First Introduction to E H Scott Receivers

[Joseph W Strickland]

My first exposure to E H Scott receivers was through a friend who had acquired an 800B which was not functional. I was working in consumer electronics repair at the time. He had been unsuccessful in finding anyone who could repair it in Dallas. I finally agreed to try. It turned out to only have a shorted bypass capacitor in the FM IF strip that took out a B+ isolation resistor. It played fine after parts were replaced. No tubes were at fault and were still working very well.

My second introduction to E H Scott receivers came when I attended a meeting of the Richardson, TX Wireless Club. Mr. J W F Puett presented a program on E H Scott receivers. He had color slides to show the beauty of the Scott receiver's chassis and other components. He did a great job of telling the history of E H Scott radios. He had some hand-outs which described various products he offered for sale through his company. I kept the sheet I picked up for many years. He had cassette tape recordings of many old radio programs available along with other items. This program was presented some time in the late 1970s.

I considered myself innoculated with E H Scott radios from then on.

How were you introduced to E H Scott radios?

Joe

[Joseph W Strickland]

I am not surprised that Mr. Pruett had mistakes in his book. In those years doing research was a difficult and slow task. Today we are very fortunate to have computers and the internet to do research. We still depend upon basis research though. Finding old documents from Scott Radio Laboratory is our most reliable source, but this group is doing an important job of disseminating that information plus assisting members in restoration of their units. Learning details such as what was done with original documents in possession of the company when it folded can lead to important data becoming available. The serial number research is something that we can all help with by reporting the ones in our possession.

Joe

[David C. Poland]

My intro was about about 1958 as a teen when I found a Scott in grandmother's attic during a visit. Receiver, amp and pedestal speaker but no cabinet. Big with a big green dial. Impressive chrome.Took downstairs, set it up and it played. Actually belonged to Mother's cousin - who said I could have it.

By chance about 1990 at a country auction, met a couple radio collectors and learned there was an old radio hobby and several clubs. Learned the Michigan club was having Scott radio as the theme in 1992. Met Kent and others and began pursuit of some other models. For several decades that Scott Philharmonic was mounted in a Victor credenza cabinet, and finally a couple years ago moved it into a proper Scott Tasman cabinet I restored. I have a dozen Scotts (1929 to 1940) in cabinets currently, and some other Scott chassis, a few other radios and a variety mid 1920's magnetic art speakers like the Tower Adventurer, Castle, and Pirate. And some 1950's component hi-fi H. H Scott's first audio and Some Fisher.

[Kent King]

June (Puett) was the first person to really start an organized effort to gather information about Scott, his radios and the company. There were many editions of "Silver Ghosts" and some of them have significant publishing errors (duplicate and missing pages to be specific). When looking at Puett's materials, remember that almost all of that knowledge is 25+ years old. We've gathered a lot more info and learned a lot more since 1992 and the start of the EHSHS. If you haven't already done so, get the new edition of the E. H. Scott Collector's Guide (shameless plug).

I've been collecting radios since my HS days in the 70s. For Christmas in the early 80s, my dad gave me a Scott Allwave 2-dial. It wasn't in a cabinet, and wasn't very pretty, but once I got it playing, I was hooked. I started buying only Scott sets and selling off my other items (at one point I had about 200 assorted sets). Now my display room is only Scott sets, I do have a few other 20s battery superhets and some 1938 Supreme test equipment, but my core collection is Scott. 

Kent

[Joseph W Strickland]

I imagine the Allwave 23 is a great performer on AM and SW. Be sure and give us a report when you get the alignment completed.

I spotted a reference to Mr. Puett's book last night in some internet searches. I should probably get a copy. He was a wealth of information on these radios. We are fortunate to have so many good people here on this website who have great knowledge of the E H Scott line.

Joe

[Thomas Day]

There was an article in Audio Magazine about Scott radios. It referenced Puett's book and I was able to get a copy which I still have. Then about 3 years ago I was able to buy a complete allwave 23 from a local collector.

It needed a new power transformer, which I was able to have made thru sources on this list.  I have the radio working, but it needs a complete realignment, which I hope to get to this winter.