Hand-wired 500’s
The Royal 500 represented Zenith’s initial entry into the transistorized radio market. The very first Royal 500’s were created one by one by craftsmen and were hand-wired pieces of art. Zenith produced somewhere around 100,000 of these and the serial numbers seem to have increased sequentially as they were produced.
Externally, hand-wired models can be distinguished from later non-handwired radios by a bar that goes through the center of their knobs. Hand-wired models were produced in black and maroon cabinets, with a few very early sets produced in a special “see through” translucent maroon cabinet. The translucent radios seem to be quite rare. (I have devoted a separate page to the translucent models for your viewing pleasure).
The earliest serial numbers reported are #00491 by Phil McArthur and #00506 by Bob McGarra. They continued to climb to just over 90,000 at which time Zenith started to switched to printed circuit boards. This allowed them to mass produce them to meet the high demand.
During this transition period, Zenith created some unusual variations “hybrids” such as hand wired chassis inside of radios that appear to be the later B version with the newer knobs. This transition continued for several weeks with the latest serial number of a hybrid reported being my white one with serial # 121,707. Imagine my surprise having obtained a white handwired! (I will add photos of this special white HW when time permits). Other collectors have reported similar surprises so this all just proves the you just never really know what you have until you open them up and look inside.
Serial numbers are stamped into the chassis and located inside the battery door on the post between the batteries in a small cutout area of the battery direction label. Check yours out and feel free to forward your serial numbers and chassis types (7XT40, 7XT40Z, 7XT40Z1) to me as I am in the process of creating a table to detail this information.
Fact Sheet
| Radio: | Early Royal 500 - Hand-wired |
| When introduced: | November, 1955 |
| Cost New: | $75.00 |
| Colors: | Black, Maroon |
| Dimensions: | 5.5″ H, 3.25″ W, 1.5″ D |
| Weight: | 15.5 ounces |
| # of Transistors: | 7 |
| Powered by: | 4 AA batteries |
| Undistorted output: | 100 Milliwatts |
Check out these Hand-wired 500’s radios.
Black Hand-wired 500Maroon Hand-wired 500
Another Black Hand-wired
April 17th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Several collectors have on their websites that the Zenith 500 was the longest running transistor radio production. Actually, that title belongs to the (rather undistinguished) Flavoradio from Radio Shack which ran unchanged from 1972 to 1986 and then to 2002 with a couple of redesigns. I hate to put these two radios in the same paragraph since the Zenith 500’s were in a class by themselves. I have one of the translucent Maroon 500’s with serial number 06270 probably from the first month of production and a black sn 02600 from the first week. The lowest sn so far discovered is R McGarrah’s 00509. Wonder where number 00001 is? Thanks for your informative site.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Great site on a great radio! I have five of the early Zenith 500’s: One black hand-wired, serial 55206, TX740Z1 (date625), one black 500D, one black and one two-toned (white/salmon) 500E; one white 500H. My dad purcased a 500 new in early 1956 (when I was three). He loved to show it to and play it for everyone… I wonder where it is now? I really enjoy these radios, use them all regularly and can’t imagine a nicer, all-American-made product. I have Japanese radios also, but the Zeniths really do it for me! My only source of regret is the loss of this great Industry. I am, however, glad to own these pieces of history, from what must surely have been the finest of manufacturers. Thank you for your information, great photos, etc. on Royal 500’s
Sincerely;
-Don