![]() ![]() The Zenith Royal 1000 Trans-Oceanic with its lid closed. Introduced in December 1957, the nine-transistor Royal 1000, shown in Figure 1, had eight bands: the standard broadcast band, 2-4 Mc, 4-9 Mc, and the 31, 25, 19, 16, and 13 meter bands (identical to the L-600).įigure 1. It was possible to see three different models of the Trans-Oceanic in some showrooms during 1962 the B-600, the Royal 1000, and the Royal 3000. All this has to be accomplished using revolutionary transistor technology and at a price of $250, almost double that of its predecessor.Īs an indication of reluctance over terminating an established design, Zenith continued to produce the tube-type Model 600 in parallel with the new solid-state model from 1957 through 1962. ![]() (These prices are just shy of $1000 in 2008 dollars.) Second, the eminently recognizable suitcase appearance will be downsized, modernized, and built more like an expensive camera than any radio currently on the market. The earlier H-500 has sold about one quarter million units at $125 each in its three-year run, and the recent redesign is maintaining that sales pace, even at $140 each. The Trans-Oceanic is the top-of-the-market choice for a diverse public. Designing the next edition for this all-wave portable presents unique challenges.įirst, the design team is charged with transforming a very popular product. The latest model, the 5-tube L-600 is only a year old and is selling briskly, but the transistor won't wait. At Zenith the prototypes for the Royal 500 are being evaluated and assembly lines are in the planning stage at the Chicago plant, looking for a November debut.Įngineering discussions have been held for several months on the next update for Zenith's flagship portable, the Trans-Oceanic. The ground breaking Regency TR-1 and the initial entries from Raytheon, RCA, Philco and others are headed for the dealers' display cases. It's mid-1955 and several manufacturers are shipping the early transistor radios to showrooms across the country. Having explored the development of the Zenith Royal 500 series in the July 2008 issue of A.R.C., Phil MacArthur takes us to the next level of transistorized portables, the Trans-Oceanics. Of Old Radios And Related Items-Published Monthly With the Collectors nov 08 macarthur zenithĪ.R.C.-The National Publication For Buyers And Sellers
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