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History of the manufacturer  

Zenith Radio Co. Ltd.; Sydney, NSW

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Name: Zenith Radio Co. Ltd.; Sydney, NSW    (AUS)  
Abbreviation: zenithau
Products: Model types
Summary:

Zenith Radio Co. Ltd.
37 Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney, NSW (1933 – 1939)
28 Mountain Street, Sydney, NSW. (1939- 1945)
121-133 Palmer Street, Sydney, NSW (1945 – 1957)
9 Rhodes Street, West Ryde, NSW (1957 - )

The Zenith Radio Co. Ltd. manufactured generic radios for a variety of resellers, department stores, etc. who branded the radios with their own brand.

The company was not associated with the Zenith Radio Corp. of America.

Founded: 1933
Production: 1933 -
History:

The Zenith Radio Coy. advertised in September 1933 for dealers to handle lines of complete receivers and chassis in the suburbs of Sydney.[1]

Jose Alberti became associated with radio when he founded Acorn Pressed Metal Co. Ltd. and manufactured radio metal parts and chassis in 1931. [2]
He founded the Zenith Radio Coy. along with Engineer N H Buchanan in 1933 and on January 17, 1934 the company was registered as Zenith Radio Co. Ltd. with both men as First Directors.[3]

The company started manufacturing in Paddington and advertised in the Radio Trade Annual (RTA)1933 as “Specialising in Component and Receiver Construction for the trade”.[4] In the RTA 1934 edition they are listed in the Manufacturers Directory and the Buyers Guide as suppliers of chassis, chokes, capacitors, receivers wired and complete.

In February, 1943 they took over the production of "Calstan" brand radios and test equipment from Slade Radio Pty. Ltd. After the war their address was 121-123 Palmer St, Sydney by which time they had become Zenith Radio Co. Pty Ltd. By the late 1950s they were manufacturing televisions and their address was 7-11 Rhodes St, West Ryde, Sydney. Production ceased sometime in the 1960s.

According to Mingay’s Radio Diagram & IF  Index, 1933-39, Page 95, Zenith Radio Co. manufactured 15 Ambassador brand radios in 1937.  This has not been confirmed by actual models found or other references to date.           

 

[1] The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW ) Sep 6, 1933, Page 5.
[2] Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) May 8, 1931, Page 11.
[3] Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (NSW )  Jan 23, 1934, Page 3.
[4] Radio Trade Annual 1933 , Page 82.
 

This manufacturer was suggested by Willi Ribbe.


Some models:
Country Year Name 1st Tube Notes
AUS  51 Calstan 537P 1T4  The 4.5 volt battery is only for the dial light. 
AUS  48 Calstan 524 1T4  Only the first 50 of this model used a 3S4. The 3 volt battery is only for the dial lights. 
AUS  48 Calstan 532 1T4  There is a separate battery for the dial light, but its voltage is not stated on the circu... 
AUS  52 Calstan C36A 6BE6   
AUS  47 Calstan 515 1P5GT  The AORSM gives 455 kHz for this model but Mingay's index gives it as 458 kHz. 
AUS  47 Calstan 521 6A8G  The AORSM gives 455 kHz for this model but Mingay's index gives it as 458 kHz. 
AUS  47 Calstan 528 6A8G  The AORSM gives 455 kHz for this model but Mingay's index gives it as 458 kHz. 
AUS  49 Calstan 533 1T4  The two speakers are 12 and 5 inch in size. 
AUS  55 Calstan 544PT 6BE6   
AUS  55 Calstan 605PT 6BA6  This model is similar to the 605 but with an added tuning indicator. The AORSM vol.14 P10... 
AUS  48 Calstan 523 6A8G   
AUS  55 Calstan 702PT 6BA6  This model is similar to the 605 but with an added tuning indicator and noise limiter. Th... 

[rmxhdet-en]

Further details for this manufacturer by the members (rmfiorg):

The “Huon Times” (Tas.), March 24, 1932.tbn_aus_zenith_ad_1932.jpg
The “Huon & Derwent Times” (Tas.), April 15, 1937.tbn_aus_zenith_ad_1937.jpg
Zenith Radio Model List. Radio Trade Annual of Australia 1937, Page 262.tbn_aus_zenithau_rta_1937_page_262.jpg
[1] The Zenith Radio Co. advertised in September 1933 for dealers. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW ) Sep 6, 1933, Page 5tbn_aus_zenithau_1_the_sydney_morning_herald_nsw_sep_6_1933_p5.jpg
[2] Jose Alberti became associated with radio when he founded Acorn Pressed Metal Co. Ltd. Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) May 8, 1931, Page 11.tbn_aus_zenithau_2_the_sydney_morning_herald_nsw_may_8_1931_p11.jpg
[3] Zenith Radio Co. Ltd. was registered on January 17, 1934. Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (NSW ) Jan 23, 1934, Page 3.tbn_aus_zenithau_3_daily_commercial_news_and_ship_list_nsw_jan_23_1934_p3.jpg
[4] The company started manufacturing in Paddington and advertised in the Radio Trade Annual (RTA)1933 as “Specialising in Component and Receiver Construction for the trade”. Radio Trade Annual 1933 , Page 82.tbn_aus_zenithau_4_rta33_p82.jpg
1954 Calstan Radiograms. The Sun (NSW ) May 18, 1954, P11tbn_aus_zenethau_calstanthe_sun_nsw_may_18_1954_p11.jpg

  

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