OK, back to the radio pile - see posts below.

Among the other radios were two AK 57s often referred to as "Little Stove" radios because of the metal cabinets and the resemblance to an old wood or gas stove.

One was in good shape with the Victorian style legs (like ;-)). The other had been painted a festive red and green and had strait legs. As attractive as the red/green one was, I decided to stick with the stock color example for restoration. From the two, I could come up with most of the parts needed.

Between the two there was only one good speaker cone, both had open primaries on the second audio interstage transformer and both magnetic/reed speakers had open coils. The rest of the restoration was pretty much standard for an AK 40 which uses the same chassis, though the ser. plate is marked 57. The tube complement being RCA 226, 226, 226, 226, 227, 171, 280.

Interstage transformers are no problem. It seems that every AK metal-box radio that I have worked on need one or both replaced/rebuilt. The speakers, which are the same or similar to an E2 were going to be a problem lacking a good coil.

These coils are high impedance and similar to those found in Crosley Musicone speakers of the time. Winding a new coil is usually not a problem but these use a small rectangular form that won't fit my coil winder. So I had to first make a jig on which I could both build a coil form and wind a new coil.

The original coil was layer wound using #42 or smaller magnet wire. Since I was going to have to bulk wind these using a drill #39 was about as small a wire as I could expect to use with out a lot of breakage/splices. The original coils were at least 1K ohms, probably closer to 2K ohms. So the challenge is to get as much wire on the form as possible.

After a few modifications I was able to wind three of these, one for the project, one for the second/spare driver and an extra for future use. I have found that making an extra is better than having to get the process down again at a later time.

Having the biggest obstacle out of the way - in my mind, anyway - I moved on to the power supply. Not that melting the tar out of one of these supplies is easy, but, I have done it about 40 times or more on various models and the AK 40/42/57 supply is the easiest.

The difficult part of de-potting the original supply is removing the power transformer and the 3 chokes (one is 2 windings on one core) without pulling the wires/connections off of the coils. Temperature/time is critical. Too much heat for too long is bad for the coils not to mention the paint on the metal box, which I wanted to save.

Besides needing new filter capacitors ALL of these need new wire as well. The old wire is just not safe. Even on later AK models like the 145, 206, 447 I pull out the power transformers (not potted) and remove the bells to replace the original wire, AND I have never had an AK power transformer fail in service.

The filter capacitors are replaced with 630 volt Mylar or metalized film caps, much like the originals and likely to last a long time as compared to 450V electrolytics.

The audio is in no way high-fidelity and it is easy to overdrive the speaker on strong stations, but, it does sound much better in person as compared to the video above.

Norman, his shop, and to his right, an early Scott console from 1929. Note the original, unrestored artwork on the doors. Sailing ships seemed to be a natural ornamentation for radio cabinets back then.

HEY LOOK! The top opens!

A crowd gathers quickly.

At this point I should mention that Norman has not only preserved these exceedingly rare radios but has also gathered the history of each one in great (astounding) detail. I am hoping that Norman will come along and add some descriptions in the comments section but, for now, you can find so much more about E. H. Scott, more pictures from his collection and others and even some of the history of these radios, here:

http://ehscott.ning.com/photo?test-locale=&exposeKeys=&xg_pw=&xgsi=&groupId=&groupUrl=&xgi=&page=1

"I've never seen one of those before", a phrase most often heard at Norman's house.

Did I mention cool test equipment?

Below: About the most elaborate, over-built, volt meter I have ever seen. I WANT ONE!

Here are a few more radios saved from the fireplace. See post below.

Packard Bell table top set with stationized dial (West Coast Stations).

10 tube Packard Bell model 51 as found (chassis removed).

Restored model 51. This appears to be a 1939 model though no other examples or schematics have been found.

The enclosed back was one of the things that drew me to this radio.

Though damaged, I was able to save and repair the remaining photo-finish. The grill cloth on both the front and back is original.

Push-pull 6V6 tubes are capable of overdriving the speaker. Four 6J5 tubes are employed including one used as a second detector. There must have been a sale on 6J5s. A 6SK7 is used as an RF amp. The power transformer (potted box) seems to be undersized but runs at a comfortable temperature.

Emerson DM-331 from 1939 with Ingraham cabinet

Yes I still need a knob.

This radio has surprisingly good performance for a rather cheaply made chassis. It also has one of the less-interesting Ingraham cabinets but still, a collectors item.

Found under "stuff" at the bottom of a cardboard box.

Zenith 11E from 1927

This line powered radio is the oldest Zenith in the display. The pre-1935 Zeniths seem to be under appreciated.

This radio uses the ZE-9 power supply  which slides in alongside of the radio chassis.

Old tar but new rubber wire on the ZE-9