Majestic Radio & Television

Majestic Radios

Company type	Brand
Industry	Consumer electronics
Predecessor	Grigsby-Grunow Company
Founded	1927
Fate	Brand discontinued after Wilcox-Gay bankruptcy and plant closure
Area served	United States, Canada
Products	Radios, radio-phonograph consoles, televisions (later)
Number of employees	11,000 (at peak under Grigsby-Grunow) (1930)

Majestic Radios was a prominent American radio brand operating from 1927 until 1955, famously marketed as "The Mighty Monarchs of the Air." Known for their superior craftsmanship, these radios were originally produced by the Grigsby-Grunow Company based in Chicago. Following the company's bankruptcy in 1934 amid the Great Depression, the Majestic line persisted under different ownerships for an additional 22 years. During the 1930s and 1940s, radios bearing the Majestic name were manufactured by the Majestic Radio & Television Corporation. After this entity was dissolved in 1949, production of Majestic radios was taken over by a subsidiary of the Wilcox-Gay Corporation at their Michigan facility throughout the 1950s.

Origins and growth

Established in 1921 as the Grigsby-Grunow-Hinds Company in Chicago by founders Bertram James Grigsby and William Carl Grunow, the firm initially specialized in automotive aftermarket products such as "Premier" sun visors. By 1927, annual revenues had reached $5 million, bolstered by products like "Majestic" battery eliminators invented by William Lear, which replaced bulky lead-acid batteries in home radio sets.

As radio broadcasting flourished during the affluent 1920s, consumer interest surged for radios that combined excellent sound quality with attractive console designs suitable for American households. In 1927, after dropping Hinds from its name, Grigsby-Grunow launched "Majestic" radios equipped with dynamic moving-coil speakers and sophisticated screen-grid tube technology to enhance signal reception. The Majestic Model #71 (1927) featured a tuned radio frequency receiver paired with a 9-inch speaker powered directly by AC mains electricity—offering significant improvement over earlier models that relied on horn speakers and suffered from poor selectivity. Majestic radios became well-regarded for their refined cabinetry and high-performance loudspeakers. The Model #131 floor console (1930) incorporated an 8-tube circuit alongside a 12-inch speaker to deliver superior sensitivity and selectivity.

The prosperous 1920s

To expand its radio market share, Grigsby-Grunow sponsored The Majestic Theater of the Air, broadcast on the CBS network starting in October 1928. By this period, the company ranked as the second-largest radio manufacturer in the United States—trailing only RCA and surpassing Atwater-Kent—producing approximately 4,000 radios daily and distributing them nationwide. The brand’s tagline was "The Mighty Monarch of the Air," and by 1930 it claimed a dominant 40 percent share of radio sales across the U.S. and Canada. Retail prices ranged between $126.50 and $235 (equivalent to about $1,890 to $3,500 in 2020), with installment payment options offered through dealers. The Charlotte Observer lauded Majestic radios in 1930 for their exceptional reception quality, tonal richness, and elegant cabinet styling. Notably, Max Pruss, navigator of Graf Zeppelin, purchased a Majestic set in 1929 following earlier acquisitions by captain Hugo Eckener during visits to America.

At its zenith in 1930, Grigsby-Grunow employed roughly 11,000 individuals at its Chicago plant and reported annual sales totaling $61 million. Its stock price surged dramatically from $40 in 1928 to a peak of $1,100 in 1929 (adjusted for splits), earning it recognition as "the sensation of the Chicago Exchange" according to Time. Radio stocks enjoyed immense popularity during the Roaring Twenties, although many firms like Grigsby-Grunow eventually declined after this boom period.

The Depression era

Following the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the value of Grigsby-Grunow's shares dropped sharply to $18 each. In April 1930, the company introduced Majestic Household Utilities, a branch focused on manufacturing refrigerators and household appliances such as vacuum cleaners and washing machines; deliveries of Majestic refrigerators commenced in October of that year. A $9 million expansion of their manufacturing plant was undertaken with the goal of producing 600 fully electric refrigerators daily, incorporating "several new mechanical features" that enabled quieter operation and improved energy efficiency by 30 percent compared to rivals. Nevertheless, by June 1930, Time highlighted the accumulation of unsold Majestic radios alongside declining revenues as consumers curtailed spending on luxury items.

As the Great Depression deepened, the company encountered patent infringement lawsuits and experienced a drop in sales for its high-end console models. Grunow, noted for his temperamental nature, was removed from his role as president in 1931 amid falling sales figures. He subsequently established General Household Utilities in 1933 to produce Grunow-branded radios and refrigerators; however, this venture ended operations in 1939.

The Majestic "Smart Set" series—affordable yet elegantly designed table radios—launched in mid-1933 and achieved robust sales; the model 161 included a superheterodyne receiver, Art Deco chrome accents on the speaker grille, and a hand-finished mahogany cabinet, priced at $47.50. Despite these efforts, Grigsby-Grunow filed for bankruptcy in November 1933 and discontinued Majestic radio production by February 1934. After its reorganization proposal was denied, liquidation proceeded in June 1934 under creditor insistence. The bankruptcy court required the creation of a Refrigeration Service Department to provide parts and maintenance support for Majestic refrigerators and radios.

Majestic Radio & Television years (1936–1949)

In 1936, an investment consortium led by Zenith Radio purchased the assets of the defunct Grigsby-Grunow firm, acquiring the "Majestic Radio" trademarks, remaining inventory, manufacturing machinery, and its Chicago factory—an important element for Zenith’s growth strategy. The Majestic Radio & Television Corporation was established and issued stock to raise capital. Davega Stores became a significant investor with ownership of 175,000 shares. Among early employees, inventor Otis Boykin progressed from laboratory assistant to plant foreman.

After filing for bankruptcy on October 24, 1939, Majestic proposed a voluntary reorganization plan backed by unsecured creditors including vacuum tube manufacturers. The company underscored its sound business practices and continuous operations. During , Majestic contributed to defense contracts by employing crystallographer George Switzer to ensure accuracy in aircraft transceiver crystal oscillators.

Following World War II, Majestic invested $600,000 in constructing a new factory located in Elgin, Illinois. By 1947, their product range had grown to include colorful tabletop radios as well as combination radio-phonograph consoles equipped with FM tuners. In 1945, the company also launched Majestic Records with studios based in New York City, appointing former mayor Jimmy Walker as president. Despite signing artists such as Bud Freeman and Louis Prima, financial difficulties led Majestic Records to cease record pressing operations in 1948; its catalog was subsequently acquired by Mercury Records.

The expected surge in postwar radio demand did not materialize as hoped, impeding Majestic’s television development plans and resulting in another bankruptcy filing in February 1948 that included its record division. On May 27, 1949, a federal bankruptcy court ordered full liquidation after trustees cited declining radio sales, intense price competition, and unsuccessful television ventures as key factors. The Elgin facility and associated assets were auctioned off in November.

Wilcox-Gay's final phase (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 brand radios and televisions at Wilcox-Gay’s manufacturing site in Charlotte, Michigan. Founded in 1910, Wilcox-Gay specialized in producing recording devices, phonographs, and television sets. Among its notable innovations were the 1939 "Recordio," enabling users to create home 78 rpm phonograph records and capture off-air radio broadcasts, as well as the 1948 portable "Recordette." The company also produced wire recorders during the 1940s but phased them out by the early 1950s due to the emergence of reel-to-reel magnetic tape technology.

After receiving shareholder consent in August 1950, production of Majestic radios and televisions commenced at the Charlotte plant, featuring eight radio models alongside TV units. By 1954, Wilcox-Gay broadened its offerings by importing Grundig FM radios from Germany, distributing them through Majestic’s dealer network.

Despite these efforts, Wilcox-Gay filed for bankruptcy in January 1955, halting television manufacturing but maintaining radio production. The Michigan facility was shuttered in December 1958, marking the end of domestic Majestic radio manufacturing. Nevertheless, Wilcox-Gay continued as the exclusive U.S. importer of Grundig products until 1961. A planned merger with Davega Stores in September 1961 collapsed due to failure to meet financial conditions. By late 1961, Wilcox-Gay had declared bankruptcy once more and ceased all operations; its assets were sold off at auction in March 1962.

As collectible items

Majestic radios from Grigsby-Grunow’s peak period in the late 1920s to early 1930s have become highly sought-after antiques among radio collectors, appreciated for their quality craftsmanship and aesthetic design. Particularly notable is the fully restored Art Deco model 161 from 1933.

External links

• Chicagology: Grigsby-Grunow
• Radio attic archives - Majestic radios
• The saga of Grigsby-Grunow/Majestic