Allan T Hanscom, 1889-1927 was an Engineer/Radio Enthusiast from Woonsocket Rhode Island. He was the only son of Rear Admiral John Forsythe Hanscom and Margaret E Hanscom^{29 3}. The February 1925 issue of Radio Broadcast has a small article that claims he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Engineering School. ² this however was found to be incorrect as the school itself states he was there his Junior year, 1910¹⁰ but did not come back.

The 1909⁷ and 1910⁸ Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, at the University of Pennsylvania. The Record of the Class Of 1910 from the University of Pennsylvania lists Mr Hanscom as being in the Mechanical Engineering Society and the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity⁴. In 1911, Hanscom is listed as a student living at 4439 Spruce Street in Philadelphia¹¹.

In 1912²⁷, 1913¹⁴ and 1914¹⁵, Hanscom is is now out of school and living at 73 Hamlet Ave in Woonsocket where he was the building superintendent.

Hanscom changes careers in 1917¹⁹ when he becomes the secretary of the Harris and Mowry Company²⁸. He continues in this role in 1918²⁰, 1919²¹, 1921²², 1923²³, and 1924²⁴

In 1920, Hanscom is listed as the head of household and married to Marguerite with a 3 ½ year old son Forsythe and 5 month old daughter Joan and lived at 221 Woodland Rd in Woonsocket⁹

In 1924 Allan T Hanscom is listed on the Woonsocket Chamber of Commerce¹⁶.

The 1925 Census has a very strange listing. Allan T is head of household and there are two wives listed, Marguerite and Alma M with children Forsythe and Joan also listed.¹⁸ This turns out to have an obvious explanation. The M listed after Alma stands for Marguerite. Strange the same women is listed on two seperate lines for the same household.³ Incidently the two listings have two seperate ages, 48 for Marguerite and 32 for Alma!

In 1925²⁵ Mr Hanscom starts to have no occupation listed. It is interesting that this is the same years we see the ads for Hanscom radio apparatus start. He must have done this to make a living.

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Popular Radio
September 1925

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Radio News
September 1925

The Expositor
November 19, 1925

Radio Broadcast
August, 1926

Radio Broadcast
August, 1926

The Boston Globe
September 30, 1926

Providence Journal Apri l3, 1927

In radio ads found, Mr Hanscom lays claim to "The Super Unit, The Heart of the Superhetrodyne. Although some of the ads for Mr Handscom claim that patents were applied for, none are listed in his name. Mr Handscom also was a mechanical enthusiast judging from an article in Popular Mechanics, December, 1921, that tells of a miniature automobile built like a toy scooter for his 5 year old son, Forsythe Hanscom ⁶. He also won a prize from Radio News, April 1923 for his Super-Regenerators for broadcast reception.

Tragically Mr Hanscom committed suicide on July 31st 1927 after his wife Marguerite served him divorce papers¹.

Click to enlarge The Bridgeport Telegram August 1st 1927 Click to enlarge Reading Times August 2nd 1927 Click to enlarge Pittston Gazette August 1st 1927	Click to enlarge The Bridgeport Telegram August 1st, 1927 Click to enlarge The Lincoln Star August 1st 1927 Click to enlarge The Ogden Standard-Examiner August 1st 1927
Click to enlarge The Providence Journal August 1st 1927

He is buried in the Union Cemetery in North Smithfield, RI.



In the 1940 Census it shows that Marguerite has remarried to Walter Stewart and his children, Forsythe and Joan are listed as stepson and stepdaughter¹⁷

Articles

I usually don't research the children of people on this site but in this case, because of the article found on the Popular Mechanics article in December, 1921 I am publishing history on Forsythe H Hanscom.

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Popular Mechanics, December, 1921

Click to enlarge Providence Journal October 30, 1921