:Don't just check the primary to HV secondary. Check the primary to the recifier filament winding, and to ground.
:Tony and Thomas, Thanks a million for all your help. I know next to nothing about tube circuits. I'm a retired main frame computer tech ('63 to '97) so I've had lots of troubleshooting time, but nothing with tubes. My only exposure to radios was in the army in the '50's as a high speed morse operator. I checked the transformer as you suggested but didn't find any shorts to the primary. I discovered why I wasn't getting a shock from the chassis. I said that there was 451 ma to ground and that was wrong, It's only 4 ma. 451 at 260 volts would give you a real wake up call but 4 wont. the power plug orientation gives me 122 vac on the chassis one way, and 241 mv the other way with the swithc off. So, I think that my problem is with the circuitry and not the transformer. I have not had any luck finding it though. One more question: should the tuning capacitor be isolated from the chassis? Zenith mounted it with rubber washers which are really in sad shape after 69 years and it's not isolated now if it ever was. the isolation transformer sounds like a good idea. It's a console cabinet so I have plenty of room to hide it. I bought this radio at an auction in 1966 for $3.00. It's been sitting around not being molested since then. I've restored the cabinet to its' original ebony finish and now I'm ready to put it in service in our basement bar. Thanks again for all your help. If I ever find the real problem I'll let you know.
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Will Hodges 
TonyC 