Cobra-Matic

CobraMatic by Zenith. Phonograph Wall Art.

MEDIUM: Wall Hanging Sculpture, Clock, & Radio

DESCRIPTION: The 1950s Zenith Cobra-Matic Radio/Phonograph was a game changer in home audio fidelity.  It was combination of style and technology: variable speed (stroboscope), the ultra-accurate Cobra tone arm, and the largest continuous piece of Bakelite in a consumer product.

This unit was destined for the landfill but was instead incorporated into this artwork. There’s a lot going on in this piece:
– Original Cobra tone arm and record holder arm.
– The Zenith radio tuner face, accented in green, and turned into a clock.
– A working and tunable AM/FM radio.
– Four vacuum tubes replicating their characteristic orange glow.
– A working DC current flow meter (in microamperes) accented in red.

I’m not sure if the piece is complete; I might add more pieces and parts as I come across them. Thoughts?

Dimensions: 27″W x 21″ H

The Original Zenith Cobra-Matic