What's a Realistic Price for an 800

[Doug Bresson]

I'm looking at an 800 (no suffix), S/N 800-3265.  It's in a blonde cabinet with a little veneer damage on the bottom of one side, some deterioration of the chrome (though not too bad), Jensen speaker no. 3266, Garrard RC-86 (78-33-45-16) which must have been added MUCH later and with a plaque on it reading Stromberg-Carlson Custom Four Hundred.  I've lusted after a Scott for quite some time (mostly 800-Bs - I would like to have current FM capability since that's what I mainly listen to - classical music) that might be within my budget, so I would be very interested in comment from other members on what they think a realistic price would be to pay for this radio, especially as compared to the 800-B. Thanks for your time and assistance.

Doug

[Y2K Bruce]

I paid $250 for my 800B in the nice original cabinet but had to pick it up in person in Lexington KY and bribed the 4 big construction workers next door with a free pizza to load it in my van.

If you buy or sell the components individually you will pay/receive more. The 15" coax speaker usually sells by itself for $150 or more and the 2 chassis can easily hit a few hundred each.

I am not sure what the difference is of an 800 (no suffix) compared to an 800B. There were about 10,000 800B's sold new and I have seen some blonde ones and ebony ones for sale once in a while.

Post a picture perhaps of yours you are looking at ?

[David C. Poland]

Doug and Bruce.  

Bruce -  yours seems about the going price for a pretty good one, after allowing for the additional cost to ship one, or the work to pick up one in person.

As for the original phono, it was likely the Thorens Concert CD-40. That phono was in fully original 800B I restored for my wife's distant relative.  It is also the phono model in the the 800B owners manual and technical data I obtained. So I had a chance to clean, lube and adjust it,  and then run it. A  sweet 78 changer. An interesting  control allowed for up to a 2 minute pause between records - I suppose for party music.  I recently found a Thorens CD-40 on ebay to install  when I get to the restoration of my own 800B.  Another almost identical looking  phono is the early 1950's 3 speed version  Thorens Concert CD-43,   that I recently bought at an auction complete with a GE variable reluctance mono 78/45-33 cartridge. 

I am aware of 3 post war Scott cabinets available for the 800B. The Chippendale (Clark # 18) mahogany with doors over the speaker grill,  the Regency (Clark #62) mahogany with exposed speaker cloth and metal grill work across the bottom half of the cabinet,  and the Modern (I think a Teague design - Clark #42)  blond with doors and large "D" shaped brass pulls.  The Modern would look great with vintage blond  Haywood-Wakefield furniture of the era. And the 4th cabinet was 800BT in a taller Chippendale that contained a projector TV (Clark #98).

-Dave

[Norman S Braithwaite]

The serial number tags on the 800B and 800B-6 were marked "800".  The full model number was usually located on a gold decal placed on the apron of one of the chassis.  If the radio has the modern FM band and pushbuttons, it is an 800B or 800B-6.  The model 800 being the predecessor and quite scarce.

Norman

[David C. Poland]

Doug -

You are evidently considering the item currently on ebay. It is the typical Scott model known as the the 800B. The cabinet is the MODERN cabinet in the usual blond finish. The Garrard 4 speed changer is a replacement in as much as the 45 and 33 microgroove records and the mulit-speed phonos to play them were introduced a couple years after 800B ended production. The serial numbers  above 2000  incorporate a few improvements. 

The speaker looks correct. The eight screws and nuts around the speaker suggests the tweeter  is indeed mounted where it belongs, in front of the 15 inch  speaker cone.   The black color showing through the blue paint on the bell cover on the back of the speaker suggests plastic, and so I suspect it is the later version Jensen with a permanent magnet and a resistor inside in lieu of the field coil, like the one I restored a couple years ago.

-Dave

[Doug Bresson]

Good Afternoon. 

First, let me say thank you to Bruce, David, and Norman for your comments. I apologize for not responding sooner, and intended to upload the pictures, but I've been doin' chores.

