The "LISZT" - Rare 1938 DeForest-Crosley 8D991 Console Radio

From an Estate - The "LISZT" - Almost Like New 1938 DeForest-Crosley 8D991 9-Tube All-Wave Console Radio, a Scent of McMurdo-Silver 15-17

Introduction
This radio with model number 8D991 and model name "LISZT" is not documented in the internet, although there is an obvious DeForest Crosley relative (see ref. 1 below for a model 8D891). 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 (1938) and the second digit the number of tubes (9). The last digit enumerates variants, where the 8D992 has the same chassis but additional station preset buttons. A very interesting discussion in the antiqueradios.com forum, finally located the schematics, parts list and chassis information in the documentations by the Radio College of Canada (RCC). A copy was sent to me by Jim Frey (Thank you). Here is a list of radios covered:

The radio is:

Very rare

Reminiscent of same years McMurdo-Silver 15-17 (and 1936 Masterpiece V)

In extremely good and original condition

A milestone in Canadian radio history and radio technology

References
1. http://www.deforestradio.com/images/8d891.jpg
2. http://www.philcorepairbench.com/biascell.htm

About my Radio
The console was built in 1938, as a higher-end 9-tube set, using several unique construction details:

Full wave rectifier using two 2X3 diodes

4 Rogers spray-shield tubes (still testing excellent and looking like new)

A very rare and expensive 6X6 magic eye tube (opens symmetrically), weak glow and replaced by 1629 (see text)

Push-pull audio end stage with two 41M tubes

Very collectible 6-band beam-of-light dial glass and -pointer

Use of unusual components like 2 bias cells (rejuvenated, see under techies)

Huge 12" field coil speaker

I have restored the radio as described under techies below. It is in very good and original condition, having only a few small and light paint damages, not showing up in any of the photos. The set has been thoroughly cleaned and in-depth serviced. Some critical wax paper condensors have been replaced, all moving parts treated with contact spray, and the bias cells rejuvenated (see below). The 6X6 magic eye tube is still working, although with very limited brightness. A new 1629 magic eye tube has been added, and the proper heater voltage provided by a voltage doubler (pict.26). The radio plays loud and clear on AM/BC (see movie by clicking on last picture), 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.

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:
Seven of the nine tubes are original Rogers tubes, four of them spray-shield type. All test above average, except the 6X6 magic eye testing good but having a very weak glow. This tube costs new at least 125$ and will be part of the auction, but I substituted it with the cheaper replacement tube 1629, which has the same socket, a slightly different pattern and a higher heater voltage, and therefore required a slight (easily reversible) modification (pict.26). The radio uses 2 Mallory bias cells (ref.2 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 been dried out. In the antiqueradios forum I was told to take them apart and use them as adapters for watch battery substitutes. I instead rejuvenated them, by boiling them for about one minute in water, slowly cooling them down to room temperature still immersed in water, and resealing them. After this treatment they showed 0.9 Volt, even measured with a regular solid-state voltmeter. - Don't worry, there are 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	"LISZT", chassis 8D991
Type	9-tube 6-band console radio
Production Year	1938
Serial Number	B 73911
Cabinet	7-tone wood
Dial	Reverse painted illuminated glass dial with beam-of-light pointer
Knobs	4 wooden knobs
Frequency Range	520-1750 kHz, 5.7-6.2 MHz, 9.3-9.8 MHz, 11.5-12.2 MHz, 14.8- 15.6 MHz, 17.3-18.2 MHz
Controls	Volume, tuning, band switch, on/off - tone, 6X6 (1629) magic eye
Tube line-up	2x2X3(Rect),6K7M(RF),6J8(Osc),6K7M(IF),6R7(Det,Inv),2x41M(PP-Audio),6X6(1629 Eye)
Dimensions (WxDxH)	26" x 15" x 40"
Weight	73 lbs = 33.2 kg
Comment	Excellent condition, serviced and perfectly working