[462ron]

Hi all, won this Majestic about a month ago at a local auction and just getting started on it. Right now to begin      with I am in need of a dial string diagram as the original is broke. The tuning condenser being very stiff to turn I’m sure is what caused it to break! Thanks

Ron

[Eliot Ness]

Unfortunately some of those Majestic radios had pot metal tuners.  You might want to check and make sure yours isn't warped.  Hopefully it just needs a cleaning and lube.  When I go downstairs in a few I'll check and see if that model is in my Dial String books.

[462ron]

Thanks John. I have removed the cover over the tuner and it looks good except maybe for some rust. I’m going to try and remove the rotor and clean up the rust and lube the bearings but that will require some disassembly of other things on the chassis first. For a table top radio man this thing is crazy heavy!

Ron

[Eliot Ness]

Sorry Ron, I got sidetracked getting on the road to Dallas to pick up a radio cabinet from Fred Taylor. I suspect it isn't in the Sam's dial string book but I found a fellow who described how to do it on the other forum. I'll post that link when I get home Tuesday or Wednesday. And yes they are heavy, I used to have one years ago that sat on little spindly legs.

[462ron]

Thanks John. I have the Sams dial string layout book on DVD along with schematics but since Sams didn’t start until around 1947 +/-, my 1931 Majestic isn’t there. I did make some progress on loosening up the tuner so I believe I’ll be good to go.

Ron

[radiorich]

Hello 462 Ron,
Nice set and I see Rider does not have the dial string diagram either !
Sincerely Richard

[Eliot Ness]

Ron, in the following thread a member describes how to string it, sorry, that's the best I can come up with:

https://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtop...6&t=358098

[462ron]

That’s awesome John, step by step instructions, looks doable now. I should be able to get at it in the next few days. Thanks!

Ron

[462ron]

Well success! It took some trial and error attempts to get this restrung correctly as there are a few different ways and directions to wrap the string around the two ends on the shaft. Probably will be awhile until I get started as I need to order some components and I think I may start on the cabinet first. Thanks John ( Eliot Ness ) for that link and BTW, that’s a gorgeous Strat you have there!

Ron    

[Eliot Ness]

I'm glad you got it restrung It looks like one of those that are difficult to figure out.

[462ron]

Made some progress stripping the cabinet. I used Citri Strip, worked great with no odor. Started to go over it with lacquer thinner in the basement when the Mrs. put the kibosh to that right quick. The slightest odor bothers her so cabinet work is on hold until spring when I can do it on the deck. Electronically, found 3 open wirewound power resistors, replaced those but still need to recap. There are 6 .15mfd caps, 3 in one can and 3 in the other. Schematic shows all six go to chassis ground on one end. You would think each can would have 4 wires coming out…3 to various circuit points and the 4th to ground, but this thing has 6 coming out . This chassis has practically every component encased in steel boxes making wire tracing a chore, no wonder it weighs like 60#! Getting there slow but sure.

Ron

[Radioroslyn]

Hey Ron,
I had one of those things back in the late '70's. It's built like a brick privy, but I don't have to tell you that. [Image: https://philcoradio.com/phorum/images/sm...on_eek.gif] The dial cord stringing looks like a late '20s Philco but they used wire instead of cloth cord.

GL and keep taking your vitamins!

[MrFixr55]

I almost bought one at the buy it now price of $75 on eBuy, but it was pickup only and he was a 6 hour drive away in northern Vermont. I lost a little interest in getting one of these when I got the GE S22A version of the RCA R7A (My collection is heavy on 1920s, later 30s (1936 - 39), 1940s and 1950s radios but light on 1930 - 1935 (the real transitional years in radio). However, I love the shape of the cabinet!




The tuner is interesting. Whoever designed it must have looked at some Radiola 16, 17, 18, 33 and 60 models that are strung in a rather similar mode. However, I love the shape of the cabinet!

[radiorich]

Hello Ron,
Nice job on the re-stringing of the dial !
Sincerely Richard

[462ron]

MrFixr the shape of the cabinet is what caught my eye too. Paid a reasonable to me $50. If I would have known the weight of this thing as Terry says, it’s built like a brick privy, I wouldn’t have bid on it. I won’t be moving it around a lot and it’s probably one of the hardest chassis to work on that I’ve come across just because of all the shielding and so many major components are sealed in armor but I’m committed to finishing it. It has a decent size speaker and push-pull 45s so should sound great. Thanks Richard on the stringing comment!

Ron