Allwave 12 Napier Cabinet

[Robert Anderson]

 Hello, This is my first post here. Thanks for letting a novice like me join your group so that I can learn some things. A couple weeks ago I bought the coolest looking Art Deco console radio that I had ever seen. It was an E. H. Scott Allwave 12 Deluxe in a Napier cabinet in original condition. The cabinet needs some work on the apron but otherwise the radio looks to be complete and in decent shape.

 So now I need to learn about what I have. I know that these units were pretty high end when they were made. Can anyone tell me approximately how many of these were made and or how many of the Napier cabinets were made? I have not been able to find anything online about current value. I did pay more for this radio than I ever have paid for any radio, but I knew it was a keeper so I went for it.

I do not do any electronic restoration myself and will need to have someone else do that. Is this something I can have general radio restoration guy do or should it be done only by someone familiar with E.H. Scott sets? 

If anyone has some advice or would be willing to share their thoughts I would be most appreciative.

Thanks!

[Kent King]

Robert - 

Welcome to the site! For your first Scott, you definitely found a great set. While I can tell you about how many AW12 sets were built (roughly 4000 or so), we have no idea on numbers of cabinets. I will tell you, there are a LOT of Napier cabinets out there - at least a hundred in collections. They were produced for almost 5 years and was sometimes a "giveaway" cabinet (buy an Allwave Deluxe and get a "free" Napier consolette). However, as the only cabinet that openly displays a Scott chassis, they are extremely popular. If you send me the serial number of your set, I can probably date it's production to within few months. 

As to value: Radio prices are down significantly, and Scott's are down too. A few years ago, any Scott on a Napier might have gotten $1500 to $2000, but today, prices are lower. I haven't seen one sell recently at auction, where you can get a better idea. My way of saying - I really don't know.

As to repair: the AW 12 Deluxe isn't too difficult to restore. An experienced radio restorer can handle it. Obviously, someone experienced with Scott sets might be quicker or catch some things that others might miss. Where are you located (state)? We can see if there is anyone nearby who might be able to help. Do NOT plug the set in or try it until it has been inspected. Scott sets do have fuses, so it should be safe from damage, unless someone bypassed the fuse. So be safe and let if get checked out first.

Please post a few pics if you can...thanks!

Kent 

[Robert Anderson]

Thanks for your response Kent. I do know enough to not plug any old radio in until I have someone go over it. I have a local guy that has restored a couple radios for me. Before I have him look at the Scott I want to get the two chassis has done for me back in their cabinets and then see how they run. I don't particularly collect radios but wanted to have a couple cool working examples in my eclectic collection. I had never seen this open chassis model before but I knew I had to get it. I am furnishing a studio apartment with period Art Deco pieces and that will be where the radio will live once restored.

I attempted to post a picture here but it showed up here sideways.

The serial No. is U 187

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

[Kent King]

Robert -

That serial number dates from very late 1933 or perhaps just slightly in to Jan 1934. Quite possibly a Christmas order for 1933.

Kent

[Kent King]

Oh, don't worry about sideways - I may be able to fix that...

Robert Anderson said:

Thanks for your response Kent. I do know enough to not plug any old radio in until I have someone go over it. I have a local guy that has restored a couple radios for me. Before I have him look at the Scott I want to get the two chassis has done for me back in their cabinets and then see how they run. I don't particularly collect radios but wanted to have a couple cool working examples in my eclectic collection. I had never seen this open chassis model before but I knew I had to get it. I am furnishing a studio apartment with period Art Deco pieces and that will be where the radio will live once restored.

I attempted to post a picture here but it showed up here sideways.

The serial No. is U 187

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

[Robert Anderson]

I will try to attach a picture again.

Looks like it went sideways again.

[David C. Poland]

Your cell phone or computer photo application should have an photo edit feature. Several edit operations include cropping the photo, changing the contrast or brightness. Look for the function "rotate". Each click should rotate the photo 90 degrees. 

Looks like a nice example.

[Robert Anderson]

 In my computer photo application the image is in the correct upright position. But when I attached the photo in this forum it showed up here sideways. But thank you for the "rotate" suggestion.

David C. Poland said:

Your cell phone or computer photo application should have an photo edit feature. Several edit operations include cropping the photo, changing the contrast or brightness. Look for the function "rotate". Each click should rotate the photo 90 degrees. 

Looks like a nice example.

[Kent King]

I even downloaded his picture, rotated it and uploaded, and it came sideways. Didn't have time to dig into it further...odd.

Robert Anderson said:

 In my computer photo application the image is in the correct upright position. But when I attached the photo in this forum it showed up here sideways. But thank you for the "rotate" suggestion.

David C. Poland said:

Your cell phone or computer photo application should have an photo edit feature. Several edit operations include cropping the photo, changing the contrast or brightness. Look for the function "rotate". Each click should rotate the photo 90 degrees. 

Looks like a nice example.

[Robert Anderson]

Thanks for doing that Kent. I have never had that issue with any photo I uploaded to any site before.

Kent King said:

I even downloaded his picture, rotated it and uploaded, and it came sideways. Didn't have time to dig into it further...odd.

Robert Anderson said:

 In my computer photo application the image is in the correct upright position. But when I attached the photo in this forum it showed up here sideways. But thank you for the "rotate" suggestion.

David C. Poland said:

Your cell phone or computer photo application should have an photo edit feature. Several edit operations include cropping the photo, changing the contrast or brightness. Look for the function "rotate". Each click should rotate the photo 90 degrees. 

Looks like a nice example.

[Kent King]

Here we go!!

[Robert Anderson]

Thank you!

Kent King said:

Here we go!!