Hermon Hosmer Scott
Encyclopedia
Hermon Hosmer Scott was a pioneer in the Hi-Fi industry and founder of H.H. Scott, Inc., in Somerville, Massachusetts
. He received B.S.(1930) and M.S. (1931) degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, of Cambridge, Massachusetts
. Mr. Scott later earned his doctorate from Lowell Institute
. In the early 1960s, Mr. Scott served as a special lecturer at the Tuck School of Business
, at Dartmouth College
, Hanover, New Hampshire
.
Mr. Scott invented the RC oscillator
, the selectively tuned RC circuit, various RC filters and the modern sweep circuit. He is perhaps best known for inventing the Dynaural Noise Suppressor, and held more than 100 patent
s (U.S. and foreign) for original research in the field of electronics.
Early in his career, Mr. Scott worked on sound motion pictures and high-quality broadcast systems from 1929 to 1931 at Bell Telephone Laboratories, in New York, NY.
Mr. Scott worked for the General Radio Company, in Cambridge, MA from 1931 to 1946, serving first as Sales Engineer/Development Engineer and later as Executive Engineer in charge of Audio, Acoustic, Broadcast and related developments.
The Technology Instrument Corporation, of Waltham, MA was founded by Mr. Scott, in 1946. I.T.C.'s first product was the Type 910-A; a 13-tube, 19-inch, rack-mounted, Dynamic Noise Suppressor marketed to commercial broadcasters and permitted stations to greatly reduce their dependence on live performances. With Scott's new technology, stations were now able to air much more recorded content using older 78 rpm phonographic recordings. I.T.C was also successful in sub-licensing the patented DNS technology to other manufacturers including EMI
., (of Beatles & Parlophone
fame) and ironically, to E.H. Scott Radio, of Chicago, Illinois (note: H.H. and E.H. were not related), and also to Avery Fisher
's The Fisher Radio Corp., of New York, NY.
On the initial success of I.T.C., H.H. Scott, Inc., was formed in 1947, humbly situated in a rustic old shoe factory located in Cambridge, MA. The new company expanded to build the first integrated, high fidelity, phono amplifier (210-A) incorporating a simplified (3-tube) DNS intended for the emerging post-war consumer market, while continuing to offer commercial "laboratory-grade" instruments.
A decade and several successful products later (in late 1957); the company built and moved into a new state-of-the-art manufacturing and research facility, at Powder Mill Road, in Maynard, MA. H.H. Scott, the name by which he and his firm were so widely known became one of the top two respected names in consumer high fidelity (and later stereo), the other also bearing its founder's name, Fisher Radio.
The company remained independent until 1973, when it was acquired by Electro Audio Dynamics of Europe. US operations were later relocated to Woburn, MA, offices. In 1985, the famous hi-fi brand was purchased and today operates as a division of Emerson Electronics.
Hermon Hosmer Scott's technological leadership was recognized by election to Fellowin the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Acoustical Society of America
, and Audio Engineering Society
, where he served as president in 1962, as well as a member of the AES Board of Governors. Scott was one of the first to be presented the John H. Potts Memorial Award by the Audio Engineering Society "for outstanding achievements in the field of audio engineering."
Active in civic affairs, Mr. Scott was a trustee of the Boston Opera and the Boston Ballet
. Mr. Scott received numerous awards and accolades for his accomplishments including the Distinguished Service Award from President John F. Kennedy
's Committee on the Employment of the Physically Handicapped.
Hermon Hosmer Scott, died April 13, 1975, in Lincoln, Massachusetts
, after a long illness at the age of 66.
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
. He received B.S.(1930) and M.S. (1931) degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, of Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. Mr. Scott later earned his doctorate from Lowell Institute
Lowell Institute
The Lowell Institute is an educational foundation in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., providing for free public lectures, and endowed by the bequest of $250,000 left by John Lowell, Jr., who died in 1836. Under the terms of his will 10% of the net income was to be added to the principal, which in...
. In the early 1960s, Mr. Scott served as a special lecturer at the Tuck School of Business
Tuck School of Business
The Amos Tuck School of Business Administration is the graduate business school of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, in the United States...
, at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
.
