Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

[mhennessy]

Hi Gavin,

Thanks for the information. Of course, there are a couple of questions:

Originally Posted by gavinhall

Hi Mark
RP38A Hunter VHF
Serial no. 44781
extruded aluminium grille
one piece handle
dc input socket
pressed aluminium badge
teak sides with slightly rounded corners
gold elac speaker

This one is too early for an extruded grille, and really should be wearing the mesh style. The earliest set I know about with an extruded grille is 46815. But having said that, we do have 44620 with an extruded grille - that's very close to yours. Coincidence? Perhaps some very early trials with the new cabinet that escaped before the change on the production line? Who knows... Unless yours has an additional paper sticker underneath that looks original and happens to bear the same number, it seems more likely that the chassis has come from a later set.

Originally Posted by gavinhall

Hi Mark
RP38A Hunter fm-am
Serial no. 60617
extruded aluminium grille
3 piece handle
dc input socket
pressed aluminium badge
teak sides with squarer corners
gold elac speaker
royal warrant
smoother rexine covering than the other (seems to be a softer material with less grain - a bit like the roberts stuff)
Rear grille missing

This one seems OK, but you don't mention the tone control knobs. They should be the same silver type that you have on the first one. For reference, the later type are shown in post #233

If you can confirm that for me, I'll be able to add this set to the records. And I'll make a note of your first one as well, in the hope that more of these will come to light as time passes.

All the best,

Mark

[gavinhall]

Hi mark

There's no label on the suspect model but when I got it it all seemed to have the same amount of dirt/nicotine so I don't think it's a replacement chassis - may be wrong though.

Both of these have the same tone knobs - aluminium with black skirts.

The rexine on 44781 appears to be a lot harder than the other one - more plastic like. There may have been a time when different materials were starting to be used and some of the sets had a different mix of fittings.

Your document really is fascinating, I didn't realise there were so many variations of one set.

Do you know if any of the other models went through similar design changes

Gavin

[mhennessy]

Hi Gavin,

Many thanks for confirming those details.

Yes, you do see variations in the Rexine. Same for Roberts, too.

I think that many models went through similar changes, but none were as varied as the Hunter - which probably had the longest production run of all the Hackers. One day I'll attempt to put it all together...

Thanks again,

Mark

[canonman75]

Hi Mark,

Here are details for a Hunter that I'm in the middle of restoring:

Model RP38A - "Hunter fm-am"
S/N - 57709
Handle type - three piece
Grille type - extruded aluminium, black/silver stripes.
Scale print - white only
DC input socket - fitted
Loudspeaker type and finish - unknown 8 ohm speaker (see photo)
Tone control knobs - silver

I'm no expert on Hunters so I don't know if the mystery 8 ohm speaker is a replacement or factory fit. If it is a replacement, presumably the amplifier is happy to cope with a lower impedance load?

Also, because Billy the Bodger has had a go at this radio sometime in the past, there are a few little bits of hardware (screws, washers, spacer etc.) that are missing. As I'm still short on spares, I'll have to put a post in the Wanted Items section for the missing parts.

Cheers,

Dave

[mhennessy]

Hi Dave,

I've never seen a speaker like that in a Hunter before! In a way, it's surprising it fits, given how tight space is in there.

I don't get worked up about impedance - values are very nominal at best. It would be different if you were going from 15 to 4 ohms, but 15 to 8 is hardly worth worrying about, especially if you don't listen at high levels. But having said that, the loudspeaker plays a large part in giving the Hunter its superb sound quality, so I'd definitely want to source a correct unit in the fullness of time.

All the other details look good, so once you've sorted the speaker it'll be a fine example of a late Hunter am/fm. Let me know when you've found one

Cheers,

Mark

[canonman75]

So it's not an original speaker then? I didn't think so!

To be fair, it still sounds good so I can live with it for the time being.

[mhennessy]

Indeed, just because it's not original, it still could be a perfectly good unit in its own right.

As and when, I'd be interested to see a picture of the assembled radio, simply to see how that large ferrite magnet manages to fit in there!

[canonman75]

It should be a gold Elac in there, with the label on the side of the magnet, shouldn't it?

[mhennessy]

Yes, that's right

[canonman75]

Originally Posted by mhennessy

Indeed, just because it's not original, it still could be a perfectly good unit in its own right.

As and when, I'd be interested to see a picture of the assembled radio, simply to see how that large ferrite magnet manages to fit in there!

It fits!

The cables from the main board to the amplifier may not be quite long enough to drape around the top of the magnet like I did with the other Hunter, but that's about the only issue I've found with this particular speaker. To my ears it sounds fine!

The chassis has still got to come back out so I can clean the switches and refurbish the volume pot. Standard stuff really....

[julie_m]

If a pair of shoes fit like the way that speaker fits, they'd have to be half price .....

[mhennessy]

Originally Posted by canonman75

It fits!

Ah, so it's quite a bit shallower than the original. Fair enough

Thanks,

Mark

[canonman75]

Originally Posted by julie_m

If a pair of shoes fit like the way that speaker fits, they'd have to be half price .....

Sorry, but I don't get what you mean.

[julie_m]

I mean, it all looks a bit tight in there with the speaker magnet shoved up against the aerial and the heat sink.

[canonman75]

There's plenty of room, trust me. It's not as deep as an Elac, which helps!

[julie_m]

Ah. Perhaps it's just an optical illusion with the camera angle, or something.

Anyway, if it fits and it sounds good, enjoy it!

[canonman75]

It's just my poor photography skills. I never was any good with a camera

[canonman75]

Hi folks.

The missing hardware parts have arrived and my second Hunter RP38A is finished

Well, I say finished, but the sensitivity on VHF seems poor compared to my other RP38A which pulls in just about everything available even with the aerial not extended. I'm not sure where to start investigating, to be honest. Any suggestions gratefully received!

Cheers,

Dave

[mhennessy]

Poor VHF sensitivity is the worst sin the Hunter commits. Unfortunately, the causes are many and varied - there are no stock faults here. While I can get a decent improvement on all of them, sometimes you end up with "good enough" rather than "perfect", which is frustrating when you know the good sets are about 20dB better.

One day I'll write an article about this issue - there's quite a lot to say. In the meantime, it's probably worth starting a new thread if you haven't already

[canonman75]

Thanks Mark.

A new thread has just been started