Zenith Models 430 and 440 12-Tube Superheterodyne
Radio Service Data Sheet
February 1933 Radio-Craft

February 1933 Radio-Craft [Table of Contents] Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio-Craft, published 1929 - 1953. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

In a continuing effort to provide archival material for researchers and for anyone seeking information on a particular radio restoration project, this Radio Service Data Sheet for the Zenith Model 430/440 radio from a 1933 edition of Radio-Craft magazine is being posted. An Internet search will show that there are many people engaging in such activities. Restoring my Crosley Model 03BC console radio would have been more difficult if not for others who have done similar work to assist the "community." I generally despise the phrase "giving back" because it is usually uttered by people that really owe nothing to anyone, but somehow feel obligated to do so or are conditioned to automatically say such things. This is a case where I benefitted from somebody else's work and there is an opportunity to return the favor.

Update: Mr. Steve  of The Radio Fox website wrote to express thanks for having this information posted. He owns both a Zenith Model 430 and a Zenith Model 440 (click thumbnails).

Zenith Models 430 and 440 12-Tube Superheterodyne Radio Service Data Sheet

(Dual reproducers, Zenith class AAA A.F. power amplifier; illuminated auto type full-vision control escutcheons; 540 to 1750 kc. - 121 channels, including police band; silent tuning; A.V.C.; low-volume tone compensator; "shadowgraph" tuning; tone control; 110 V. or 220 V. line.)

The newest product of Zenith Radio Corp. is the model 430 receiver; equipped with the Zenith automatic tuning device, it is the model 440. The outstanding feature of this set is the "class AAA" system of A.F. amplification used;

Line potential, 115 V.; all controls maximum.

All tube readings, except heaters, are socket to ground, using 1,000-ohms-per-volt D. C. meter.

Resistor R1, manual volume control. 0.5-meg., total, tapped at 0.4-meg. from ground end; R2, tone control, 0.5-meg.; R3, quiet-tuning control, 400 ohms; R4, R6, R10, 1,900 ohms; R5, 150 ohms; R7, R25, 1,500 ohms; R8, R17, 0.25-meg.; R9, R16, 24,000 ohms; R11, R12, 50,000 ohms; R13, 0.1-meg.; R14, R18, 500 ohms; R15, 8,000 ohms; R19, R20, 1 meg, ; R21, 2,500 ohms; R22, 18,000 ohms; R23, R24, 400 ohms.

Condensers C1, C2, C3, tuning gang; C1A, C2A, C3A, tuning trimmers; C4 to C7, I. F. trimmers; C8, L. F. padder; C9, H. F. coupling condenser; C10, C11, C12, 0.2-mf.; C13, 0.1-mf.; C14, C15, C16, C17, C19, C20, C24 (25 cycles, 0.4-mf.), C30, C31, C35, .1-mf.; C18, 0.05-mf.; C21, C22, C23, C25, C26, C27, 8 mf.; C28, 0.5-mf.; C29, 25 mmf.; C32, C33, 500 mmf.; C34, 0.002-mf.

The condenser gang in this receiver is aligned at 1,500 kc.; the oscillator padder is aligned at 600 kc.

Field coil No. 1 has a resistance of 1,600 ohms; field coil No. 2 has a resistance of 2,000 ohms for section A and 3,500 ohms for section B. Choke Ch.2 has a resistance of 400 ohms.

There are no circuit changes or switches in this receiver for the reception of police calls. The tuning dial, itself, actually takes in the police frequencies since it covers a total range of 540 to 1,750 kc.

"Shadowgraph" tuning is effected by means of a vane fastened to a meter movement connected in the plate-supply circuit to tubes V1, V2, V3. The incoming signal causes this "meter" to move in the usual manner, thus twisting the vane so that it either obstructs the light and casts a wide shadow (off resonance), or permits the light to pass, casting a shadow no wider than the thickness of the vane (exact resonance of the tuned circuits).

