EH Scott Radio Enthusiasts

The Fine Things are Always Hand Made

Interesting cabinets/sets at Estes auction on Jan 28

For all the forum members, check out:

https://www.auctionzip.com/Listings/3766770.html

There are a number of unusual cabinets and very nice sets at the next auction.

If you are there - say hello, I will be there!

Kent

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I'm not super disappointed in the selling prices, just kind of surprised..  Mike Clark, you, and Jim Clark, along with Bob Shuck, fired my interest in Scott radios (and McMurdo Silver), back in the early 90s.  Being a tech, and engineer (job title, no engineering degree) made me very interested in Scott, and his relentless pursuit of excellence.  E.H. has been an inspiration to me.  His story has pushed me to pursue more electronic knowledge, and collect the radios his company made.  I got to talk to Marvin Hobbs once, very briefly, and shook his hand, and told him how awesome the radios he engineered were.  I have talked to folks that knew Murray Clay...(including you)...very neat stories. 

I saw a Scott Philharmonic, when I first started collecting, at the Indiana Historical Radio Society's winter Holiday Inn meet, back around 1990.  I couldn't believe that there was a radio that was chrome, had that many tubes, and a dial as big as a volleyball.  Of course, I couldn't afford it.  In the next year or two I got to know Mike Clark.  Then, I got to lay hands on his collection, including his Philharmonic, which I eventually bought/traded for, then restored.  I bought my first Scott, an AW-12 two dialer, from Mike.  My fascination has continued (and crescendo'd), to this day, and won't relent, even if these radios end up being worth $10 a piece.  Like you, I'll just be happy to have them.  

Kent King said:

I bid on most of them, but only bought the SuperXII in the Braemar. I was my set once upon a time, and for the selling price, I brought it home. Sadly, I set it up last night but it didn't play (it did), so I'll have to work on it when I find time. I should have bid more on the AW23 Laureate Grande, that would have been nice to get. I already have a Philly in the Chippendale and I couldn't stay that late anyway. Whoever got the FM Tuner won the prize...those are scarce. 

And Alex - I know my collection is never going to bring me what I have in it, but for me, it is the restorations, the history, the documenting...I never started collecting radios intending to make money - it's a hobby. By definition, you don't make money at most hobbies. And I'm not spending it at a golf course, or other things...and above all, it makes me happy. So that is enough.

Kent

I feel that I am a caretaker of these pieces of history. Someday after I am gone, even if the radios are scrapped - I still did what I could to preserve them for the time I was able. And knowing some of the people has also been special. I knew Marvin very well, we often dined in Chicago when I was up there for work - many nice evenings talking to him. I am still in contact with David Scott, Ernest's nephew. He has a couple of Scott sets, one with family connections. And I enjoy helping others restore and repair their Scott sets. The last thing I hope to accomplish is to put together a be all/end all book on Scott. Far more than the pages I did in the AWA review almost 25 years ago (that hardly seems possible). I just hope I live long enough to get everything done!

Kent

Estes January 27th Auction take aways:

 

I spent some time this morning looking through the recent Estes Auction results on Zip Auction. It was a large auction with a great cross section of radios, typical of our hobby of radio collecting. Here are a few of my take aways after going through what sold:

 

  • Their lack of professionalism Estes Auctions when it comes to online listings drives online bids down due to making condition hard to determine. Shame on them for this, they are not serving their clients the represent very well in the growing online auction area.

 

  • Overall, most of these radios in this large auction were in good condition, cabinets not restored, the way you want to find them.

 

  • It looks like the serious Zenith collectors showed up because the prices held up well, especially on the rarer, Rossouw designed, chrome front radios.

 

  • There was a great selection of Scott radios in this auction, many in what looked to be in better than average condition, like an AW23, good chrome, Laureate Grande cabinet with original tweeters that sold for only $1,200??? As a long time, collector of many the radio examples in this auction I’m lost to why Scott prices are constantly falling, even in an auction like this. Why are Zenith prices holding and Scotts are not? We know Zenith has always enjoyed a larger collector base, but why aren’t more Zenith collectors not crossing over to compete in buying these Scott sets now at bottom bargain prices? I will say the 1938, 15 tube Zenith in the rare Loui XV cabinet that usually goes for north of $2,500 sold for only $1,300, like the hit Scott’s took in in price at this auction. Thought’s anyone on this?

 

  • The two Walter Dorwin Teague Sparton mirror radios set the strong prices, both rare, the 557 had its original Christelyn finish on a majority of its wood. The Peach mirror round table radio super rare in super conditions.

 

  • There were a few, less popular Catlin radios that sold for average market prices.

 

  • A few rarer, good original condition wood table radios, other than Zenith, sold for good prices.

 

  • The common Bakelite radios sold for $40 to $60, about what they sold for over recent years. There were a few standout rare examples for plastic table radio that sold in the hundreds.

 

 Over all it looks like radio prices are softening at the aging collectors pass on.

I think the prices are a nexus of factors: older collectors are passing or downsizing, which has put a large number of nice Scott sets on the market. Younger collectors (who are few) are loath to restore sets, even AA5s seem to be too much trouble to learn to restore - so who's going to attack a 15, 23 or even a 30 tube Scott? And finally, they are big (which has been an eternal challenge for them). I personally know there will be a LOT more Scott's at Estes auction for the rest of this year. Keep your eyes open for things you might want, there will be opportunities.

Kent

A dramatic increase in shipping costs over the past five years doesn't help.

Norman

Yep. This is what is detering me from adding more sets to my collection from any distance of more than a couple hundred miles. I used to be able to either ship a set, or go and pick it up for a reasonable cost. Neither are doable anymore.

Norman S Braithwaite said:

A dramatic increase in shipping costs over the past five years doesn't help.

Norman

All these reasons makes since. I use to follow all the radio auctions on eBay by going to this link on "Collectors Daily."  https://www.collectorsweekly.com/radios/overview/auctions   It has turned into a hodgepodge of cheap, small table radios, transistors radios and just junk. Most auctions set with a  "Buy It Now" to purchase. Very few radio consoles listed. This gives you a current look at what has happened to our radio collecting hobby.  

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