The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Posted 9 hours ago.
Looks like a diamond in the rough.
(Not mine)
Maybe there's some flexibility in the price???
Looks like part of the left front foot is missing.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/atq/ ... 92393.html

Majestic was a radio company that had a meteoric rise in the late twenties going up to number one about 1930. I've owned several of them in the past including two Majestic grandfather clock radios. The company broke up in bankruptcy in 1934 and Mr. Grunow started up his own radio company using his own name.

I bought a machine like the one pictured a few years ago. Holy cow was it full of pot metal. At least the tubes were good. Haha!

Earl,

Based on your comment above, best to stay away from this brand?
Was there unrepairable warping of tuner parts?

Gene

Crumbling tuner parts and it seems like the tuning fins were either pot metal, or mounted in pot metal. The mount on the turntable that went over the motor shaft was pot metal as well. I bought it at an auction for $20 and knew what I was getting, so I just bought it for the tubes. Majestic's are nice I guess, but you want to look one of those things over before you go much further with them. As goofy as pot metal can be, it makes me wonder if part of the reason they went out of business when they did, was for that reason.

From my restoration experiences, I would recommend staying away from Majestic sets built between the late 1920's and early 1930's (model discussed included, circa 1930-1931). All if not most utilized pot metal parts within the variable tuning condenser. I too have been through a few from this time period. All three had the same problem, tuning condenser issues. Some castings were better than others, and good examples do surfaced from time to time. Beware though as they all are typically plagued with pot metal failure. Overall, this era of Majestic looks good and good examples sound great!

A sure way to check on this model or others would be a smooth rotation of the dial knob by hand, listening in for any scraping or rubbing of the fins! Any scraping heard or shaft frozen upon turn, stay away!

Jon

Hello all--I have the tone arm, motor, reproducer, and turn-table for one of these machines if anyone needs it. Just putting it out there--and the motor is rebuilt & runs great.

(Parts from homemade phonograph I was making--until it exploded.)