S.T. Limited
2 Melbourne Place, London W.C.2 (1926)

S.T. Co. Limited, founded by John Scott-Taggart in 1926, specialised in producing and selling high-quality radio valves (tubes) and construction kits for radio enthusiasts. ST-branded valves are likely rebranded from manufacturers like Mullard. The company ceased valve production by the late 1920s and was dissolved in 1965, but its products were known for their rigorous quality assurance and popularity among hobbyists.

John Scott-Taggart was a prolific publisher who founded Radio Press Ltd. in 1922, producing influential books and magazines like Modern Wireless and Wireless Weekly, which popularised radio construction and design among enthusiasts in the UK.

John Scott-Taggart (1897–1979): A Detailed History of Achievements and Companies

John Scott-Taggart was a pioneering British radio engineer, prolific author, inventor, and entrepreneur whose influence spanned the technical and popular realms of early radio and electronics. His career bridged military service, technical innovation, publishing, and business leadership, making him a central figure in the development and popularisation of radio technology in the UK.

Early Life and Education

• Born in 1897, Scott-Taggart was educated at Bolton School, various technical institutions, King's College London, and University College London.
• His early technical aptitude and education laid the foundation for a career that would blend engineering, invention, and communication.

Military Service and Early Technical Work
World War I:

• Enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders in 1914, before reaching the age of 18.
• Became a "First Class Instructor in Signalling" and trained recruits in army communications.
• Served on the Western Front, including at the First Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
• Transferred to the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1917, working in the Research Station under Major Rupert Stanley.
• Appointed Instructor in Wireless, First Army, Western Front.
• Awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his wireless work during the Battle of the Lys in 1918 and was mentioned in despatches.
• Even during active service, he began publishing technical articles, with his first appearing in Wireless World in October 1917.

Postwar Engineering and Invention

• After demobilization, he joined Ediswan in 1919 as head of valve manufacturing, where he invented the "biotron," a negative resistance device.
• Moved to the Radio Communication Company in 1920, serving as Head of the Patent Department and as a Research Engineer for four years.
• Gained experience in both technical innovation and intellectual property management.

Publishing and Popularisation of Radio
Founding of Radio Press Ltd. (1922)

• In 1922, Scott-Taggart founded Radio Press Ltd., with his employer holding 75% of the stock and himself the remainder.
• Radio Press became a major publisher of books and magazines for radio enthusiasts, including many written by Scott-Taggart and later by other experts.
• He edited Modern Wireless (from March 1923) and Wireless Weekly (from April 1923), both influential in the home radio construction movement.
• His radio set designs, published in these magazines, became widely popular among amateur constructors in the UK.
• Also wrote a weekly column for the Daily Express, further expanding his influence.

Sale and Later Publishing Work

• Sold his wireless publication business to Amalgamated Press at the end of 1926.
• Returned to wireless journalism in 1932, working for Amalgamated Press on their radio magazines, including those he had originally launched.
• Continued to design and publish successful radio sets for home constructors.

Entrepreneurship: S.T. Co. Limited
Formation and Activities

• In 1926, Scott-Taggart founded S.T. Co. Limited (also known as ST Valve or S.T. Limited), a company specialising in radio valves (tubes) and kits.
• The company offered a range of valves branded "ST," which were individually tested and certified—initially with Scott-Taggart's signature, later with a rubber stamp due to high sales volume. It is unclear whether these valves were manufactured in-house or rebranded products made by other manufacturers.
• S.T. Co. also produced construction kits and components for radio enthusiasts, with designs often published in his magazines.
• The company was dissolved on February 19, 1965, though it had ceased producing tubes by the late 1920s.

Notable Products

• ST-branded valves/tubes, possibly manufactured by Mullard, known for quality assurance.
• Construction kits such as the ST-100, ST300, ST400, ST500, ST600, ST700, ST800, ST900, and others, many based on Scott-Taggart's published designs.

Legal and Aviation Pursuits

After selling his publishing business, Scott-Taggart studied law and was called to the Bar in 1928, though he never practiced as a barrister.
Spent several years learning to fly and became a "gentleman aviator," skills he would later use in military service.

World War II and Radar

• Served with the RAF in France (1939–1940), then as Staff Officer at the Air Ministry, responsible for radar training (1940–1941).
• Senior Technical Officer, No 73 Wing, responsible for radar stations across most of England and Wales (1943–1945).
• His technical and organisational skills were crucial to the development and operation of British radar defences during the war.

Later Career and Recognition

• After WWII, he worked at the Admiralty Signal and Radar Establishment (1951–1959), contributing to postwar advances in radar and communications.
• Retired in 1959.
• Fellow of the Institute of Radio Engineers, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Institute of Physics, and other professional societies.
• Awarded the OBE in 1975 for his contributions to engineering and public service.
• Died in 1979.

Publications and Patents
Scott-Taggart was a prolific author, with works including:

• Thermionic Tubes in Radio Telegraphy and Telephony (1921)
• Wireless for All. A Simple Explanation (1922)
• Elementary Textbook on Wireless Vacuum Tubes (1922)
• Wireless Valves Simply Explained (1922)
• How to Make Your Own Broadcast Receiver (1923)
• More Practical Valve Circuits (1923)
• Simplified Wireless (1923)
• Practical Wireless Valve Circuits (1923)
• Radio Valves and How to Use Them (1924)
• The Manual of Modern Radio (1933)
• The Book of Practical Radio (1934)
• Later works on ceramics and pottery reflecting a broad range of interests.

He also held several patents related to valve/tube construction and radio technology.

Summary Table: Key Companies Founded

Legacy

John Scott-Taggart's legacy is defined by:

• His technical innovations in radio and valve technology.
• His role in popularising radio construction through accessible writing and kit design.
• His leadership in both military and civilian applications of wireless and radar.
• His entrepreneurial ventures helped shape the early British radio industry.

He remains a key figure in the history of British electronics, remembered for both his technical achievements and his ability to communicate complex ideas to a broad audience.

[1] 1925 Who's Who in Wireless Telegraphy.
[2] King's College, London, Collection SCOTT-TAGGART - SCOTT-TAGGART, Wg Cdr John (1897-1979).
[3] Saga of the Vacuum Tube, Page 395.