Albums).

1. This guide is absolutely mandatory for anyone collecting soundtracks and cast albums. The price ranges are accurate and the lllustrations fun and informative. I have used my original copy so much that I am ordering another. A must have for serious collectors and those new to the hobby.

3 comments about Collector's Guide to TV Memorabilia 1960s & 1970s: Identification and Values (Collector's Guide to TV Toys & Memorabilia).

1. I don't really collect this sort of stuff but I loved this book because it brought back my childhood buying Beverly Hillbillies viewmaster sets, Charlie's Angels puzzles, etc. Contains hundreds of color photos of all sorts of merchandise: TV Guides, dolls, comic books, lunch boxes, coloring books, records, cups, all sorts of toys, etc. The shows profiled with memorabilia are The Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched, Bionic WOman, Brady Bunch, Bugaloos, Charlie's Angels, Chips, Donny and Marie, Eight is Enough, Family, Family Affair, Fantasy Island, Flipper, Flying Nun, Gidget, Gilligan's Island, Good Times, Green Acres, H. R. Pufnstuf, Happy Days, Hardy Boys, I Dream of Jeannie, Josie and the Pussycats, Julia, Krofft Supershow, Kung Fu, Land of the Lost, Laverne and Shirley, Lidsville, Life & Times of Grizzly Adams, Little House on the Prairie, Love Boat, Mod Squad, Mork and Mindy, Nanny and the Professor, New Zoo Revue, Patridge Family, Patty Duke Show, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Six Million Dollar Man, Starsky & Hutch, That Girl, Three's Company, The Waltons, Welcome Back Kotter, Wonder Woman. There are estimated values for the items circa 1997 but I would argue few have really gone up since then due to the phenomeon of ebay where tons of this sort of stuff is now on the market and even if you don't collect it's a wonderful look back at when TV shows really merchandised to the hilt. The guys have an awesome collection!



2. i love i



3. This book is very good for a collector of TV Memoralbilia.It also shows the top shows of each year.(60's-70's)This book has almost every TV show.They show wonderful color pictures of the items,and if an item is not shown it is listed.And the price is included.I recomend this book to an collector of tv