1937 Zenith 6S157 Zephyr Console tube radio. This is a superb example of the American Art Deco era for the late 1930’s. This is the rare 6 tube radio model 6S157. A 10 tube version was produced as well. It was designed by John Stevens and is one of the most distinctive looking radios produced by Zenith. John Stevens design created a very simple wood cabinet, with heavy rounded edges and deep horizontal louvers that encircle the sides of the cabinet. This most distinctive design resulted in the Zenith Zephyr radio line up for 1937. The radio has the original Zenith wood knobs. The dark black walnut veneered cabinet is beautifully restored with a flawless lacquer finish and trimmed tones. The grille cloth is a reproduction of the original pattern. Every detail was reproduced to keep the original look.
Zenith came up with a real winner when they designed this half round model 6S249 chairside for 1938. Chairside's were not popular with the buying public and very few were produced over the years. As with anything with low production numbers make it rare and collectible. All large tube count Zenith chairside radios are in high demand now. This is only a 6 tube model and it's design make it highly collectible. Keep in mind the cabinet design of a chairside traps and hold heat. Yes Zenith did provide ways for heat to escape, but heat is still trapped. I am sure many failures came about because of this trapped heat. Also I'll bet some spilled glasses of liquid might have caused some failures too.
I just love this 1939 Zenith 6S322. Zenith was famous for black dials. This is one of Zenith's attempts at a gold dial. This is a great example of getting it correct. This was Zenith first year for automatic push button tuning. This model series was also called "Stars and Strips" for the stars and bars stamped in the dial frame. Zenith made quit a few models in 1939 that collectors call "Stars and Strips".
A favorite of small case radio collectors, a 1938 Zenith model 6S222. Commonly called a "Cube Radio". Zenith made a bunch of models in the shape of a square cube. The 6S222 is the largest of the cube models.
This is a 1937 Emerson model J106. The cabinet was manufactured my Ingraham. Wood cabinets made by E.Ingraham Co. like this radio are considered collectible in themselves. Ingraham's level of design and craftsmanship, their ability to contour wood panels was unequaled to others. Ingraham cabinet radios are among the highest valued.