Customer Reviews

Zenith Trans-Oceanic: The Royalty of Radios

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Zenith TRANS-OCEANIC: The Royalty of Radios(Second Edition)and The Zenith Trans-Oceanic, the Royalty of Radios: The Royalty of Radios (Schiffer Book for Collectors)(First Edtion)
If you own a Zenith Trans-Oceanic, you probably own the first edition of this book. If so, you'll love the second edition: not a word has been changed. You won't have any problem finding the new materials: it's all in a new section at the end of the book. As the authors point out, cost considerations precluded revising the text of the first edition.
What's in the new material? A page or so of updated historical information, a discusssion of the second military model unknown when the first edition went to press, nice photos of Trans-Oceanic wannabe's from RCA, Hallicrafters, and others; photos of some of the Zenith companion radios, and some other items of interest.
What's missing? Much has happened in the collector world since the publication of the first edition, and an expanded list of parts and suppliers would have been welcome. There's an ever-growing network of resources for Zenith collectors that should be included in the book. Additionally, these radios aren't getting any younger, and an expanded section on maintenance, repair, and restoration would be helpful. More detailed information on electrical restoration would be especially useful along with discussion on building and using battery packs as many collectors want to run their Trans-Oceanics on battery power.
Should you buy the second edition? Should you buy another Zenith Trans-Oceanic? Of course! If your first edition is getting a little dog-eared, you'll get the same book plus some new material. As a Zenith collector, you'll want to add this book to your Zenith resources. Hopefully, when it's time for a third edition, the authors can do a true cover-to-cover revision.

I really can't say anymore about this book than what has already been said; it is a fantastic work, and anyone who owns a Trans-Oceanic, or is thinking of buying one need to have this book.
It is full of nostalgia, history, amusing anecdotes, and well... just very amazing stories about not just a radio, or a company, but a nation and an era that has slipped by us. This isn't just a book, it is a time machine.

As a collector of Zenith T/O and Universal radios this book is a must have. A very nice source of early history, production run dates, and restoration information.

This is the difinitive book about Zenith's ultimate shortwave radios, the TransOceanic. I own 3 differrent TOs and learned much about them from the book. Buy the book, get one of these radios and enjoy

Any radio buff would enjoy the evolution of this radio ICON....Keeps your turned on and tuned into the history of this wonderful product, and a lot of good technical tips for those who refurbish them.....Enjoy.....

This was an item requested for a Christmas gift. I am sure it will be much appreciated.