A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Pete_1966 · 28th Oct 2020, 11:54 pm

Picked this up in a second hand bookshop attached to a small cafe on the western coast of the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland, a few years ago. Still an excellent read and, although it deals with valves, the theory is very clearly explained. Looks like it was used by HM Forces as a textbook in its day - there is a stamp on the flyleaf. Have any of the community here used this book or known about it? My copy is the 4th edition, in hardback and in great condition.

Cobaltblue · 29th Oct 2020, 9:01 am

The 8th edition of this book was used for our coursework when I was at Plymouth College of Further Education (1973-1975)

The 8th Edition was till pretty new (1971) I still have my copy.

I have copies of various issues going back to Sowerby's original work prior to Scroggie taking it over I think in the 3rd Edition.

The most prolific seem to be the 3rd and 4th Editions.

Great book

Cheers

Mike T

paulsherwin · 29th Oct 2020, 9:45 am

'Scroggie' is legendary in the electronics world, and is a good introduction to vintage analogue electronics nowadays. The many editions were rewritten and expanded as the dominant technology changed.

woodchips · 29th Oct 2020, 10:06 am

Scroggie is excellent, he was Cathode Ray in Wireless World, similarly excellent.

barrymagrec · 29th Oct 2020, 10:09 am

I have the 7th edition - a classic.

Scroggie was also the famous "Cathode Ray" in the Wireless World for many years.

peterpixel · 29th Oct 2020, 10:22 am

I got the 9th edition in the 70s and use it on a regular basis.He had a unique way of explaining things in an easy to understand way.Peter.

Andrew2 · 29th Oct 2020, 10:57 am

Oh wow. Foundations of Wireless (often just referred to as 'Scroggie') was THE text at Ashton Technical College in 1968. I can't remember which edition it was.

ms660 · 29th Oct 2020, 10:59 am

Aye, Scroggie for me too, still got an older edition somewhere.

Lawrence.

OldTechFan96 · 29th Oct 2020, 11:27 am

Was there ever an edition that covered both valves and transistors? I have 'Foundations of Wireless' on my shopping list but I never picked up a copy.

AdrianH · 29th Oct 2020, 12:14 pm

The 8th Edition I have does have sections on both. The book does get read quite often, there are on-line versions if you with to check one out, but I find the book is a must for quiet contemplation!

Adrian

Skywave · 29th Oct 2020, 1:59 pm

MGS also wrote the 'Radio & Electronics Laboratory Handbook'. A useful addition to any enthusiast's library. Mine is the 8th. edition.

Al.

daviddeakin · 30th Oct 2020, 8:15 am

I also love Scroggie's "second thoughts on radio theory"!

BulgingCap · 30th Oct 2020, 8:44 am

My copy is titled 'Foundations of Wireless and Electronics' and is dated 1971.
I can't find an edition number, probably because at some time I have covered it with opaque sticky tape.
It sits on my shelf along with other tomes from the era such as Hughes, and Morton, and Shephard, Morton and Spence. They are still used occasionally.
Never throw away a book!
BC

newlite4 · 30th Oct 2020, 10:06 am

Excellent book, I have two editions of this, it matches rather nicely with the other technicians bible Television Receiving Equipment by Cocking. I have an old ex RAF friend who was courting Scroggie,s daughter back in the 'sixties. He said what a pleasant chap Scroggie was and that he was very acommodating towards the relationship.
Neil

frankmcvey · 30th Oct 2020, 10:27 pm

Scroggie's "Foundations of Wireless" was our standard textbook for RAF apprentice technicians in the mid-late '60s. I still have a copy.

Cheers,

Frank

Cobaltblue · 30th Oct 2020, 10:44 pm

I just came across one of my earlier examples before Scroggie this is a second edition 3rd impression so just about wartime I would guess.

Cheers

Mike T

Robert Gribnau · 8th Nov 2020, 8:17 am

The 6th edition (1957) in digital form can be found here: https://archive.org/details/Scroggie...Radio/mode/2up

The 8th edition (1971) in digital form can be found here: https://archive.org/details/Foundati...ctronics8Th.ed

merlinmaxwell · 8th Nov 2020, 1:16 pm

I bought mine years ago from a charity shop in Reading, my job was to secure a table in a pub for lunch while SHMBO went shopping. I read most of it (and had a few pints meanwhile) before the arrival of the better half. A good book, nice lunch too.

Wendymott · 9th Nov 2020, 12:35 pm

Just "dug" out my copy......so much info....

Superscope · 19th Nov 2020, 5:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Gribnau

The 8th edition (1971) in digital form can be found here: https://archive.org/details/Foundati...ctronics8Th.ed

Seems the 8th Edition has been taken down.

The 6th Edition link still seems to work.