Yes David, you are correct - that's the one. Naturally, I would prefer the Chippendale or the Regency that you mentioned. I prefer darker wood, which is what I've seen most often, but lust tends to get the beter of one, and I've lusted after an 800 for quite some time now (:>).  Not that I wouldn't also take a nice All Wave at the right price mind you, but the prices I've tended to see for virtually any of the Scotts have run pretty high, especially on eBay, and especially when the feeding frenzy sets in (:<)!  Whether they actually got it or not, I've regularly seen prices approaching $1,000 to several thousand, which is what intrigued me about this one, given the price. My experience to date has primarily been Atwater Kents, Philcos, Zeniths, Grundigs, etc., but this one appears to also be in relatively decent condition

To provide some perspective, I'm looking at a trip to a bit farther west in Illinois and to Southern Wisconsin (hopefully before the weather turns too nasty) to pick up a couple of other radios that I'm "stealing", so that would somewhat mitigate the cost of the 800 and the time an expense of picking it up. Given that, what is your considered opinion of the asking price, and given that I've seen others who say they've paid $250 or so for ones in fairly decent condition?

Once again, thanks to those who responded to my inquiry.

Doug

[Y2K Bruce]

Hi Doug-If you do make it to West Illinois, let me know and be sure to stop by and see the Great Scott room and other sets here, including the Mini-Scott museum.

I may have a few Scotts available to buy at that time also.

Bruce in Moline Illinois

[Doug Bresson]

Good Evening Bruce. Thanks for your reply. If my plans work out my mini-van will probably be full - especially if I do by the 800, but I would be interested in seeing your collection. Just in case though, what do you have in mind. I haven't heard back from David yet, so do you have any thought on what would be a "relatively" reasonable price? I don't seem to be having any luck adding the pictures - I'm probably missing something. Send me your e-mail address and I'll forward them - or just look at 110974777504

Thanks, and have a great evening.


Doug

[David C. Poland]

Doug,  

I think the asking price is a bit high. Perhaps the Garrard changer is a plus to you. And  proximity counts too. So if it is what you want ......    

I believe I see some light rust, but a liquid product like Turtle Chrome Polish can work wonders. Can't judge if there is any bubbling of chrome which would suggest somewhat more serious rust. Those rectangular I F cans are  notorious for pealing chrome.  You should ask the seller for more info about chrome condition.

I know what to do with the typical clear and stained finish on cabinets, but have no experience with blemishes and such on blond finishes that are more like painted faux finishes. The Modern cabinet seems to me less common, and some folks seem to value it a little higher, especially those who like 50's modern.

A very heavy console.  For easier transport, remove the power supply, entire phono drawer and the receiver from the cabinet. The receiver with panel is on drawer glides and pulls out the front of the cabinet, after you defeat the stops on the glide using the  releases. Given that there is a replacement phono, perhaps you can lift it up out of the phono drawer, otherwise  the entire phono drawer also slides out the front but I think you may have to take off the back panel to get at the stops.   Be sure you disconnect the antenna and all cables first.

-Dave

[Doug Bresson]

Thanks for your input Dave. I am conflicted about the radio. The price does seem somewhat high, although not for eBay prices that I've seen over time. I'm also not a big fan of Danish Modern.
As I think I indicated, my real preference would be for one of the models in darker wood - in or out of the cabinet (as many of the ones I've seen appear to be the case - I guess the cabinets were in too bad a shape, or they weren't willing to put forth the work to restore the cabinet and just parted it out), as long as the original speaker in good condition is part of the package. Nor is the changer of any great significance to me. I haven't listed to vinyl in years.
I have done a little veneer work on other radios I have, although I still have much to learn in that department. I was aware of the weight issues. It would be my intention to dismount the PS, and I was aware of the radio being on tracks, but thanks for that advice.
Yes, some folks do seem to prefer Danish Modern. One of the things that I had considered, if the price wasn't considered TOO high, was to restore it with the idea of trading it to someone who had one in the darker woods, with perhaps a higher intrinsic value, but which also needed restoration. I enjoy giving old radios a new lease on life, and seeing them go to someone (if they're not one I particularly want to retain for myself) who will appreciate their beauty and will take good care of them.
Not knowing what they paid for it, and considering that they're looking to make a profit, what do you think would be a "realistic" price for it. Coming from a knowledgeable individual, perhaps I can do a bit of dickering with the seller, especially if it doesn't sell this second time. They dropped the price by $100 from the previous listing that I found. On the other hand, having connected with the Scott Group, it may also be that one of the group has, or will have, an 800 that would be more to my liking, at a more realistic price, and that I wouldn't have to travel to Timbuktu to pick up.
Anyway, thanks again to you and the others for your input, and I hope you have a great day and week ahead.

Doug

[Y2K Bruce]

Hi Doug-I would consider selling you my working 800B in the dark finish and Chippendale

cabinet for alot less than the blonde one. Mine has been recapped and plays on all bands.

Email me at:

[e-mail]

[Y2K Bruce]