Grigsby-Grunow
| Company type | Brand |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
| Predecessor | Grigsby-Grunow Company |
| Founded | 1927 in Chicago, United States |
| Founder | Bertram James Grigsby, William Carl Grunow |
| Defunct | 1955 |
| Fate | Brand discontinued after Wilcox-Gay Corporation ceased operations |
| Successor | None |
| Headquarters | Chicago (originally), later Elgin, Illinois and Charlotte, Michigan , United States |
Area served | United States and Canada |
Key people | William Lear (inventor associated with early products), Leonard Ashbach (Wilcox-Gay owner) |
| Products | Radios, radio-phonograph consoles, refrigerators (under Majestic Household Utilities), televisions (later years) |
| Owner | Various corporate owners including Grigsby-Grunow Company, Majestic Radio & Television Corporation, Wilcox-Gay Corporation |
Number of employees | 11,000 (circa 1930 at Grigsby-Grunow peak) (1930) |
| Parent | Various over time; including Zenith Radio (investment consortium in 1936) |
Majestic Radios represented a prominent American radio brand from 1927 until 1955, famously marketed under the tagline "The Mighty Monarchs of the Air". Renowned for their superior craftsmanship, these radios were originally produced by the Grigsby-Grunow Company based in Chicago. Following Grigsby-Grunow's bankruptcy in 1934 amid the Great Depression, the Majestic line persisted under several different corporate owners for an additional twenty-two years. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, radios bearing the Majestic name were manufactured by the Majestic Radio & Television Corporation. After that company's dissolution in 1949, production of Majestic radios shifted to a division of the Wilcox-Gay Corporation, which operated a Michigan facility during the 1950s.
Origins and growth
Established in 1921 as the Grigsby-Grunow-Hinds Company in Chicago by Bertram James Grigsby and William Carl Grunow, a World War I Army major, the firm initially specialized in automotive aftermarket accessories such as "Premier" sun visors. By 1927, their annual revenue had reached $5 million, with products including "Majestic" battery eliminators—an innovation by inventor William Lear—that replaced cumbersome lead-acid batteries used to power home radio sets.
The booming commercial broadcasting industry and expanding national radio networks during the prosperous 1920s spurred demand for high-fidelity audio and elegant console radios designed for American households. In 1927, after dropping Hinds from its name, Grigsby-Grunow commenced production of "Majestic" radios equipped with dynamic moving-coil speakers and cutting-edge screen-grid tube technology to enhance signal reception. The Majestic Model #71 (1927) was a tuned radio frequency receiver featuring a 9-inch speaker and operated on household AC power—offering significant improvements in selectivity and sound quality compared to earlier horn speakers or earphones. Majestic radios became known for their tasteful cabinetry and exceptional loudspeakers. The Model #131 floor console introduced in 1930 incorporated an 8-tube circuit for improved sensitivity and selectivity, coupled with a larger 12-inch speaker.
The vibrant 1920s
To stimulate radio sales, Grigsby-Grunow sponsored the The Majestic Theater of the Air musical program broadcast on the CBS network starting October 1928. By that year, the company had become the second-largest radio manufacturer in the United States, trailing only RCA but surpassing Atwater-Kent, producing approximately 4,000 units daily with distribution across the country. Majestic’s advertising tagline was "The Mighty Monarch of the Air," and by 1930 it commanded around 40 percent of radio sales in both U.S. and Canadian markets. Prices ranged between $126.50 and $235 (equivalent to roughly $1,890–$3,500 in 2020 dollars), often with installment payment options available through retailers. A contemporary review from 1930 highlighted Majestic radios for their outstanding reception quality, tone fidelity, and refined cabinet styling. Notably, Max Pruss—the navigator of Graf Zeppelin—acquired a Majestic set in 1929 following its captain Hugo Eckener’s earlier purchase.
At its zenith in 1930, Grigsby-Grunow employed about 11,000 workers at its Chicago manufacturing plant and generated annual sales totaling $61 million. Its stock price experienced dramatic growth—hailed by Time as "the sensation of the Chicago Exchange"—climbing from $40 in 1928 to a peak of $1,100 in 1929 after several stock splits. During the Roaring Twenties, radio stocks were highly sought after as symbols of investment in emerging technology sectors. As noted by Thurman Arnold in 1965, firms like Grigsby-Grunow once dominated stock ticker displays before eventually disappearing from prominence.
