What model is this?

[Joseph W Strickland]

I spotted this unit on eBay today and am wondering what model it is:

It looks like it has a total of 15 tubes including the eye tube on both chassis plus a separate tube for a preamp on the small chassis. I see some units in the collector's reference book, but not with the round dial and glass escutcheon.

Joe

[Norman S Braithwaite]

That is a Scott Masterpiece.  I count only 14 tubes.

Norman

[Joseph W Strickland]

Norman;

Is the small chassis with one tube a rectifier for a cross-over network? I was thinking I saw 15 tubes with one hidden up close to the front escutcheon on one side, but I must have been wrong.

The cabinet appears to be a Mayfair. In the Collector's Guide the first Masterpiece (page 80) looks closest to this one as its tube count would be correct, however that one in the guide does not show the eye tube at the top. Perhaps this was a late addition before the second Masterpiece (page 81) that has two eye tubes?

Joe

[Joseph W Strickland]

I think I counted the metal tube on the small chassis, which may be a rectifier for a cross-over network or for an extra field coil in the speaker. My original thought was that it was a preamp added for low level magnetic phonograph cartridge.

Joe

[Norman S Braithwaite]

Joe:
The small chassis with one tube is a General Electric phono preamp. Apparently a phonograph with a GE variable reluctance cartridge was used in place of the original at some time.
Norman

[Joseph W Strickland]

Norman;

Thanks for the confirmation. Most power transformers have enough filament current reserve to handle the addition of another tube. I knew I had seen such small chassis used for that purpose before. I did not think the tube on it was a rectifier as most of them are enclosed in glass except for some 0Z4 mercury vapor rectifiers and the 6H6, which has been used for low voltage and current power supplies. The GE variable reluctance phonograph cartridge was a major advance in record reproduction. Manufacturers began to develop stylus and cartridges that would track at lower forces, which extended record life. Sonotone developed a ceramic substitute for the Rochelle salt crystal element used in high output cartridges. That type is still with us to this day. Even the ceramic element types were improved until they could track as low as magnetic type cartridges. What a history the industry has!

Joe

[David C. Poland]

The Scott Masterpiece was announced in the 1939 issue of Scott News, Vol 11, No 4, 10 pages of 16, along with another page featuring the Mayfair credenza radio/phono cabinet. Every example of the 14 tube Masterpiece I have seen had a magic eye tube, including mine and Kent's. I believer the eye tube was standard, just not shown on the promotional chassis photograph we used for the Scott book. The Masterpiece is, after all, pretty much a Scott Super 12 with enhanced audio section, with an added AF stage using pair of 6J5's in push-pull to drive 6V6 output tubes, and boosting output to 15 watts. On account of additional pair of 6J5's on the receiver,  the 6V6's were moved to the outboard chassis with the rectifier producing the signature 3 tube chassis.  Used the same speaker as the 1938-9  Phantom 19 tube and 20 tube Phantoms using 6V6's. The 2 additional controls were a fidelity control and a sensitivity control the Super 12's lacked (except for the very last of Super 12 produced - I have one of them, too).

The Mayfair seems to be a scarce cabinet. Scott offered it initially as a promotional small credenza phono cabinet, which is why I took advantage of an opportunity to acquire mine. I was surprised by the wide drawer below the speaker grill opening.

[Joseph W Strickland]

David;

Thanks for the explanation about the eye tube and the promotional photograph. I note that the eye tube mounts separately from the rest of the chassis and has its own escutcheon plate up front. It may have been laid aside on the chassis when the promotional photograph was taken.

Your mention of the drawer below the speaker made me look at the photos above and sure enough it is evident. Looks like this one is minus a drawer pull (or it is smaller than I expected). There is a large cutout to the right side from the radio chassis mounting position which I am sure was for the record changer. Were these supplied with the Garrard model 60? The GE preamp presence may indicate it was changed to a Garrard RC-88 when the GE cartridge was implemented.

I notice that the interconnect cable has the same gray-green cotton braid covering that was evident in some areas of the large cable of my 800B which were shielded from light exposure. They must have used this same braid covering for a number of years.

6V6 tubes became very popular during this period, although some manufacturers continued to use #42 and #47 tubes in push-pull for more power than a single ended tube could deliver. In the 1950s RCA introduced the 7408 which was identical with a 6V6GT except selected for low noise and hum.

Joe

[David C. Poland]

The Masterpiece eye tube fits a clip screwed to the center front of the tuning capacitor cover, same as the Phantom and Super 12 models, and uses the same eye escutcheon.

The Mayfair drawer brass knob had a wood screw thread impeded in the brass. Mine had broken off in the wood. Fortunately, the brass knob was loose in the drawer. I was able to get a hold of the stub and unscrew it. A modern drawer knob screw fit the knob threads and so I drilled a new hole just above the old, and mounted it. The cabinet has nice burl walnut on the drawer front and across the front above the speaker opening. Also the side front pieces are nice booked Walnut. The tattered remains of the speaker cloth does not match anything i could find last Fall. 

I choose Richmond Designs "Black Metallic and Gold Diamond" and used the reverse side having a darker brown appearance, subtle diamond pattern and some metallic sparkle of highlights.

[Joseph W Strickland]

David;

I thought perhaps the escutcheon had a bracket that held the eye tube to it. Nice to know that it was held in a clip and bracket similar to what was done on later models. Someone just decided not to mount it for the photograph that was included in the collector's book.

From your description of the knob repair it must have had some damage to the wood where the original screw went through. I have had success with similar damage to cabinet door or drawer fronts by using a wood dowel piece glued in place to fill the enlarged hole, then drilling a new hole through the center of the dowel rod.

The Mayfair by your description must be a really nice looking cabinet when in good condition. It is sad to see so many cabinets get damaged and then tossed. Many cabinets can be repaired by a dedicated cabinet maker or by the owner if the proper training is obtained. I have had moderate success with some cabinets I have acquired along with console radios. There are some cabinet makers in the area that I may turn to for assistance or advice when I get another radio cabinet to restore. I love the veneers used and the carefully inlaid contrasting strips on many designs. A lot of thought went into the design and construction of these radio cabinets.

There are some nice designs of grill cloth for speakers available. I wound up picking a brocade design to replace the tattered cloth on the Philco 40-201 I restored. It was not specifically made as grill cloth, but serves well as such. I found it after doing some searching of fabrics on the internet. I try to pick a design and color that complements the overall design of the cabinet and does not call too much attention to itself. I like the types of designs that you described.

Joe

[David C. Poland]

Joe -

The old screw is still buried in the wood. I drilled a new hole just above the old and the shank of the original knob  covers the old hole.

Kent just added my Mayfair cabinet photo to the Cabinet folder in the Scott site archives. Cabinet photos are in alpha order. This modest size cabinet is 33" wide and 32" high. The cabinet lift spring assembly has a screw adjustment for lift. It also stresses the left rear cabinet corner which had broken at the top. Tricky repair. 

[Joseph W Strickland]

David;

OK, I understand about the screw. Sometimes they are best left alone. That single lift arrangement seems rather stressed as you said. Perhaps you could find a modern replacement and use two of them, on at each corner.

I will scan through the cabinet folder and look for your Mayfair. It sounds like a beautiful cabinet.

Joe

[David C. Poland]

I wanted it original. The lift spring arrangement is partly recessed into the left side panel at the corner which compromised the corner strength. The cabinet is now repaired and the corner reinforced on the back and the inside corner. It will be fine long term. Original finish except some bad deep stains on the top which I refinished.