Class AAA A.F. amplifier is the Zenith designation for a system employing three power tubes, each of which are biased as class A amplifiers, one of which is used to drive the other two in push-pull. If the grids were overdriven with the usual type of coupling transformer, having a high secondary impedance, between the driver and the output tubes and the push-pull grids overdriven, extreme distortion would take place. This difficulty is overcome by employing a special transformer of step-down ratio having larger wire and much less resistance in its secondary. This transformer is a very important part of the system. With such an arrangement it is possible to drive the grids of the power tubes positive without introducing distortion, because of the driver being a power tube and capable of supplying the necessary current on such peaks. The primary of this transformer has a higher impedance than is normally used, which value is somewhat reduced as the impedance changes in the secondary, when the power grids are driven positive. Its impedance, however, at the lowest value, still matches the driver plate circuit. It should be remembered that in an ordinary class A amplifier distortion enters when the grids are driven positive by virtue of the previous tube not supplying sufficient power for grid excitation of the output tubes. In other words, in class A, voltage on the power grids is available as long as they do not go positive. As soon as they are driven past zero in that direction the previous amplifier can no longer supply the necessary power.

Above, Arrangement of the tubes in the "430." Right, Comparative figures indicating the effectiveness of A.F. amplifiers classes A, push-pull; B, push-push; pentodes in push-pull, and AAA, push-pull, Watts rating, respectively, 4.3 W., 0.8- to 24 W., 6.3 W., 14.2 W.

Summing up the above, the triple A amplifier is a combination of both class A and class B. The exception being that the tubes are biased as class A, but by virtue of the power delivered by the driver and the special coupling transformer, sufficient power is supplied for the power tube to draw grid current and still prevent distortion as in the class B amplifier.

Many set analyzers will not accommodate the new tubes, consequently, all voltage readings are to ground. Thus, for instance. the actual voltage on the plates of the power tubes is 295 V.

The two reproducers are similar in construction but one is peaked at 90 cycles and the other at 70 cycles. (This is done to cancel the natural period of each reproducer.) The paralleled voice coils result in four times the power obtainable from a single reproducer, states the manufacturer.

An overall sensitivity of less than one-half microvolt-per-meter is obtained with an undistorted power output of 15 watts. The total line consumption at 115 V. is 125 W.

Posted July 25, 2023
(updated from original post on 3/24/2015)

Radio Service Data Sheets

These schematics, tuning instructions, and other data are reproduced from my collection of vintage radio and electronics magazines. As back in the era, similar schematic and service info was available for purchase from sources such as SAMS Photofacts, but these printings were a no-cost bonus for readers. There are 227 Radio Service Data Sheets as of December 28, 2020.

