Zenith c730 restoration help... - Videokarma.org TV - Video

Sancho · #1 04-18-2006, 10:42 PM

Hello,
I bought a c730 for pennies on the dollar at a local thrift store and to my suprise it worked immeadiatly after powering it up. I plan on stripping it and re-veneering the box, however, is there any good way to clean the faceplate? what about speaker replacement, this one has a ripped woofer cone. Is there a good paint to use to re finish the knobs? All in all the reception is awesome, Im shocked someone would toss this out... Lastly, does someone have the schematic for this little guy?

Tom Bavis · #2 04-19-2006, 08:13 AM

Sams Photofact folder 478-19 - I'll check when I get home. But just in case I don't... here's another: Zenith C730

Nolan Woodbury · #3 04-19-2006, 09:28 PM

The C730 is one of my very favorite sets...I'm listening to one as I type this. I'd think twice about stripping it, unless the veneer is just totally spent. A bit of Simple Green and elbow grease will lift the caked in dirt, then finish with Orange Glo. A few chips or scratches shouldn't bother anyone and you might be surprised how good it looks. As for the dial lens, simply unhook the speaker connectors, pull the knobs and remove the four screws that attach the chassis. Wipe the grime off the dial on both sides with Simple Green and polish the lens with Mothers Plastic Polish. It'll look good as new. The knobs? It is hard to find any of these radios (C/G730 use the same 7C05 chassis) without the gold paint worn off, but after buying a few of these sets, I've managed to get some decent knobs for my users. The older C730s have brass (or bronze) knobs, which seem to be a bit more durable, the others are die-cast pot metal.

Finally, sourcing a working speaker shouldn't be that hard, for the C730s 4x6 oval shape is pretty common. Zenith made a ton of these sets, and finding a parts donor shouldn't be a problem. Enjoy your C730! That's a 'feel good' radio and a real Zenith classic.

Sancho · #4 04-19-2006, 10:11 PM

The case is really gouged and the edges are very chipped up.Perhaps I'll try cleaning it up, but its a rough look. The glass is also missing alot of the paint which is why I was curious about that. Thanks for your help guys!

Nolan Woodbury · #5 04-20-2006, 06:06 PM

Without seeing the radio, it's hard to tell, but many of these sets used (for lack of a better term) a sort of 'photo finish'. This is a fake wood grain, glued down in a very thin material over the plywood cabinet. The only model that I know of that uses a 'real' wood cabinet is the blonde version of the C730, but I could be wrong. Pretty much the same thing for the C730s sister radio, the arched-top G730, but I have seen these in natural wool cabinets.

Paint on the dial lens? Do you mean the gold paint around the edge? Well, its either there or it isn't, but I suppose you could restore it with the correct shade of gold and some modeling paint, applied with a very fine brush. That seems like a lot of work to me; I'd rather just make sure it is working properly and enjoy it in the patina it's earned over the years. Nothing wrong with that-

Sancho · #6 04-20-2006, 08:48 PM

Nolan,
Can you post a full frontal picture of your c730? Im still in awe some one could throw this out and sleep at night... Yes the case has the photo finish covering on it and its only badly chipped on the top of it. I'll see what the simple green does for it. Thanks for your continued help everyone!

Nolan Woodbury · #7 04-21-2006, 12:16 PM

Sancho,

The pic I posted of the 'thrown away' Zenith was a G730, same as the C, but with an arched top and in natural wood. I have a mint + C730 (and G730) I can photograph and post if you like...it would give you some idea of how the radio looked when new.

Let me know-

Nolan Woodbury · #8 04-21-2006, 07:36 PM

Sancho,

To give you a good look, I've posted a picture of both the C730 and G730. Note the face plates, dial, knobs and chassis are identical, but they almost always have a different grill cloth design. I've often suspected the G730 could be a more expensive radio, as many of these sets have real wood cabinets, but both of these examples have a veneer finish.

The only differences inside is the G730 has a steel brace that runs from the chassis to the top of the cabinet to offer some additional rigidity, while the C730 features a tin heat shield over the FM sector (to the right, looking at the radio) where the tubes bunch together. Properly serviced and looked after, they return exceptional sound and reception and polish up like nice furniture should. I really love these sets! These are the radios that sparked my interest in antique radio and collecting. A handsome, durable all-day user.

Jeffhs · #9 04-21-2006, 10:47 PM

The K731s all had solid wood cabinets as well, which is one reason these sets sound so good. I had my '731 playing this afternoon on the oldies station in Cleveland and was very impressed, as always, by its bass response. This is another reason we AKers should do our level best to keep these old radios out of the landfill--they were the height of quality in their day, and still are to collectors.

I will send a PM on another matter when I finish this.

Kind regards,