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Item Specific Field Value to Enter
Brand Zenith
Model H500 (Chassis 5H40)
Year 1951
Country/Region of Manufacture United States
Bands AM (Standard Broadcast) and Multi-Band Shortwave
Power Type AC/DC Cord Included (Can also run on vintage dry cell battery packs)
this is what the google image says after taking tons of pictures,,,, I tested all the cool channels hard to believe how well this works75 years later.
Up for sale is a beautiful, highly collectible 1951 Zenith Trans-Oceanic Model H500 portable shortwave tube radio.
This unit is in excellent aesthetic condition with minimal wear to the black suitcase-style textured casing. The gold trim accents are bright, the dial glass text is perfectly crisp and legible, and all original knobs and iconic red tone switches are intact. Both the front flip-top lid and the rear access door open and close cleanly.
FUNCTIONAL STATUS:
Unlike the vast majority of these radios found today, this piece of American engineering is FULLY OPERATIONAL and actively picking up signals!
• Standard AM Broadcast (BC Band): Works perfectly, pulling in local AM channels loud, clear, and cleanly.
• Shortwave Bands: Tested and highly active. Using just the built-in telescoping antenna, this unit successfully pulls in international shortwave networks (recently intercepted long-distance news broadcasts on the 25M band and music stations on the 4-8MC band).
• Mechanicals: All original band selector buttons click firmly into place and mechanically shift the internal tuning coils correctly.
DIAL LIGHT / CHASSIS NOTE:
Please note that the dial backlight is currently not illuminating. On this 1951 model, the dial light is engineered as a momentary switch (only active when manually pressing/holding the volume knob or switch while plugged into AC power). The bulbs are currently burned out, which is completely typical for an un-restored 75-year-old radio. It can easily be brought back to life with standard replacement #47 or #51 bayonet bulbs if desired, but does not affect the radio\'s playing performance.
ANTENNAS INCLUDED:
• Includes the original pop-up telescoping shortwave rod antenna (extends and retracts fully).
• Includes the famous detachable grey plastic \"Zenith Wavemagnet\" AM loop antenna mounted inside the top lid, complete with its original dual thumbscrews.
This is a fantastic, plug-and-play addition for any vintage electronics hobbyist, military history collector, or mid-century home decor enthusiast.
Please review all high-resolution photos carefully for exact cosmetic details.