• AMRAD Model 81 "Bel Canto"
• GE Model 250 Radio Service Data Sheet
• Hoffman Model A300
• Emerson Model 505
• Olympic Models 6-501, 6-502, 6-503
• Radiola Models 61-5, 61-10
• Farnsworth Models ET-060, ET-061, ET-063
• General Electric Model 321
• Garod Model 6AU-1
• Truetone Model D4620
• Westinghouse Model H-148
• Wards Models 54BR-1501A, 1502A
• Majestic Models 8S452, 8S473
• RCA Models Q22A, Q32
• Zenith Model 5G003ZZ
• Mantola Models 92503 and 92504
• Emerson Model 508 Series 8-7434351 and Up
• Belmont Model A-5D118
• Wards Model 74BR-2707A
• Crosley Model 56TP-L
• Admiral Model 7C60 Chassis 6B1
• 336 Belmont Radio Model 6D111, Series A
• 333 General Electric Models 100, 101, 103 and 105
• RCA Victor Models 54B1, 54B-N, 54B2, 54B3 Radio Data Sheet 335
• National Union "Presentation" Radio Model G-619
• Zenith Radio Models 8H032, 8H033, 8H050, 8H052, 8H061
• General Electric Farm Radio Model 280
• Admiral Model 6RT44-7B1
• Montgomery Ward Airline Model 04BR-1105A Radio
• Belmont Model 678 Auto-Radio Set
• Sentinel Model 217-P Portable Radio Set Radio
• Remler Model No. 36 Dual-Wave Auto-Radio
• Stromberg-Carlson No. 82 All-Wave Receiver
• Majestic A.V.C. Model 290 Chassis
• FADA 9 Tube Model 190 "Metal" All-Wave
• RCA Victor Models 9T and K2 9-Tube, 5- to 566-Meter
• Motorola "Golden Voice" Model
• RCA Victor Model H-6
• Simplex Model TA
• Automatic "Magic Eye" Model A1
• Silvertone Models 4488 and 4588 (Chassis No.101412) and 4488A and 4588A (Chassis No. 101412A)
• RCA Victor Model M109 "De Luxe" 7-Tube Auto-Radio Receiver
• Crosley Model 6625 6-Tube 3-Band Receiver
• International Model 77 Series 7-Tube Dual-Band Receiver
• Belmont Model 6D121
• General Electric Models 60, 62
• Admiral Model 7C64
• Radiola "28" Super and "104" Power Speaker
• Sonora Model TW-49
• Stromberg-Carlson Models 1020, 1120, Series 10
• Air King Model 4604D
• Sparton Models 526, 526X, 526PS
• Truetone Model D2624
• Admiral Models 6EI, 6EIN
• Detrola Models 571A, 571B
• General Electric Model 250
• Howard Model 920
• Colonial Model 652 5-Tube Broadcast-Short-Wave
• Fairbanks-Morse 9-Tube All-Wave Model 91
• International Model 500 5-Tube Dual-Range Battery
• Emerson Model 678 "Auto-Dynamic" 5 Tube
• Stromberg-Carlson Nos. 230 and 231 Series
• Atwater Kent Model 649 All-Wave
• Howard Model G-26, and "Airplane 4" Model AA25
• Montgomery Ward "Airline" Series 7GM 7-Tube High-Fidelity Receiver
• RCA Victor Model T5-2 5-Tube, 2-Band A.C. Superheterodyne Receiver
• Majestic "Models 50," "51" and "52"
• Bremer-Tully Model 7-70 and 7-71
• General Electric Model M-49 4-Tube Radio-Phonograph Dual-Wave Superheterodyne
• RCA-Victor Radiola "Superette" Model R7 Superheterodyne
• Crosley Model AC-7 and AC-7C
• Westinghouse "Columnaire" Models WR-8 and WR-8-R (Remote Control)
• Characteristics of Metal Tubes - and Other "Octal" (8-Prong) Base Types
• Kolster K20, K22, K25, K27 and K37 Six-Tube Receivers
• Stromberg-Carlson Nos. 62 and 63, 8-Tube High-Fidelity Chassis
• RCA Model 103, 4-Tube A.C. Compact Dual-Wave
• FADA "Special" Model 265-A and FADA "7" Model 475-A
• General Electric Model C-62 6-Tube Battery
• Emerson 5A Automotive
• Zenith 666 Automotive
• Motorola 100 Automotive
• Crosley Roamio 4-A-1 Automotive
• American-Bosch 524A Automotive
• Crosley Model 1316 (in Model 167 Console)
• RCA Victor "High-Fidelity Electrola," Model R-99
