Majestic radio pix

[theblackknight]

ive been recapping my 1933 Majestic model 310A so i took a couple pics







one of the G-58 tubes is broken and the 55 tubes is missing the top so if any body has these let me know I need em !

[radioactive]

nice radio

[Sandy G]

Va-Va-Va-Voom ! Me likey...

[theblackknight]

YEAH !!!! i got er workin. turns out, the volume control is 99% destroyed.

the tuning dial only works from 550 to about 900. 1000-1600 is DEAD. i wonder whats causing this?

any input about this would be much appreciated !

[Fisherdude]

Originally Posted by theblackknight

YEAH !!!! i got er workin. turns out, the volume control is 99% destroyed.

the tuning dial only works from 550 to about 900. 1000-1600 is DEAD. i wonder whats causing this?

any input about this would be much appreciated !

Congrats!

If the tuning works for part of the range, and then goes dead, my first guess would be that you have a bent fin(s) on the main tuning capacitor, or a piece of something conductive stuck between the fins. When you turn the capacitor to that point, the fins touch, and you loose the tuned circuit completely.

If it's bent fins they can easily...well, maybe not easily...be fixed. Patience is the key.

[sean]

I should have a 55 and a 58 tube if you still need them. They wouldn't be the Majestic sprayed shield versions though. A few years ago I had bought a chassis that I think came from a 310 for parts. I might still have the volume control for it. I would have to look in my parts box. The reception not working above 900kc might be the oscillator might be cutting out. It could be a bad oscillator tube.

You should come out to the ARCH radio club meeting tonight in Kirkwood.

[theblackknight]

Originally Posted by sean

I should have a 55 and a 58 tube if you still need them. They wouldn't be the Majestic sprayed shield versions though. A few years ago I had bought a chassis that I think came from a 310 for parts. I might still have the volume control for it. I would have to look in my parts box. The reception not working above 900kc might be the oscillator might be cutting out. It could be a bad oscillator tube.

You should come out to the ARCH radio club meeting tonight in Kirkwood.

I was planning on going, actually !!!!

will you be there? can you bring those parts? I'd be happy to bring the radio to the meeting.

I got the other 58 working, but the 55 definately needs a replacement. thanks !

[sean]

Originally Posted by theblackknight

I was planning on going, actually !!!!

will you be there? can you bring those parts? I'd be happy to bring the radio to the meeting.

I got the other 58 working, but the 55 definately needs a replacement. thanks !

I will be there. I'm the VP of the club. Unfortunately I was already at work in STL when I saw your post so I won't be able to bring the parts tonight. I will try to look this week to see if I can dig out that tube and parts. If you want to bring the radio tonight we can try to diagnose it to find out why it doesn't work above 900kc.

[theblackknight]

Originally Posted by sean

I will be there. I'm the VP of the club. Unfortunately I was already at work in STL when I saw your post so I won't be able to bring the parts tonight. I will try to look this week to see if I can dig out that tube and parts. If you want to bring the radio tonight we can try to diagnose it to find out why it doesn't work above 900kc.

I haven't been to the radio club in awhile, do you mind giving me the address of the kirkwood city place so i can google it?

thanks! i'll see you there, and bring the radio !

[AUdubon5425]

Originally Posted by theblackknight

YEAH !!!! i got er workin. turns out, the volume control is 99% destroyed.

I have an old IRC volume control catalog from '41 that has a cross-reference. Here's what it says for the 310A:

Majestic (Grigsby-Grunow Co.) 311 (310A)
Volume - model J-165 - 200M ohms - Mfr's part no. 7236 - Rider's III-21
Used on Majestic models: 77, 291, 293, 294 (290), 303, 304, 307 (300), 311 (310A), 314, 315 (310B), 324 (320), 331, 336 (330)

Maybe you can find a pot from a parts chassis. Best of luck - its a nice set!

[sean]

Henry,

Check your PM.

[theblackknight]

sean, it was great to meet ya the other night. thanks for helpin me with the radio, i appreciate it.

[radioactive]

Originally Posted by theblackknight

sean, it was great to meet ya the other night. thanks for helpin me with the radio, i appreciate it.

so,did you figure out why it wouldnt tune past 900kc?

[sean]

We used another radio to listen for the oscillator on the Majestic. The oscillator worked throughout the entire band so that is not the culprit. I would guess something with the detector section. Maybe the detector section of the tuning cap is shorting out at the upper end of the band.

I am still looking for the volume pot from the parted out set. I think that the set I parted out was a model 300 since I remember it having a saturable core reactor in it. However, according to the schematic the volume control has the same value as that in the model 310, 200k ohms. I was able to find what I think was the tone pot from that set with the power switch on the back. Have you tried spraying some contact cleaner inside the volume pot? If the pot is constructed the way that many pots were from that era, it may be repairable. I will have to take this tone pot apart to see how it is made.

[theblackknight]

the piece of carbon that goes around the inside of the pot is worn beyond repair. I've diassemebled the entire pot and done a TON of messing around with it on a multimeter and nothing helps. This pot is much different than any other I have seen, I think it is poorly designed.


Mine has the tone control which seems to work OK. the tone control is rated different from the volume one IIRC so I don't think it would work in the volume cntrl spot. But if you don't need the tone control I wouldnt mind having it as a spare.


Henry