My free 1962 Grundig Majestic console

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by spartanmanor, Feb 11, 2021.

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  1. spartanmanor

    spartanmanor Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    My wife saw this listed on the local listserv for our neighborhood. It was just two blocks from where I live and thankfully I have a pickup truck. The nice couple is moving and wanted to find a new home for this beauty. It comes from the original owner purchased in NYC with the original bill of receipt. I don't know that much about the model but love the way it looks. The size is perfect for a console, not too big, and that book-matched veneer, wow! The radio works the turntable needs a little help. I plan on keeping it as original as possible. Any info would be appreciated.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    EVOLVIST, Old Rusty, Coypu and 10 others like this.
  2. geezin'

    geezin' Forum Resident

    Location:
    Flintstone MD
    I have nothing in the way of help. However that is beautiful. I'd jump on that too. And the price???? Sweet.
     
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  3. Uglyversal

    Uglyversal Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sydney
    I don't know the model but highly likely it runs on tubes. While I understand your wish to keep it as original as possible, if you want to use it you should have it checked and serviced by someone with expertise in valves as the heat and high voltages used by tubes can turn into a big problem with aging components.
     
  4. spartanmanor

    spartanmanor Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    You can't beat free!!!
     
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  5. terzinator

    terzinator boots lost in transit

    if the turntable is beyond restoration (heavy tonearm, defunct cart/stylus), I'd carefully remove it and see if you can fit in a dual 1019 or similar. Might have to cut/fit a bottom base for the dual to sit on, but I always feel like these consoles are better when put to use, than to just sit looking pretty doing nothing.

    I did this for my girlfriend's Grundig and she uses it all the time. (Hid some Klipsch RM-51 speakers into the unit and it's a modern workhorse.)
     
  6. spartanmanor

    spartanmanor Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    I have a great, vintage appropriate Rek-o-Kut that would fit the bill very nicely.
     
  7. ZippyPippy

    ZippyPippy Forum Resident

    Looked for a second there like a vintage rotisserie roaster
     
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  8. spartanmanor

    spartanmanor Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Flame veneer!
     
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  9. JohnO

    JohnO Senior Member

    Location:
    Washington, DC
    Does it work? Does the radio work? Does it have inputs and/or outputs on the back? If if does, RCA or DIN? Pic?
     
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  10. SonicCzar

    SonicCzar Forum Resident

    Location:
    New England
    Thank you for saving it!

    Even if nothing functions it would make an awesome stand.
     
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  11. pscreed

    pscreed Upstanding Member

    Location:
    Land of the Free
    Man that thing is a beauty. Wow!

    Nice score.
     
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  12. spartanmanor

    spartanmanor Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA

    Yes, the radio works. There are no visible outputs. My assumption is the amp will have RCA jacks that are accessible once I remove the back.
     
    clhboa likes this.
  13. stereoguy

    stereoguy Its Gotta Be True Stereo!

    Location:
    NYC
    You should not plug that unit in. You need to have it completely serviced by a qualified tube tech.
     
  14. tubesandvinyl

    tubesandvinyl Forum Resident

    Yes!
     
  15. Lord Hawthorne

    Lord Hawthorne Currently Untitled

    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    I don't think Grundigs had stereo FM until 1965.
     
  16. spartanmanor

    spartanmanor Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Yes, this unit is 100% mono. I did notice that it had a reel to reel at some point on the right side that was taken out and covered with a piece of veneered plywood. This can be seen in the photo with the literature sitting on top. I pried it open to find the cut out for the electronics.
     
  17. KT88

    KT88 Senior Member

    Ditto
     
  18. KT88

    KT88 Senior Member

    It's possible that the unit came like that unless there are obvious dust and clear spots, scratches, etc that clearly indicate the deck was installed and then removed later. I think these tape decks were sold as an optional component and it would have been expensive. I suspect that most were sold with just radio and phono. If you didn't want phono, they have table top radios which were nice, and essentially the same radio but in a smaller cabinet with smaller speakers. It was top quality stuff then and had a lovely sound. I have had a few stereo versions in the past.

    Please have it serviced by a vintage audio tech to get the most out of it and to prevent a catastrophic failure. If these are left on, they can even catch fire.
    -Bill
     
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  19. Bananajack

    Bananajack Phorum ... wat Phorum? Where am I?

    Location:
    Singapore
    You might find DIN connections inside, if any. As it’s Mono, there won’t be Stereo outputs.
    I had a 1950s Telefunken from my Grandfather, even the tubes were okay.
    The Turntable might be from Perpetuum Ebner, try for parts or a new (used) one on German eBay.
    PE was partnered strongly with Telefunken.
     
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  20. spartanmanor

    spartanmanor Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    I pulled the amp and it definitely will need a recap. I did find a schematic. The model is a Majestic Musical Instrument 7028.

    [​IMG]
     
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  21. G E

    G E Senior Member

    That would make a dandy liquor cabinet!
     
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  22. spartanmanor

    spartanmanor Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    I had a little time to clean up the plastic bits on the front. 60 years of grime took a bit to get off all the switches and knobs had a nice brown gunky covering on them before starting. I used a wash of soap water and alcohol with a toothbrush and rag. When done I cleaned that all off with water and used some Novus plastic polish to shine everything up. Some before and after and during shots:

    [​IMG][​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    I am also working on my list of replacement caps and cans....
     
    Slimwhit33 likes this.
  23. action pact

    action pact Music Omnivore

    So you know how to refurbish the electronics yourself? NICE!
     
  24. KT88

    KT88 Senior Member

    At the least. They made them well, but that was a long time ago.
    -Bill
     
  25. spartanmanor

    spartanmanor Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Enough to get me into trouble, but with a little research, I can usually figure things out. My most challenging recap was an HK Citation I preamp.
     
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