2017-12-30 Zenith Royal 755LK

I tried to to post this to the FB group Vintage Transistor Radios, but the FB app crashed and I lost several lines of my typing.  Makes me angry!

The radio was not making any sound.  I removed the chassis from the case.  I found the ‘battery saver’ slide switch had been forced apart.  I found only one contact, so I had to cannibalize another switch to get some contacts.  I’m not sure that the switch is working after I reassembled it.  It still did not work.  Then I pulled the PCB away from the chassis/spkr (it was difficult) and replaced all the electrolytic capacitors I could find.  It still did not work.  I’m leaving it sitting for awhile.

Update 2018 Jan 2  I found the missing switch contact.  I unscrewed the switch, opened it up and put the two original contacts back in.  I closed up the switch and applied power.  Success – the 755LK now works good.  I reassembled it and it’s a complete, working radio.  Jan 3 – I cut a strip of tin from a can, folded it over on itself and trimmed it so it was 9 inches long and 5/8 inch wide.  I bent this around the broken vinyl handle and taped over it with black electrical tape.  It’s a lot stronger than the handle, and now the radio can be carried by the handle.  Doesn’t look nice.  I should look for a roll of brown tape that’s the same color as leather.

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