New to all this! Looking for help/advice!

[Cam M]

TL;DR: Got an 800-B(I think?), am looking for help/pointers with repair

Hi! My name is Cam, I'm 19. I recently acquired a Scott radio that used to be in my great-great-aunt's house (it's been sitting there for as long as anyone can remember). From what little research I have done so far, I am pretty sure it is an 800-B. I think it's really cool, and I would love to get it working again. I don't currently know much of anything about radios, but I aim to change that. I figured this site might be a good place to start. I am open to any advice/help/pointers on how to go about restoring it.

[Robert Feenstra]

Welcome!  Do you have a photo?

[Cam M]

Thanks! Yeah, I have a photo, but I don't know how to post it here, so I emailed it to the address listed for photos.

[Robert Feenstra]

Hmmm.  You picked one of the most complex radios made to start out on.  I think I would save it until you get a couple of simpler radios under your belt!  At the very least, the electrolytic capacitors should be changed out before you even try to power it up. The primary ones would be on the amplifier/power supply which also holds the FM IF section.  There are also electrolytics on the tuner chassis.  I have an 800B chassis that I have not begun to restore.  It is a major project!  Schematics and other info should be available in the Archive section of this website.

What is your electronic experience?

PS - At the top of the reply box is an icon where you can add a photo or other files.

[Kent King]

Welcome Cam!

As was said, the 800B is a very complex radio, not one I'd recommend for a first restoration. Do NOT plug the set in until it has been carefully restored - if you are very lucky, the only thing that would happen is the fuse would blow. More than just testing tubes, the capacitors need to be replaced. If you look in the "Scott Info Archive" at the top of the page, then Set Folders, then 800B - you can get all the documentation on this set. 

I would suggest seeking out a restorer in your area - if you let us know where you are located, we may be able to help you find someone who could restore it or at least provide some help.

And to upload an image - just click on the "Image" token at the top of the reply box.

Kent

[Cam M]

Oh man. That's too bad, but I'm not really surprised! To be honest, I have no electronic experience whatsoever. I hope to change that, though. Is there a simpler radio that you guys would recommend I keep an eye out for, to gain some experience? (also, I live in the Northern Virginia area--around the city of Winchester.)

Thank you both for your help!

[Norman S Braithwaite]

You might try contacting Donald Cochrane <[e-mail]>.  He also lives in Winchester and he has experience working on Scott 800B sets.

Norman

[Troy Taylor]

Hello Cam-

To address your question about finding a simpler radio to gain restoration experience-

There are far too many radios that would qualify to recommend any particular one, so I would suggest that instead of looking for a specific model, you instead try to find _any_ vintage radio using what is known as the "All American Five" circuit, using the octal base tubes: 12SA7, 12SK7, 12SQ7, 35Z5, and 50L6.  This circuit is probably the most thoroughly documented of all vintage radios, and there are entire books available that explain exactly how this circuit works, how to restore, and how to troubleshoot.  You will be able to find tons of information about this type of radio.

Since this circuit was designed to string all the tube filaments in series that equals line voltage (12+12+12+35+50=121), no power transformer is necessary.  This eliminates any possibility of finding a radio that doesn't work due to an open or shorted power transformer.

Additionally, all of the tubes are easily obtainable and none are expensive.  (I just took a look at a reputable tube supplier's price list, and a whole set of all five, New Old Stock, tubes for this radio is about $25.00)  There are literally hundreds or thousands of different styles/models/brands made through the years to choose from, so you can likely find many that will appeal to you cosmetically.  This same circuit was also made with smaller 7 pin 'miniature' tubes, but those are so much smaller that they will not be as easy to work around as the larger octal base tube models will be for a beginner.  Also, your Scott uses octal base tubes, so getting some familiarity with how these sockets are numbered will be useful to you.

I would suggest avoiding any radios that have obvious major damage or look like they've been stored in damp locations that left delaminated cabinet parts or very rusty components but, other than that, if you find one in good cosmetic condition that appeals to you and is complete with all knobs and such, I think you'll have a great candidate to begin learning how to restore a vintage radio.

