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The "EMBASSY" - Almost Like New All-Original 1939 DeForest-Crosley 9D791 7-Tube All-Wave Console Radio, just Beautiful
In a Nutshell
After selling the "LISZT" and the "PARK LANE" now we have the "EMBASSY", another one of the DeForest Crosley late 1930's gorgeous All-Wave Console Radios
Introduction:
For the third time I successfully bid on a 1930's DeForest Crosley console at a local auction, with 7 tubes, model number 9D791 and name "EMBASSY", which also is not documented in the internet. As for the 9-tubers LISZT and PARK LANE there is however an obvious 8-tube relative on the web site of Roger DeForest, a "distant relative" of Lee DeForest (see ref. 1 below for a model 9D891). Often both Rogers Majestic (R or M in model number) and DeForest Crosley (D in model number) had very similar sets. The first digit indicates the year of manufacture (1939) and the second digit the number of tubes (7). The last two digits enumerate variants, the codes are very cryptic, to say the least: the LISZT 8D991 has a relative 8D992 with additional station preset buttons, the 9D791, 9D891 and 9D991 have those station buttons themselves. The schematics, parts list and chassis information from the documentations by the Radio College of Canada (RCC) are available for free at ref.2 below (Data sheets 58, 59, 60). Here is the list of radios covered:
Additional information:
1. http://www.deforestradio.com/images/9d891.jpg
2. http://www.nostalgiaair.org/resources/S00000026%20ROGERS%20MAJESTIC.htm
3. http://www.philcorepairbench.com/biascell.htm
About my radio:
The console was built in 1939, as a 7-tube set, using several unique construction details:
- Full wave rectifier using two 2X3 diodes (see techies)
- 5 Rogers spray-shield tubes (one is Marconi, all testing excellent and looking like new)
- Very nice 6-band dial scale with band indicator
- Use of unusual components like 2 bias cells (replaced with two standard batteries [see under techies])
- Huge 12" field coil speaker
- 6 station preset push-buttons for AM (purely mechanical devices, operating on the tuning condensor shaft)
The radio is in very good and original condition, having no veneer damages. The top had one infamous flower pot ring and had to be refinished. The set has been thoroughly cleaned and in-depth serviced. All moving parts have been treated with contact spray, and the bias cells rejuvenated (see techies). The radio plays loud and clear on AM/BC, where it has good sensitivity and selectivity over the whole band spread. It finds stations on all 5 SW bands, with an antenna to be optimized at the final location of the radio. The push-buttons for preselecting AM stations are working perfectly, moving back and forth both the dial pointer and the tuning knob. Please e-mail me (Kris) for any questions, ich spreche Deutsch, je parle Français.
For the historians only:
Edward Samuel ("Ted") Rogers (1900-1939): kid telegrapher, invented the first A/C tube, in 1925 established "Canada's First Rogers Batteryless" (CFRB) both, as a radio factory and a broadcast station and in 1928 the Rogers-Majestic Corporation, in 1934 acquired Consolidated Industries, which built DeForest-Crosley Radios in Canada, in 1933 created the Spray-Shield Tube which eliminated the need for protective tube cans, and conducted the first public demonstration of television in Toronto, died much too early.
Lee de Forest (1873-1961): "father of radio" and "grandfather of television", invented the Audion tube in 1906,
in 1934 established Lee de Forest, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.,
supported for Nobel Prize for Physics, in 1959 received an honorary Oscar instead, owned 180 patents, but needed Edwin Armstrong to understand them, and David Sarnoff to commercialize them, married 4 times.
Powel Crosley (1886-1961): together with business savvy brother Lewis made money with gadgets, and from 1921 on with radios, after his son wanted one, by 1924 became world's largest radio manufacturer, participated in fishing tournaments, owned Nikassi Island in Canada and Bull Island off the coast of South Carolina, and many houses.
For the techies only:
Four of the seven tubes are original Rogers spray shield tubes, one more a Marconi spray shield tube. All test above average. The original 2X3 rectifier tubes, exclusively used by Rogers Majestic and DeForest Crosley and hard to get new, were already replaced by a 5Y3 full wave rectifier, as normally is done when one of the 2X3 fails. For optical reasons the socket of the still working but not anymore needed 2X3 is then filled with the dud 2X3. The radio originally used 2 Mallory bias cells (ref.3 above). This are small devices, which function like a low power battery, and supply negative bias to tube grids, without necessitating a separate power supply. These cells work with electrolytes and normally have dried out, but can be rejuvenated, by boiling them for about one minute in water, slowly cooling them down to room temperature still immersed in water, and resealing them. This should last for at least another 10 years. Don't worry, there are always standard remedies available, how to replace failing Rogers components with normal ones, should that ever happen.
Here are the specifications:
Technical Description of Item |
| Manufacturer |
Rogers Majestic Corp. Toronto, Canada, for De Forest Crosley Limited |
| Model |
"EMBASSY", chassis 9D791 |
| Type |
7(6, see techies)-tube 6-band console radio |
| Production Year |
1939 |
| Serial Number |
C 68895 |
| Cabinet |
6-tone wood |
| Dial |
Metalized hard cardboard dial with celluloid cover and wood escutcheon |
| Knobs |
4 gray swirled tenite knobs, 6 brown swirled preset push-buttons |
| Frequency Range |
520-1750 kHz, 5.9-6.2 MHz, 9.4-9.9 MHz, 11.5-12.2 MHz, 14.8- 15.6 MHz, 17.3-18.2 MHz |
| Controls |
Volume, on/off - tone, band switch, tuning, 6 preset station buttons |
| Tube line-up |
2x2X3(Rect, see techies), 6K7M(RF), 6J8M(Osc), 6K7M(IF), 75M(Det), 41M(Audio) |
| Size (WxDxH) |
27" x 15" x 35" |
| Weight |
61 lbs = 27.6 kg |
| Comment |
Excellent condition, serviced and perfectly working |
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