• AMRAD Model 81 ("Bel Canto" Series) Receiver
• Fada 103 Fadalette, Stewart-Warner Series 108, DeWald 54 Dynette Sets
• RCA Victor R-27 and Philco 53 Ultra-Midget A.C.-D.C. Radio Receivers
• Majestic Models Fairfax and Sheffield 8-Tube
• Stromberg-Carlson No. 29, 9-Tube Superhet
• International Kadette Model 400 4-Tube Battery-Operated Superhet
• RCA Victor Model 5M 5-Tube Auto Superhet
• Majestic Model 11 Short-Wave Converter
• Silver-Marshall Model 727-DC Battery-Operated Superheterodyne
• RCA Victor Model VHR-307 Home Recording - Phono-Radio Combination
• Delco 32-Volt Radio Receiver Chassis Models RA-3, RB-3 and RC-3
• Majestic Chassis Models 380 A.C. T.R.F., and 400 A.C.-D.C. Superheterodyne
• General Motors S1A, S1B
• Admiral Model 7C63, Chassis 7C1
• Westinghouse Model H-133
• Arvin Models 150TC, 151TC
• Kadette Model 90 Duplex
• RCA-Victor "Magic Brain" Model 281
• Grunow 11A Chassis 11-Tube All-Wave Superheterodyne
• Sears, Roebuck & Co., Silvertone "Rocket" Models 6110 and 6111
• General Electric Model GD-52
• Zenith Models 6D302, 6D311, 6D326, 6D336, 6D360
• Allied Radio, Knight Model E10913
• Arvin Model 140P
• Emerson Models 501, 502, 504
• Crosley Model 56TD-W
• Hoffman Model A500
• Stewart-Warner Model 9003-B
• Zenith Models 6D014, 6D029
• Coronet Model C-2
• Sparton Models 7-46, 7-46PA, 8-46, 8-46PA
• Stewart-Warner Models 9001-C, D, E, F
• Zenith Models 5D011-5D027
• Bendix Models 636A, C, D
• ECA Model 108
• International Model 66 and 666, 6-Tube Superhet
• Ford-Philco Radio, Model FT9, 6-Tube Auto-Radio Receiver
• Howard Explorer Model W Deluxe 19 Tube All-Wave Superhet
• RCA Victor Portable Table Electrola Model R-95
• Atwater Kent Model 305Z 5-Tube 32 V. D.C. Superhet
• Kadette Jewel Model 40 Chassis 3-Tube Ultra-Midget Receivers
• General Electric Model N-60 6-Tube Auto Superheterodyne
• Sparton Model 40 6-Tube T.R.F. Automotive Receiver
• Clarion "Replacement" Chassis, Model AC-160 A.V.C. Superheterodyne
• Emerson Models 20A and 25A
• General Electric K-40A
• Pilot Model B-2
• RCA-Victor Radiola Model M-30 Automotive Radio
• Motovox Models 10A All-Electric and 10E Battery-Operated "Moto-Tetradynes"
• Kennedy Superheterodyne Short-Wave Converter
• RCA Victor Model R-78 B1-Acoustic 12-Tube
• Philco Model 15 Series, 11-Tube Superheterodyne Chassis
• Zenith Challenger Model 740
• Sparton Selectronne Receivers Models 1068 and 1068X
• Fada Model 155 Super Fadalette A.C.-D.C. Set
• Clarion De Luxe Models AC-280 and 25-280
• Crosley Model A-157 (River Roamio) Auto Radio
• Philco Model '37-116 Codes 121 (Shadometer) and 122 (Dial Tuning)
• Arvin Model 28
• Philco Model 818
• Fada Model 266 Motoset
• Bosch Models 736, 737, 738
• RCA-Victor Model 15U, Radio-Phonograph
• Sparton Models 566 ("Bluebird" Mirror), A.C.-D.C. 5-Tube 2-Band Midget Superhet
• Atwater Kent Model 776 6-Tube Auto Radio
• Stromberg-Carlson No. 61 4-Band 7-Tube A.C.-D.C. Receiver
• Arvin Model 182TFM
• Crosley Model 58TK
• Westinghouse Model H-165
• General Electric Models G-105 and G-106
• Silvertone "F," "FF," "G," "H," and "J"
• Stewart-Warner Model 03-5A1 to 03-5A9 (Chassis 03-5A) Senior Varsity Radio
• Radiola Models 61-6, 61-7
• Westinghouse Models H-104, H-105, H-107, H-108
• Farnsworth Models EC-260, EK-262, EK-263, EK-264, EK-265
• United Models 980744, 980745
• Stewart-Warner (R-127 Chassis) Models 1271 to 1279 All-Wave
• ERLA Model 4500 Dual-Wave T.R.F. 4-Tube A.C. Receiver