The Depression years
Following the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Grigsby-Grunow's share price dropped sharply to $18. In April 1930, the company introduced Majestic Household Utilities, a division focused on producing refrigerators and household appliances such as vacuum cleaners and washing machines; shipments of Majestic refrigerators commenced in October. A $9 million expansion of their manufacturing facility aimed to achieve a daily output of 600 all-electric refrigerators, which boasted quiet operation and claimed 30 percent greater energy efficiency compared to rival products. Nevertheless, by June 1930, Time highlighted unsold Majestic radios and declining revenues as consumers curtailed spending on luxury goods amid the Great Depression. The firm also confronted patent infringement lawsuits alongside shrinking sales of its high-priced console radios. Amid worsening sales figures, Grunow was removed from his role as president in 1931. He later established General Household Utilities in 1933 to produce refrigerators and radios under the Grunow brand, but this venture ceased operations in 1939.
In mid-1933, the Majestic "Smart Set" series debuted affordable yet elegantly designed table radios, including the model 161—a superheterodyne receiver with Art Deco chrome accents and a mahogany cabinet—priced at $47.50. Despite this product’s popularity, Grigsby-Grunow filed for bankruptcy in November 1933 and halted Majestic radio production by February 1934. After its reorganization proposal faltered, creditors compelled liquidation in June 1934. The bankruptcy court required the establishment of a Refrigeration Service Department to continue supporting parts sales for Majestic refrigerators and radios.
Majestic Radio & Television years (1936–1949)
In 1936, an investment consortium led by Zenith Radio acquired the assets of the defunct Grigsby-Grunow corporation, including the "Majestic Radio" brand name, remaining inventory, manufacturing machinery, and the Chicago plant. This acquisition led to the formation of Majestic Radio & Television Corporation, which issued stock to raise capital. Davega Stores became a major shareholder with ownership of 175,000 shares. Notably, early inventor Otis Boykin was employed by the company initially as a laboratory assistant before advancing to plant foreman.
After declaring bankruptcy in October 1939, Majestic proposed a voluntary reorganization plan supported by unsecured creditors such as vacuum tube manufacturers. The company maintained that its operations remained robust during this period. During , Majestic contributed to wartime defense efforts by employing crystallographer George Switzer, who ensured the precision of crystal oscillators used in aircraft transceivers.
Following World War II, Majestic invested $600,000 to build a new factory located on in Elgin, Illinois. Their product range included colorful tabletop radios and combination radio-phonograph consoles equipped with FM tuners starting in 1947. Additionally, the company launched a subsidiary named Majestic Records in 1945 with recording studios based in New York City and former mayor Jimmy Walker serving as president. Despite signing notable artists such as Bud Freeman and Louis Prima, Majestic Records discontinued pressing records in 1948 due to financial difficulties; its catalog was subsequently acquired by Mercury Records.
The expected surge in postwar radio demand did not materialize as hoped, and Majestic struggled to establish a foothold in television manufacturing. This contributed to another bankruptcy filing in February 1948 that also involved its record division. On May 27, 1949, a federal bankruptcy court ordered liquidation after trustees concluded that reorganization was not viable due to declining radio sales, intense price competition, and unsuccessful television production efforts. The Elgin manufacturing facility and related assets were sold at auction in November 1949.
Wilcox-Gay later period (1950s–1960s)
In 1950, Leonard Ashbach, proprietor of Garod Radio Corporation, purchased the remaining assets of Majestic Radio & Television along with a controlling interest in Wilcox-Gay Corporation. His objective was to manufacture Majestic-branded radios and televisions at Wilcox-Gay's facility located in Charlotte, Michigan. Founded in 1910, Wilcox-Gay was known for producing recording devices, phonographs, and television sets. Among its distinguished products were the 1939 "Recordio," which enabled users to create home 78 rpm records and capture radio broadcasts, and the 1948 portable "Recordette." During the 1940s, the company also manufactured wire recorders, which were eventually supplanted by reel-to-reel magnetic tape technology in the early 1950s.
After receiving shareholder consent in August 1950, Wilcox-Gay commenced production of Majestic radios and televisions at its Charlotte plant, offering a range of eight radio models alongside television units. In 1954, Ashbach broadened the Majestic product lineup by importing Grundig FM radios from Germany, distributing them through existing Majestic dealer networks.
Despite these efforts, Wilcox-Gay declared bankruptcy in January 1955 and halted its unprofitable television manufacturing; however, radio production persisted. The Michigan factory was shuttered in December 1958, marking the end of domestic Majestic radio manufacturing. Until 1961, Wilcox-Gay remained the exclusive U.S. importer of Grundig products. A planned merger with Davega Stores in September 1961 collapsed due to financial terms not being met. By late 1961, Wilcox-Gay faced bankruptcy once more and terminated all operations; its assets were liquidated through auction in March 1962.
As collectible items
Majestic radios produced during Grigsby-Grunow's prominent era of the late 1920s to early 1930s are highly sought after by antique radio enthusiasts for their superior craftsmanship and distinctive design. The fully restored 1933 Art Deco model 161 serves as a notable example underscoring the brand’s lasting significance.