@lostsound2001 I'm afraid I don't know much about Majestic. A little research tells me their first 20" set came out in 1952 and they ceased production in 1958. Generally collectors prefer sets from the 40s with a few exceptions like the Predictas.
That being said, if you like it, it's in good condition and the price is reasonable, go for it :)
The last owner of Majestic Radio and Televison was the Wilcox Gay Corperation, so many are almost identical to Wilcox Gay sets. If it's 20 inches, more then likely a 21'' rectagular picture tube, then it's likely from 1952 or newer. I would say it's only worth buying if it's all there, in good shape, and inexpensive, like the looks, and have the room.
Since you picked up the 26X56 I've seen two others listed on fleabay and both of those still had the plastic control door still on them. It isn't much of a sample to go by but maybe the vertical mounting of the door made them less vulnerable to snapping off then the horizontal mounted ones. The main problem I have heard about the metal glass tubes from old timers was the shock hazzard, and losing vaccuum, I wonder if the 16'' MG tubes held up better then larger sized ones?
@OlegKostoglatov Yes, I think the 16" did hold up better. I've seen several postings online showing gassy 19" MG tubes with hairline fractures around the screen edge, but no 16" that I can recall. The monstrous 30" 30BP4 is really prone to failure.
My policy is to just to replace rubber covered wire with normal vinyl covered wire, since it's the nearest modern equivailent. It looks almost the same and is cheaper then cloth covered wire, under a chassis you could use it to replace the cloth stuff since nobody is going to see it anyhow. I had to replace the leads coming out of the replacement transformer in my CGE KL500, (one of my many unfinished projects) it came out of a scrapped late 40s Stromberg and the cloth wires were very brittle.
I should mention that it was a bit of a pain to do, I had to cut the old wires off to within 1'' of where the go into the paper insulation, then clean the copper with laquer thinner and sandpaper, then pigtailed the new wires on, then slipped heat shrink tubing over each joint going as far as I could inside the winding. But before I could heat up the heat shrink I had to prebend it so the wire would be routed in the same direction as the old wire out of the end bell.
That Admiral TV chassis/CRT looked like it weighed a ton!! I'm glad that you were able to pull it out safely, especially with that potentially dangerous metal picture tube. Was crossing my fingers as you was doing it.
It'll be interesting to see whether those vertical output transformers show continuity.
@HardKnocks60 The 19" metal CRTs are really scary to be around. I showed one in a video a while back. They better be good! I got lucky in tacking down replacements for the 26R12.
Standard CRT's already freak me out, but that hybrid tube looks like a bomb. It's like handling powder or something. The radio looks nice, I guess you'll replace that 6A8. You received a glass version recently, right?
@dairydian They kinda freak me out too and I have two spares metal CRTs sitting on a chest in my bedroom! Yes, I did get a good 6A8G, but I think I'll stick that in the 38-7CS. I'll hunt around for another for this set.
Someone hacked up a couple of the bases in my 39-116 to use GT type tubes in it. I have a few replacements whenever I feel motivated enough to tear it apart to change them, and then buy the proper G tubes for it. The rubber wiring brings back bad memories too, the 39-116 was loaded with it.
Hi Bob Man All those will be awesome when finished.Learning more with every Video.Thank you for sharing.Added to my Favorites & TV Playlists.With Respect....Tec
Good Morning
I was wondering if you could tel me anything about a Majestic TV set .it's a floor model
20inch pictuer tube
someones trying to sell me one is it worth buying
Peace from Old Hippie
lostsound2001 1 month ago
@lostsound2001 I'm afraid I don't know much about Majestic. A little research tells me their first 20" set came out in 1952 and they ceased production in 1958. Generally collectors prefer sets from the 40s with a few exceptions like the Predictas.
