VOLUME 21               MAY 2004                NUMBER  5

EDITOR'S COMMENTS

From Antique Radio Classified for May 2004
(Copyright 1996-2004 by John V. Terrey - For personal use only.)

Technical, historical, timely -- this month's articles hit all three of these categories. A comprehensive article on the evolution of a series of E.H. Scott radios leads the pack. History, of course, is part of every segment of the radio collector's world, but World War II often triggers special aspects of that history. And finally, the ongoing auction scene reflects the vitality of our speciality.

We begin with Norman Braithwaite's broad coverage of the evolution of E.H. Scott high-fidelity receivers. Norm, a well known authority on E.H. Scott, has written several past articles on the subject for A.R.C. Now Norm presents a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the Scott Quaranta and custom series receivers from the full-range high-fidelity receiver.

In general, these sets appeared on the market from the mid-to-late 1930s; the full-range high-fidelity set appeared in March 1935. Obviously, the target customer for these receivers was the affluent, who required a wide range of improvements, including even a record-cutting lathe, special amplifiers, and cabinets. We appreciate Norm's attention to detail about the differences among these sets and the excellent drawings and photos of the tube and component layouts.

Speaking of photos, the far-reaching effects of a provocative historical photo is always interesting. The scrap pile of radios on our August 2003 cover engendered several responses, triggering memories of World War II and salvaging operations going on for the war effort.

On the one hand, Edward Scribner, was very much a part of the Army Air Force Technical Training Command's radio school program in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in the early 1940s. The parts from that radio scrap pile on our cover could very well have ended up being salvaged for instructors to use in training thousands of Air Force radio students.

On the other hand, respondent J.T. Kaetz, Jr., had a different perspective. He might not have known about the Air Force use of the salvaged radios for training purposes; instead, he tells of his own experience keeping radios going in that time when scarcity made them so much in demand.

In addition to the scrap drive topic itself, the August cover photo prompted responses to our "Name the Radios" challenge to you readers. Robert Rosengarten and Dave Crocker made outstanding efforts to rise to the occasion. Their combined efforts offer yet another challenge any disagreements out there on the choices?

You have choices galore on the view pages from test equipment to advertising signs, a TV-like clock, and a pencil crystal set. Keep those photos coming, as we look for wide-ranging subjects from as many different contributors as possible.

Into the "'timely" category of articles falls the announcement of an important overseas auction. Peter Sindell and Jim Kreuzer alerted us to this unusual event, to be conducted by Bonhams of Knightsbridge, London. We have previewed the auction here and will report on it after June when the results are in. Dedicated to a particular period of time from Morse to Marconi, the time of early telegraph, telephone, and wireless it will feature over 200 items, including instruments, books, manuscripts, ephemera, and photographs. I'm looking foward to attending, and hope that some of you will decide to meet me there for a first-hand look.

Thanks to George Potter and Randy James, the report on the VRPS/AWA Convention and Auction, testifies to the continuing success of such major, multiday events. Again, auctions were the focus of the event, but other activities, such as a technical session, an old equipment contest, and an awards banquet also attracted the crowd. Nearly 1,000 lots in the auctions totaled a little over $50,000 a sum that speaks to major success.

A.R.C. Benefits: As you look forward to summer radio activities, be sure to take advantage of A.R.C. benefits: a toll-free number (866) 371-0512; the Web: www.antiqueradio.com; Discover, Visa, American Express, and MasterCard accepted; books shipped free in the U.S. by book rate; and to current subscribers, a ten percent discount on all book orders.

Coming Radio Events: As the weather proves more promising, meet and auction events are on the rise. Among the 46 listed this month, 13 are meets, including Radio Daze in Plymouth, Minnesota, and others in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and Indiana. Five auctions will span the UK, France, Michigan, Texas, and Ohio. Twenty-eight meetings are scheduled, so try to get to one in your area, as well as to at least one big event.

Happy Collecting!

John V. Terrey, Editor

ON THE COVER

The impressive set on our cover is a 1936 variant of the E.H. Scott full-range, high fidelity receivers on a Napier Consolette. It is the starting point for another of Norman Braithwaite's excellent articles on the E.H. Scott Company.