Interesting subject. I'm enclosing a few snips from my own Bearcat 210...with owners manual, which I still own and yes, it still works! It was my first "scanner", but not my first VHF/UHF "receiver". That was a tuneable radio that I received for a HS graduation present. Kuhn Electronics [I believe they were based in Cincinnati] used to manufacturer a tuneable, tabletop radio, its enclosure was made from 1/2' plywood[!] with actual glow-in-the-dark tubes! As an option, you could purchase the telescoping antenna for it, which mounted [via mounting bracket] to the radio. It had a rather large loading coil at its base and the radio performed very well indeed in my apartment. It served me very well during the 1967 Newark [yup, that Newark] riots in July, 1967.
For the radio's particulars, see the link:
Kuhn 357C Radio
For those who've scanned as far back [in years...no decades] as myself, you might recall the "Tune-A-Verter" that was manufactured out of Refugio, Texas in the early/mid 1960's. It came in 3 models, lo VHF 30-50 Mcs, hi band VHF, 136-172 Mcs, and the aircraft model from 108-136 Mcs [see photo below]. It was powered by a 9 volt battery in a small compartment on the rear. You could also purchase an optional squelch unit that fastened to the underside of the converter with 4 sheet metal screws.
I used to travel the streets of Newark in my 1966 Pontiac Tempest; you could attach the Tune-A-Verter by unplugging your car's radio antenna cable and inserting a small jumper to the rear of the car radio, then the car's antenna to the rear of the converter.
Lastly is my Bearcat 210. When you purchased the 210 [$170 as I recall, you could call a 1-800 number and reach "Betty Bearcat" You could then request a sheet of frequencies for your local zip code [see enclosed]. I got mine from a Speigel catalog [in 1977]. As I said, it still receives and I have some of the local fire freq's loaded in it. It's a bit worse for wear [in the garage for the past 22 years], but it still functions. Thank for the walk down Memory Lane! Here's the pics: