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This is a Rogers-Majestic Corporation Ltd radio
manufactured in Toronto Canada in 1931. The Chassis Type is a R-641. This
Chassis was used in both the 610 and 629 models.
This radio measures 19.0" x 16.5" x 9.4" and weighs 39.4 pounds.
The Restoration
The cabinet was in reasonably good condition when I
acquired this unit ten years ago. However, the electronics needed to be
completely rebuilt. All the capacitors and most of the resistors were
replaced. In addition the insulation on much of the wiring was crumbling and had
fallen off in places and had to be replaced. This included the wiring to
the speaker which was also replaced. In this particular set the tuning
gang was completely seized with the rotor plates fused to the stator plates.
As a result the tuning gang had to be disassembled and the plates realigned.
The
Schematic
If you've seen an original schematic for these early Rogers model you known how
unnecessarily complicated they made them. so to simplify the restoration
process I took the time to re-draw the schematic and added color to easily
identify specific runs. You can view the results by tapping the icon to
the right.
Adding Authenticity
To
add to the correctness of the restoration I took the trouble to reproduce the
"Rogers Batteryless" decal that had one time adorned the inside of the cabinet.
You can view the reproduction by tapping on the icon to the right.
 Adding
Usability
This radio was modified to enable it to receive input from a small module that
plugs into the back and sits on the table beside the radio. You can see the
module on the table in the photo to the right. With the module attached you can
play FM Radio Stations through the radio's amplifier and speaker. As will
you can play music via Bluetooth from your smartphone or from a USB or Flash
Drive inserted into the module. If you read the information on the Extension
Modules link in the menu to the left you will recognize that I've implemented
what is referred to as "Type-B" modifications and equipped the module with
a rechargeable 12-volt battery.
Download Modified
Color Schematic PDF
Where
It Was Made
This radio was manufactured
in Toronto, Ontario by Rogers-Majestic Corporation Ltd. During this period
Rogers operated one of Canada’s most advanced radio manufacturing facilities.
The company was famous for developing reliable AC-operated “batteryless” radios
using Rogers vacuum tubes.
Ted Rogers Sr. — father of
the Rogers communications dynasty — built the company into one of Canada’s
dominant radio firms by the early 1930s.
Nearly a century after it
was built in Toronto, the Rogers Majestic Model
610 remains a remarkable example of Canadian
engineering, industrial artistry, and cultural
history.
Its elegant walnut
cabinet reflects the craftsmanship of an era
when radios were designed to last generations.
Its chassis embodies the technological ambitions
of a young communications industry. Its
advertisements reveal how manufacturers inspired
hope and excitement during one of the most
difficult economic periods in modern history.
Most importantly, the
Rogers Majestic 610 reminds us that radio once
transformed the world in much the same way the
internet would generations later. It connected
distant communities, brought entertainment into
ordinary homes, and reshaped everyday life.
To own a Rogers Majestic
610 today is to preserve a genuine piece of
Canada’s broadcasting heritage — a survivor from
the dawn of electronic communication and one of
the finest expressions of the Golden Age of
Radio.
One
Particularly Interesting Detail
This radio’s chassis design
predates the widespread adoption of superheterodyne circuits in many Canadian
home receivers. The TRF design used in the 641 was simpler but could still
deliver impressive performance because Rogers emphasized:
o high quality
transformers
o power audio
stages
o premium speaker
systems
That is one reason
surviving Rogers consoles often sound remarkably “large” even today after
restoration.
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