ZENITH Transoceanic 8G005 or maybe it’s an 8G005Z1 (1946).
Five band shortwave plus BC band single-conversion receiver with one (count ‘em!) RF tube. This series of tube radios was produced as late as 1962. They are not electrically fancy but they are greatly admired for their physical appearance – with good reason: the molding of the Bakelite front is amazing! The last couple of models had 6 shortwave bands and the Cadillac of the series has a brown cowhide leather covering, not leatherette like the one shown in these photos. I would show that prize in a photo, but then you might be inclined to “borrow” it and forget to return it. The Models 8G005 and the 8G005Z1 have a pair of 1LB4 tubes working in push-pull. This is why these earlier Trannies sound the best of the entire series!
As a 7 year old, I watched my heap big brother extend the short-wave antenna to its full length. My “eyes got as big as sewer lids,” I’m sure! His was a model G500 that was a Bar Mitzvah gift in March of 1951. In 1952 we listened to that radio late in the evening as the announcement was made that the “Atomic Spies” named Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were fried in an electric chair. Sadly, that model radio was “single ended,” so the tell-tale frying sound had second-order harmonic distortion….
The one design flaw is the handle in the two earliest designs. They are hollow and they easily crack. The remedy is to remove the handle, stuff two full lengths of coat hanger wire and then fill the handle with 5-minute fast-drying epoxy, meaning that after a 24-h cure, the receiver is safe to tote around again. During this delicate epoxy-handling procedure, the wife (yours, not mine!) should be away from home shopping.
All analog dials in my radio collection are nonlinear except the one dial on my Collins R-390A military receiver.
This trap door holding a reception “Log” and Instructions remind me somehow of those flannel pajamas I wore as a kid. This is a great place to hide one’s wrist watch from evil doers.
The stamped brass escutcheon reads, “Treble, Voice, Alto, Bass.” They don’t really do much, but they do give one a strong sense of empowerment.