That being said, if you like it, it's in good condition and the price is reasonable, go for it :)
bandersentv 1 month ago
The last owner of Majestic Radio and Televison was the Wilcox Gay Corperation, so many are almost identical to Wilcox Gay sets. If it's 20 inches, more then likely a 21'' rectagular picture tube, then it's likely from 1952 or newer. I would say it's only worth buying if it's all there, in good shape, and inexpensive, like the looks, and have the room.
OlegKostoglatov 1 month ago
Since you picked up the 26X56 I've seen two others listed on fleabay and both of those still had the plastic control door still on them. It isn't much of a sample to go by but maybe the vertical mounting of the door made them less vulnerable to snapping off then the horizontal mounted ones. The main problem I have heard about the metal glass tubes from old timers was the shock hazzard, and losing vaccuum, I wonder if the 16'' MG tubes held up better then larger sized ones?
OlegKostoglatov 1 month ago
@OlegKostoglatov Yes, I think the 16" did hold up better. I've seen several postings online showing gassy 19" MG tubes with hairline fractures around the screen edge, but no 16" that I can recall. The monstrous 30" 30BP4 is really prone to failure.
bandersentv 1 month ago
My policy is to just to replace rubber covered wire with normal vinyl covered wire, since it's the nearest modern equivailent. It looks almost the same and is cheaper then cloth covered wire, under a chassis you could use it to replace the cloth stuff since nobody is going to see it anyhow. I had to replace the leads coming out of the replacement transformer in my CGE KL500, (one of my many unfinished projects) it came out of a scrapped late 40s Stromberg and the cloth wires were very brittle.
OlegKostoglatov 1 month ago
@OlegKostoglatov I plan on tackling that 39-30 power transformer tonight. I'll be using vinyl wire as you suggest.
bandersentv 1 month ago
I should mention that it was a bit of a pain to do, I had to cut the old wires off to within 1'' of where the go into the paper insulation, then clean the copper with laquer thinner and sandpaper, then pigtailed the new wires on, then slipped heat shrink tubing over each joint going as far as I could inside the winding. But before I could heat up the heat shrink I had to prebend it so the wire would be routed in the same direction as the old wire out of the end bell.
OlegKostoglatov 1 month ago
@OlegKostoglatov That's just what I did too and it was a success I'm happy to say :)
bandersentv 1 month ago
That Admiral TV chassis/CRT looked like it weighed a ton!! I'm glad that you were able to pull it out safely, especially with that potentially dangerous metal picture tube. Was crossing my fingers as you was doing it.
It'll be interesting to see whether those vertical output transformers show continuity.
HardKnocks60 1 month ago
@HardKnocks60 The 19" metal CRTs are really scary to be around. I showed one in a video a while back. They better be good! I got lucky in tacking down replacements for the 26R12.
bandersentv 1 month ago
Standard CRT's already freak me out, but that hybrid tube looks like a bomb. It's like handling powder or something. The radio looks nice, I guess you'll replace that 6A8. You received a glass version recently, right?
dairydian 1 month ago in playlist Uploaded videos
@dairydian They kinda freak me out too and I have two spares metal CRTs sitting on a chest in my bedroom! Yes, I did get a good 6A8G, but I think I'll stick that in the 38-7CS. I'll hunt around for another for this set.
bandersentv 1 month ago
Someone hacked up a couple of the bases in my 39-116 to use GT type tubes in it. I have a few replacements whenever I feel motivated enough to tear it apart to change them, and then buy the proper G tubes for it. The rubber wiring brings back bad memories too, the 39-116 was loaded with it.
gadget73 1 month ago
@gadget73 Yeah, that rubber wiring stinks. I'm going to start replacing it tonight.
bandersentv 1 month ago
Hi Bob Man All those will be awesome when finished.Learning more with every Video.Thank you for sharing.Added to my Favorites & TV Playlists.With Respect....Tec
tectalabyss 1 month ago
To think. . .
all those old TV sets just sitting there collecting dust. . .
in attics, basements, rec rooms?
umajunkcollector 1 month ago
@umajunkcollector I sometimes wonder how many are really left hiding out there ?
bandersentv 1 month ago