Troy Taylor

Edmonds, WA

[David C. Poland]

Also - caution:  series wired tube sets have some inherent danger because one side of the ac power cord may be connected to the metal chassis or inadvertently connected through a shorted capacitor, depending on how the radio is wired, or has aged.  

Work insulated from concrete floors with thick rug and/or shoes. Household voltage can be lethal - you wouldn't stick you finger in a light socket.  Work on a non-conductive table. When the radio is plugged in, keep one hand in your pocket (seriously!). For a series wired radio,  using an isolation transformer is a safeguard.

A radio with a power transformer is generally safer to work on because the power transformer provides electric isolation despite the higher voltages in some of the radio's circuits.

The best book I found for a beginner is Fixing Up Nice Old Radios by Ed Romney, who used to teach this info. About 180 pages and introduces basic info about capacitors, resistors, coils, tuned circuits, transformers, and how vacuum tubes function.  Also symbols seen on circuit diagrams. Comments on safety as some radios have high voltage of upwards of 500 volts in some circuits. Then basic radio circuits: reflex, tuned radio frequency (TRF) and superheterodyne. Your Scott is a superheterodyne. This book includes some case studies on more common basic radios and then some more complex including a 12 tube Scott. This book is written for the novice. The plastic binder allows the pages to lay flat.  May be a little hard to find as it is likely out of print - but have seen it turn up so try some searches. Expect price upwards of $30 in good condition, but you may find it for less. 

For newer effort -  do a search for Bret's Old Radios for some good info thus:

overview information .https://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=147295

and https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Radio-Restoration-Vols-1-2-New-Com...

Practical knowledge today mostly resides in the hands of tube radio hobbyists. Vacuum tube radio manufacturing ended more than 50 years ago.

You will get guidance on this web site. Also, suggest Antique Radio Forum for its discussion threads.

Good Luck and enjoy!!

[palegreenthumb]

Hi Cam, welcome.  I'd be interested to see a rear photo of your 800B.  I'm curious how an entire 800B was crammed in that little cabinet.  Does it have a speaker?

-Rodney

[Cam M]

Hi! Sorry for the YEARS-late response, life sort of got in the way and this project fell off of my to-do list, but I'm picking it back up! It does not have a speaker in the cabinet (as far as I can tell, but I'm not the most observant person), and unfortunately there were no external speakers with it when I  got it. I'll attach a picture of the back!

Scott_800B_rear.jpg

edit: What I assume is the amplifier/power supply that Robert was asking about (on account of the massive transformer sitting on it) was originally sitting in the basement of the house.

edit 2: when I say "picking it back up", what I really mean is contacting Mr. Cochrane, while also trying to track down a starter project! Thank you again to everyone for sharing so many useful tips and resources! Time to get started on my radio homework!

[Michael Lawton]

Before you begin any work on this radio, please take the time to learn something about electronics, especially that used in the 1940s and 1950s. I strongly suggest getting a copy of Audel's Radioman's Guide.  https://archive.org/details/Audels_Radiomans_Guide_Edwin_P._Anderso...  . Hard copies can be found on Amazon or often on eBay. You will also need to master the art of soldering. Don't waste your time with a modern soldering pencil. Buy an old Weller model 8200 soldering gun. Get an older one with the special nuts to secure the soldering tips, not a new one with the set screws. You might want to buy some replacement nuts and replacement tips. You can make your own tips from bare 12 gauge solid copper wire. This is where to begin. Beyond that, ASK QUESTIONS. Better to take time and ask questions than to freak something up. Good luck. I look forward to hearing your progress. Please also post pictures of your radio, and of any specific things you are asking about. As the old saying goes, "One picture is worth 1000 words."

[William Taney]

Think I have a similar set. Any luck finding someone who can work on it? gorgeous unit.. Mine does not have the presets, but is in a much larger cabinet.