Mr. Scott invented the RC oscillator
RC oscillator
Linear electronic oscillator circuits, which generate a sinusoidal output signal, are composed of an amplifier and a frequency selective element, a filter. An oscillator circuit which uses an RC network, a combination of resistors and capacitors, for its frequency selective part is called an RC...
, the selectively tuned RC circuit, various RC filters and the modern sweep circuit. He is perhaps best known for inventing the Dynaural Noise Suppressor, and held more than 100 patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s (U.S. and foreign) for original research in the field of electronics.
Early in his career, Mr. Scott worked on sound motion pictures and high-quality broadcast systems from 1929 to 1931 at Bell Telephone Laboratories, in New York, NY.
Mr. Scott worked for the General Radio Company, in Cambridge, MA from 1931 to 1946, serving first as Sales Engineer/Development Engineer and later as Executive Engineer in charge of Audio, Acoustic, Broadcast and related developments.
The Technology Instrument Corporation, of Waltham, MA was founded by Mr. Scott, in 1946. I.T.C.'s first product was the Type 910-A; a 13-tube, 19-inch, rack-mounted, Dynamic Noise Suppressor marketed to commercial broadcasters and permitted stations to greatly reduce their dependence on live performances. With Scott's new technology, stations were now able to air much more recorded content using older 78 rpm phonographic recordings. I.T.C was also successful in sub-licensing the patented DNS technology to other manufacturers including EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
., (of Beatles & Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
fame) and ironically, to E.H. Scott Radio, of Chicago, Illinois (note: H.H. and E.H. were not related), and also to Avery Fisher
Avery Fisher
Avery Robert Fisher was an audio specialist who made numerous contributions to the field of sound reproduction.-Early life:...
's The Fisher Radio Corp., of New York, NY.
On the initial success of I.T.C., H.H. Scott, Inc., was formed in 1947, humbly situated in a rustic old shoe factory located in Cambridge, MA. The new company expanded to build the first integrated, high fidelity, phono amplifier (210-A) incorporating a simplified (3-tube) DNS intended for the emerging post-war consumer market, while continuing to offer commercial "laboratory-grade" instruments.
A decade and several successful products later (in late 1957); the company built and moved into a new state-of-the-art manufacturing and research facility, at Powder Mill Road, in Maynard, MA. H.H. Scott, the name by which he and his firm were so widely known became one of the top two respected names in consumer high fidelity (and later stereo), the other also bearing its founder's name, Fisher Radio.
The company remained independent until 1973, when it was acquired by Electro Audio Dynamics of Europe. US operations were later relocated to Woburn, MA, offices. In 1985, the famous hi-fi brand was purchased and today operates as a division of Emerson Electronics.
Hermon Hosmer Scott's technological leadership was recognized by election to Fellowin the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Acoustical Society of America
Acoustical Society of America
The Acoustical Society of America is an international scientific society dedicated to increasing and diffusing the knowledge of acoustics and its practical applications.-History:...
, and Audio Engineering Society
Audio Engineering Society
Established in 1948, the Audio Engineering Society draws its membership from amongst engineers, scientists, other individuals with an interest or involvement in the professional audio industry. The membership largely comprises engineers developing devices or products for audio, and persons working...
, where he served as president in 1962, as well as a member of the AES Board of Governors. Scott was one of the first to be presented the John H. Potts Memorial Award by the Audio Engineering Society "for outstanding achievements in the field of audio engineering."
Active in civic affairs, Mr. Scott was a trustee of the Boston Opera and the Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet, founded in 1963 by E. Virginia Williams, was the first professional repertory ballet company in New England. Boston Ballet’s national and international reputation developed under the leadership of Artistic Directors Violette Verdy , Bruce Marks , and Anna-Marie Holmes...
. Mr. Scott received numerous awards and accolades for his accomplishments including the Distinguished Service Award from President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's Committee on the Employment of the Physically Handicapped.
Hermon Hosmer Scott, died April 13, 1975, in Lincoln, Massachusetts
Lincoln, Massachusetts
Lincoln is a town in the historic area of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,362 at the 2010 census, including residents of Hanscom Air Force Base that live within town limits...
, after a long illness at the age of 66.
External links
- Scott's Portrait by Lee K. Shuster
- The Fisher Radio Corp. was located in Long Island City, NY, not New York, NY.
- Avery Fisher Biography
- Obituary AES Journal