• Clarion No. TC-31 5-Tube A.C.-D.C. Superhet.
• Detrola Model 105C 5-Tube Dual-Band A.C.-D.C.
• Zenith 6-Tube All-Wave Chassis No. 5634
• RCA Victor Model 261, 555 to 107 Meter
• Philco Model 38-116; Code 125
• Stewart-Warner "Ferrodyne" Chassis Model R-136
• American-Bosch Model 43OT 5-Tube 3-Band Superheterodyne
• RCA Victor Model C9-4 9-Tube 3-Band Superheterodyne
• Kennedy "Model 826B" Combination Receiver
• Steinite 50-A and 102-A
• Pilot Model 63 All-Wave 6-Tube Superheterodyne
• Stromberg-Carlson No. 69 4-Tube All-Wave Superhet. Selector (Converter)
• RCA Victor Model 102 4-Tube A.C.-D.C. T.R.F. Receiver
• Bosch Models 60 and 61
• Atwater Kent Models 30, 33, 35, 48 and 49
• Crosley Model 120 Senior Superheterodyne (Pliodynatron) Chassis
• Columbia Screen-Grid 8 Receiver
• General Electric Models A82 and A87, 8-Metal-Tube All-Wave A.C. Superhet.
• Colonial 31 and 32 D.C.
• Zenith 5-Tube Triple-Wave Chassis nos. 5508 and 5509
• Remler Model 46 ("Scottie")
• General Electric FA-60 and FA-61
• Stewart-Warner Series 900
• Howard Model B-5 (715), Series 1 and 2 (Sheaffer Radio-Clock-Pen Desk Set)
• Ford-Philco Car-Radio Models F-1440 and F-1442
• Brunswick Model 31 Combination Radio and Panatrope
• Emerson Models 38, 42 and 49, 6-Tube Dual-Wave (Chassis U6)
• General Motors Chevrolet No. 601574 Automotive
• RCA Victor M-104 (and M-108) Automotive
• Arvin-Ford 17-A Automotive
• Westinghouse Model WR 207 & WR 208 5-Tube Dual-Band Superheterodyne
• Radiolas "Super VIII" (AR-810, "Semi-Portable" (AR-812), 24 and 26
• Howard Model 45 A. V. C.
• Majestic Model 25
• Galvin Motorola Model 61
• Arvin Model 6
• Admiral Models 7T06, 7T12
• Garod Model 5A1
• Hoffman Model A301
• Knight Model E10716 Battery Portable
• Arvin Models 555, 555A, 552N, 552AN
• Grantline Models 605, 606
• Truetone Model D2616
• Belmont Model 5D128
• Arvin Models 444, 444A
• International Kadette Model 1019
• Stewart-Warner Models 97-561 to 97-569
• General Electric Model 280
• Zenith Models 5R080, 5R086
• Truetone Models D1747, D1748
• Crosley Roamio Automotive T.R.F. Models 90, 91, 92
• Crosley Roamio Automotive Superheterodyne Models 95, 96
• Wells-Gardner Series 062
• Emerson Model AZ-196
• Belmont Model 5P19
• Crosley Fortyfive
• Crosley Model 56FC
• Emerson Models 507, 509, 518, 522, 535
• Garod Model 6AU-1
• General Electric Models 219, 202, 221
• Crosley "Chairside" Model 567
• Belmont Model 408 Battery "Farm"
• Wards Model 74BR-1055A
• Farnsworth Models EK-081, EK-082, EK-083, EK-681
• Philco Model 200-X Radio
• Admiral "Aeroscope" Models 161-5L, 162-5L and 163-5L
• Philco Model 59, 4-Tube A.C. Midget Superheterodyne
• Zenith Farm Model 6V 27, 6-Tube Superhet
• Ward 10-Tube All-Wave High-Fidelity Superhet, Series ODM
• Philco-Packard Deluxe
• Canadian Westinghouse Model 175
• Crosley Model 1155
• Philco Models 39 and 39A
• Arvin Model 35 8-Tube Car-Radio
• Hetro Air-Ace Series M
• Westinghouse Models H-161, H-168, H-168A
• Garod Model 5A4
• Arvin Models 152T, 153T
• Belmont Model 5240
• Mantola Models 92505, 92506
• General Electric Models 102, 102W, 107, 107W, 114, 114W, 115, 115W
• Crosley Model 555 (A.F.M.)
• Crosley Model 515 (Fiver)
• Crosley Model 425 (Travo)
• Firestone-Stewart-Warner Model R1332
• Fairbanks-Morse Model 81 "Farm" Set
• Clarion Model 423, 470, 471, 472, 480
• International Radio Corp. Model 90
• Belmont Model 578 Series A