|
|
|
#1
11-20-2009, 02:20 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Woo Hoo! 1939 Majestic 130 Portable Radio
This one's been another of those ten-year journeys.
I got this radio over ten years ago. I asked the seller where he found it. He said it was from Robert Young's estate... Can't prove it, but I can't imagine why he'd make that up, especially after the sale. Anywhoo, got the radio--and found that Mr. Young had left the batteries inside. Found a prewar graphic Eveready 467 battery inside, nearly new... Also found a hearing aid LT battery--and it had leaked all over the place.... On top of that, I tried recapping the set, and promptly screwed it up! So, I set it aside until I had the patience to sort it out. This is a three-tube superhet--the smallest one that could be built in 1939 using octal tubes. I decided since there were so many problems with the radio, I would tear it completely down and rewire it like a kit. Here are the results. There were a few glitches--part of it is from the fact that it's a crammed chassis, and there were a few pins touching where they shouldn't have. Once I sorted that out, the set began to play, albeit weakly. Turned out one of the antenna lines had a break in it, deep within the loop... Fortunately, I had a parts radio with an intact loop. I had to CAREFULLY peel back the leatherette, remove the loop and installed the good one. Then it played up a storm! It motorboats on the low end of the dial, bur for now, I'm going to leave that alone. After ten years, I could hear a Majestic 130 play. It's running on a 467 HT battery and a D cell for the filaments. I'm going to be building the proper-style batteries for this set shortly.... Chassis pix are from the donor set--wired when I was younger and more stupid.... Video added: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhrNX9HVt5o 
|
|
#2
11-20-2009, 10:52 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Neat!!! I like early portables and have never seen this one before.
|
|
#3
11-20-2009, 11:37 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Nice!
 I have one in red that is really a "strong station only" set... perhaps there is some hope for it yet. What is the model number if the GE under the meter of your "Vomax"? I am missing the tag on mine. That 13.5 volt battery with the 9 volt tap (#239) that it uses might be fun for you! jr
|
|
#4
11-21-2009, 12:07 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Nice radio! I tend to like those early portables.
Let's see, Robert Young - as in Marcus Welby, MD?
|
|
#5
11-21-2009, 01:16 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Sweet
 Nice job in such tight quarters 
|
| Audiokarma |
|
#6
11-21-2009, 09:03 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
|
|
#7
11-25-2009, 06:34 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
That is really one odd-ball set, but I mean that in a good way! Almost everything about that radio is fascinatingly different; the cabinet, the 3 tube chassis, and even the knobs. Thanks for sharing....
__________________
John
|
 |
|
|
Linear Mode
