This is the text of the article I wrote at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Oceanic
The 'Trans-Oceanic' was the name given to a
series of portable radios produced from 1942 to 1962 by
Zenith Radio. They were characterised by their
heavy-duty, high-quality construction and their
performance as shortwave receivers.
Zenith's founder, Commander Eugene F. McDonald, was a
great admirer of advanced technological development and
believed that his company's products should include the
latest, most practical advances in a well-built product
that continued to enhance the company's reputation. Of
the many products of Zenith Radio, the 'Trans-Oceanic'
series of portable radios were amongst the most famous.
McDonald was a keen yachtsman and outdoorsman and wished
for a portable radio that would provide entertainment
broadcasts as well as being able to tune into weather,
marine and international shortwave stations too. He asked
his company's engineers to develop prototypes to meet his
criteria and by 1940 they had concept sets that were
ready for production.
The Zenith 'T/O' began life in 1942 as the Model 7G605
'Trans-ocean Clipper'. Priced at $75, it was released in
January but ceased production in April as Zenith shifted
their production to war-related equipment. During this
short production run, some 35,000 units were produced and
sales date showed that many were sold to customers in the
'above average' income group. However, many also found
their way into various theatres of war and in to the
hands of appreciative servicemen - demand for a
resumption of production at war's end was kept high.
The first post-war T/O was the 8G005Y, designed by Robert
Davol Budlong, an industrial design consultant
responsible for many of the Zenith radio products. Priced
at $125, it was in production from 1946 to 1949.This was
replaced in December 1949 by the G500 - a 'changeover'
model that had updated electronics but the same
appearance. The G500 held its price at less than $100
until it was withdrawn in mid-1951.
The H500 'Super Trans-Oceanic' was introduced in May 1951
at an initial price of $99.95. It had a redesigned front
face and incoporated many frequency coverage and
electronic changes ordered by McDonald.
After 1953, there was competition to the Trans-Oceanic
from both Hallicrafters, with their 'Trans-World' series
sets, and RCA, with their 'Strato-World' models.
In the spring of 1954, the 600 series was introduced with
its 'slide-rule' type dial. This model stayed in
production, with minor changes, until the end of the T/O
tube era in 1962.
Eugene McDonald died in 1958 but he was personally
involved in the design changes to 'his' radio to the very
end. After 1962, the 'Royal' series of transistorised
units replaced the 'Trans-Oceanic' line but Zenith's lead
was steadily eroded. By the time of the release of the
'R7000' in 1979, fierce competition from Sony in Japan -
who, with their digital readout tuning dial had, in many
ways, a superior product - meant the end of a famous
product line soon after.
It is unlikely that this famous family of radios will
ever be resurrected.
last update: 31st May 2008