Ian

28th Oct 2020, 11:54 pm	#1
Pete_1966 Triode Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Limerick, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 12	A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' Picked this up in a second hand bookshop attached to a small cafe on the western coast of the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland, a few years ago. Still an excellent read and, although it deals with valves, the theory is very clearly explained. Looks like it was used by HM Forces as a textbook in its day - there is a stamp on the flyleaf. Have any of the community here used this book or known about it? My copy is the 4th edition, in hardback and in great condition. Attached Thumbnails

29th Oct 2020, 9:01 am	#2
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter and Poole, UK. Posts: 4,314	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' The 8th edition of this book was used for our coursework when I was at Plymouth College of Further Education (1973-1975) The 8th Edition was till pretty new (1971) I still have my copy. I have copies of various issues going back to Sowerby's original work prior to Scroggie taking it over I think in the 3rd Edition. The most prolific seem to be the 3rd and 4th Editions. Great book Cheers Mike T __________________ Don't care if it was a bargain why's it in my kitchen Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

29th Oct 2020, 9:45 am	#3
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 20,894	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' 'Scroggie' is legendary in the electronics world, and is a good introduction to vintage analogue electronics nowadays. The many editions were rewritten and expanded as the dominant technology changed.

29th Oct 2020, 10:06 am	#4
woodchips Heptode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 882	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' Scroggie is excellent, he was Cathode Ray in Wireless World, similarly excellent.

29th Oct 2020, 10:09 am	#5
barrymagrec Heptode Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Morden, Surrey, UK. Posts: 982	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' I have the 7th edition - a classic. Scroggie was also the famous "Cathode Ray" in the Wireless World for many years.

29th Oct 2020, 10:22 am	#6
peterpixel Tetrode Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Wilmslow, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 86	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' I got the 9th edition in the 70s and use it on a regular basis.He had a unique way of explaining things in an easy to understand way.Peter.

29th Oct 2020, 10:57 am	#7
Andrew2 Octode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 1,690	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' Oh wow. Foundations of Wireless (often just referred to as 'Scroggie') was THE text at Ashton Technical College in 1968. I can't remember which edition it was. __________________ Andy G1HBE.

29th Oct 2020, 10:59 am	#8
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 9,999	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' Aye, Scroggie for me too, still got an older edition somewhere. Lawrence.

29th Oct 2020, 11:27 am	#9
OldTechFan96 Heptode Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 682	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' Was there ever an edition that covered both valves and transistors? I have 'Foundations of Wireless' on my shopping list but I never picked up a copy.

29th Oct 2020, 12:14 pm	#10
AdrianH Heptode Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 566	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' The 8th Edition I have does have sections on both. The book does get read quite often, there are on-line versions if you with to check one out, but I find the book is a must for quiet contemplation! Adrian __________________ Ask questions and learn, or try to!

29th Oct 2020, 1:59 pm	#11
Skywave Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK. Posts: 7,017	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' MGS also wrote the 'Radio & Electronics Laboratory Handbook'. A useful addition to any enthusiast's library. Mine is the 8th. edition. Al. __________________ Chard, Somerset - The birthplace of powered flight and prosthetic limbs.

30th Oct 2020, 8:15 am	#12
daviddeakin Hexode Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: W Yorks, UK. Posts: 369	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' I also love Scroggie's "second thoughts on radio theory"!

30th Oct 2020, 8:44 am	#13
BulgingCap Pentode Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: South Coast, Western Australia. Posts: 129	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' My copy is titled 'Foundations of Wireless and Electronics' and is dated 1971. I can't find an edition number, probably because at some time I have covered it with opaque sticky tape. It sits on my shelf along with other tomes from the era such as Hughes, and Morton, and Shephard, Morton and Spence. They are still used occasionally. Never throw away a book! BC Last edited by Cobaltblue; 30th Oct 2020 at 8:57 am. Reason: OT mention of engines removed

30th Oct 2020, 10:06 am	#14
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,488	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' Excellent book, I have two editions of this, it matches rather nicely with the other technicians bible Television Receiving Equipment by Cocking. I have an old ex RAF friend who was courting Scroggie,s daughter back in the 'sixties. He said what a pleasant chap Scroggie was and that he was very acommodating towards the relationship. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

30th Oct 2020, 10:27 pm	#15
frankmcvey Heptode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Cottesmore, East Midlands, UK. Posts: 645	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' Scroggie's "Foundations of Wireless" was our standard textbook for RAF apprentice technicians in the mid-late '60s. I still have a copy. Cheers, Frank

30th Oct 2020, 10:44 pm	#16
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter and Poole, UK. Posts: 4,314	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' I just came across one of my earlier examples before Scroggie this is a second edition 3rd impression so just about wartime I would guess. Cheers Mike T Attached Thumbnails __________________ Don't care if it was a bargain why's it in my kitchen Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

8th Nov 2020, 8:17 am	#17
Robert Gribnau Pentode Join Date: May 2017 Location: The Hague, The Netherlands Posts: 105	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' The 6th edition (1957) in digital form can be found here: https://archive.org/details/Scroggie...Radio/mode/2up The 8th edition (1971) in digital form can be found here: https://archive.org/details/Foundati...ctronics8Th.ed __________________ Robert http://otl800.blogspot.com/

8th Nov 2020, 1:16 pm	#18
merlinmaxwell Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK. Posts: 10,109	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' I bought mine years ago from a charity shop in Reading, my job was to secure a table in a pub for lunch while SHMBO went shopping. I read most of it (and had a few pints meanwhile) before the arrival of the better half. A good book, nice lunch too. __________________ Cats have staff, it's dogs that have owners.

9th Nov 2020, 12:35 pm	#19
Wendymott Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,249	Re: A great book by M.G Scroggie - 'Foundations of Wireless' Just "dug" out my copy......so much info.... __________________ Should get out more. Regards Wendy G8BZY