Zenith Royal 7000-1

[AA1OH]

Well thanks to my other half taking a 400 mile trip today on my motorcycle I now have a 1970 Zenith Trans-Oceanic Royal 7000-1. As it was in the 40's today I have to wait for it to warm up and "dew" to dry up. Looks good.

[N8YX]

This thread is relevant to George's interests when he happens along...

[KD8TUT]

This thread is relevant to George's interests when he happens along...

Interesting to me too... I used to lust for that radio...

[kb2vxa]

The Transoceanic always was a good general coverage portable radio and each successive model had improvements, until the baby beast came along, the R-7000. The neat thing about it is the neat thing about 12" B&W portable TVs back in the day, they operated off a 12VDC bus. I'm sure you guys know how versatile a 12VDC bus is, it doesn't stink like Diesel. Seriously, anything with a 12V electrical system can save a lot of batteries.

Speaking of versatile, here's a giggle from Jay's Radio Reviews: "Even more interestingly the R-7000 does feature one spread band; SW 7 covers 26.9 – 27.5 MHz, which is a small segment of the SW 6 band which spans 22 – 30 MHz. Why a spread band at this odd frequency range? The answer is Citizens Band which was hugely popular back in the 70’s and 80’s." Cee Bee, ah HILK! Ah ken lisn ta all da squallin anna squealin ov hexagrines and truckers cussin. WHEE!

The lack of spread bands on the Royal doesn't matter on Cee Bee being dead as the proverbial door nail, but my experience with an earlier model and various antique radio chassis says it makes what's left of SWLing very difficult at best. With such narrow tuning just breathe on the dial and the station is mistuned or you're hearing a different one altogether. That reminds me of a friend's Hammerlund HQ-180 with a strange quirk, tap the case and it changed frequencies. On the plus side, it's a great portable radio, just bring a sack of D cells to keep it fed. On the minus side, parts are made of unobtanium so if something breaks down its bye bye radio. There's nothing really wrong with it if you display it among your trophies, but being a practical grumpy old bastid I'd rather have a portable I can repair.

"I have to wait for it to warm up and "dew" to dry up."
If it's mountain dew made deep in the Georgia pines don't dry it up, lap it up.

"Interesting to me too... I used to lust for that radio..."
You're strange, I used to lust for Playboy Bunnies. Speaking of which, I have a picture of Marilyn with a staple in her navel, but I'll catch hell if I post it. Before the torchlight parade begins here's something to put smiles on your faces. If you can tear your eyes off Jayne Mansfield, check out the look on Sophia Loren's face, oh ME-OW!

16057

[AA1OH]

You have to be careful with the Zenith 7000 series. There are the Royal 7000, 7000-1,7000-2. And a r-7000/1/2/ and a d7000 which each has a different chassis. The Royal series has the last of the point to point wiring. Then they went to printed circuit boards. The royal 7000-1 has a crystal controlled 162.55 weather station band and a BFO. The royal 7000-2 has a channelized weather band. Royal 7000/1/2 has socketed transistors-the others all are soldered in. And the 9 "d" cell are rated at 300 hours-using 1970 batteries. Todays should last longer. Most often the problems you will run into are bad electrolytic caps ( there is about 15 of them) and dirty controls. And the r-7000/d7000 was the first time Zenith went to general coverage. The Royal 7000's were still meter Band only (31/25/etc.) although it did have a partial general coverage from 1.8 to 9 Mhz.

[kb2vxa]

Oh boy, you really did your homework on that one!

[AA1OH]

Oh boy, you really did your homework on that one!

I have been collecting them for 50 years. My first one was a H 500 at age 10. I have had at one time or another had every version of them from 1942 to 1980. So ya I did my homework. You should see the TSA people when you bring on a plane.

[kb2vxa]

And then they take the batteries and blow them up while you wait in handcuffs trying to explain "They're BATTERIES you dumb shit!" You know what TSA stands for; too stupid alpha hotels.

[AA1OH]

You should see the x-rays. Solid metal chassis with holes were tube sockets are and wires every were. And a large battery (90/9volt) under all of it. They always make you play it to show it is a real radio. Then they get distracted by my dads WWII p-38 can opener with its blade on my key ring.

[w2amr]

Well thanks to my other half taking a 400 mile trip today on my motorcycle I now have a 1970 Zenith Trans-Oceanic Royal 7000-1. As it was in the 40's today I have to wait for it to warm up and "dew" to dry up. Looks good. Nice find.

[AA1OH]

Nice find.

Did I tell you all that it was 10.00?

[WZ7U]

Did I tell you all that it was 10.00?

You meant to say "Did I rub it in that it was only $10?"

Great find. I love those older SS SW radios. Enjoy it!

[w2amr]

Did I tell you all that it was 10.00?Some guys have all the luck.