A pulsed electrical discharge source has been used to obtain jet-cooled laser excitation spectra of organometallic free radicals. High-voltage (600-1200 V) discharge across a Zn(CH3)(2)/inert gas mixture allowed a strong UF signal of the ZnCH3 radical to be obtained. Extensive fragmentation to form molecules such as C-2 and C-3 was not observed, indicating that a pulsed discharge source can be a relatively clean source of organometallic intermediates. Interestingly, a weak ZnCH3 spectrum could also be obtained by discharge of Ar/Al(CH3)(3) across zinc electrodes at voltages exceeding 1200 V. In this case, the ZnCH3 was formed by reaction between sputtered zinc atoms from the electrodes and methyl radicals produced by fragmentation of aluminum trimethyl. A pulsed discharge across Zn(C2H5)(2)/Ar produced a new LIF spectrum which was attributed to the zinc monoethyl radical, ZnC2H5. This is the first report of a spectrum of this radical.