Posted 14 years ago
Stratoshph…
(5 items)
1935 Zenith Stratosphere 1000Z: This this rarest and most valuable radio on the planet only 350 ever produced and less than 5o found today. For the history on this item go to:
http://www.radiostratosphere.com
The Zenith Stratosphere 1000-Z was introduced in December 1934 for the wholesale market. Like the Scott line of deluxe consoles the Zenith Stratosphere 1000Z used also a chrome-plated chassis. The 100Z has 5 bands covering 535 to 63600kc but the 63600 kc were soon dropped to 45000 and later to 32000 kc. The Stratosphere 1000-Z comes with 3 speakers; has two subchassis: lower 2501P power supply, upper 2501C control (receiver). It was designed in 1933 and 1934. There are several interesting books about Zenith and some articles about the Stratosphere 1000-Z. It was a milestone for the radio industry of that time.
More info at: http://www.oldradiozone.com/strat_1000Z.html. Very beautiful radio. Thanks for sharing. Tom
One more note. One of these sold in 2008 for $50,000 on Ebay.
http://public-newsgroups.com/rec.antiques-radio-phono/zenith-stratosphere-1000z-on-ebay
What a gorgeous radio, the woodwork is amazing. Any idea what the selling price was when they were new, or how it compared to the cost of your average radio of the same time period.
The price for the 1000Z remained at $750.00 for its entire 4-year sales cycle. Tom
You could have bought a car for what you paid for that radio back then. Well, wait a minute, if you had one now, you could buy a car for the same amount. lol. Tom
This radio really set in motion Zenith's sales growth that took them from around the 10th largest radio manufacture to number two by 1942. The 1000 Z Stratosphere was designed to introduce the big Black Dial and other features that showed up on the 1936 and 37 Zenith Black Dial line. This radio was a marketing tool used to set a new standard at a time when all radios looked and did about the same thing. The 1000 Z introduced the whole idea of what became Hi Fi sound at the time with it's twin A-12 Jensen speakers and 5" horn tweeter, powered by a 50 watt amplifier.
Besides the Zenith being a great radio, the woodwork on their radio's were outstanding. I have my grandparents Zenith Long Distance radio posted on Collector weekly.
I inherited a 1937 Philco Model 37-640 transitor radio from my great grand mother a few years ago and have no idea of its value. It stands approximately 4' and measures about 3' wide. It does require overhauling, as it was in storage for many many years. Once restored "correctly" and "professionally" wonder what the value would be?
Hi Shannon ... the 1937 Philco Model 37-640 model is a vacuum tube radio and not a transitor radio. Philco was the #1 radio manufacure in 1937 so they made alot of these model 37-640 radio. I looked up the production numbers and I came up 18,000 produced. That's a big number. It sold for about $90 and today you could buy one in unrestored condition for $50 to $150 depending on the radio's conditions. restored the radio would sell for $150 to $250 dollars. If the radio is in really, really nice original condtion you might get over $300 in working condition.
Hi, Great radio, so cool the beginning of Hi-Fi. I'm curious how this compares with the Nocturne radio by W.D. Teague and made by Sparton in 1937 , production numbers and value? I know production on the Nocturne was below 100 radios and 18 years ago they were also valued at$40 to $50,000. Thanks, Rob
My jaw dropped to the floor. THE BEST OF THE BEST in radios then and now. I can only imagine the beautiful sound that radio produces. AWESOME!