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Old 1st Apr 2012, 11:52 am   #21
mhennessy
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Hi John,

Thanks for checking - that makes more sense now. The earliest set I have with a DC input socket is 30077, and that has the separate Hacker badge.

The patterns are slowly emerging - thanks to all, and keep them coming

Mark
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Old 1st Apr 2012, 1:06 pm   #22
mhennessy
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Quote:
Originally Posted by westcliff View Post
Here are my Hunter details
Hi again, Gus

Could I just double-check the grille with you? It's just that I have a later set (45208) with a mesh grill - are you sure yours is definitely extruded aluminium (and does it have the later aluminium Hacker badge?). I've sent a PM to the owner of 45208 as well...

Just a thought: you are getting the serial number from the chassis itself? Sometimes there are serial number stickers on the bottom of the set, but these aren't as trustworthy as the stamped numbers on the chassis. And of course, your chassis might be from an earlier case - despite the changes in woodwork to support the new extruded grille, the chassis is the same.

I enjoy a good mystery

All the best,

Mark
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Old 2nd Apr 2012, 10:19 pm   #23
Doug Rissole
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Mark,

My Hunter looks like this:

Model RP38A - Hunter VHF
S/N - 35761
Handle type - one piece
Grille type - flat mesh
Scale print - white and green.
DC input socket - yes.
Loudspeaker type and finish - gold Elac
Tone control knobs - silver-coloured treble and bass controls, with thin black bases.

Regards,
Terry
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Old 2nd Apr 2012, 11:35 pm   #24
mhennessy
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Hi Terry,

Many thanks for that. Now I have a couple of late "mesh grill" sets with gold Elacs, so I'm happy about that now.

Based on the data so far, I've drawn up the following (very tentative!) conclusions:

2,960 - Earliest on record
8,000 - Buttons changed
10,000 - Goodmans loudspeaker upgraded to Elac
13,000 - RP38A
20,000 - Change of grill to one with separate Hacker badge
30,000 - DC connector
34,000 - Elac “gold”
45,000 - Extruded grill
49,000 - All-white scale
56,000 - Change to “Hunter fm/am” (and addition of Royal Warrant)
57,000 - 3-piece handle
66,000 - Black tone control knobs
68,923 - Last on record

We have a couple of stand-out sets:

56674 - Has a green and white scale, but by this stage it should have an all-white one (Ron Bryan).

88248 - from MerlinMaxwell, which is much, much higher than the last few we have on record - I've collected a cluster of 6 starting 68,xxx from my initial research, but nothing greater that 68923 yet. If it was 68248, that would fit perfectly with my list. Any further examples with very high serial numbers would be very welcome indeed.

Looking at the data, we also have some "jitter" around serial numbers 45208 and 44620.

Anyway, further examples are very welcome indeed - especially those that help us to narrow down the transitions between these changes.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed so far

Mark
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Last edited by mhennessy; 2nd Apr 2012 at 11:42 pm.
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Old 2nd Apr 2012, 11:39 pm   #25
westcliff
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Hi Mark,

I have the Hunter on my lap as I type. The grille is definitely the later type; it's not mesh. The Hacker badge is metal and is mounted at the top left of the front.

The serial number 44620 is stamped on the underside of the chassis, directly underneath the word "Hacker" at the top of the dial.

Gus.
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Old 2nd Apr 2012, 11:51 pm   #26
mhennessy
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Hi Gus,

Thanks for double-checking your set - it's really appreciated. Once I've heard back from the owner of 45208, I'll be happier.

As mentioned, the scenario of a swapped chassis is a distinct possibility with either of these two sets, or perhaps Hacker discovered a handful of old-style cases in a stock room and decided to make use of them. Real-life production is rarely as straightforward as it ought to be.

More data from owners of sets in the ~45,000 region would be extremely helpful

Just a thought; what is the Hacker badge made of - is it the new-style aluminium badge, or an older chromed badge? I'm assuming the badge changed with the grille, but could be wrong about that. As if the picture wasn't complicated enough already

Best regards,

Mark
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Old 3rd Apr 2012, 1:57 am   #27
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Hi Mark,

It's an aluminium badge, this shape:
____________
/___________/

Gus.
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Old 3rd Apr 2012, 8:47 am   #28
mhennessy
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

That's great. I'm 99% sure the badge changed at the same time as the grille, as all these changes seemed to happen at the same time as the release of the Sovereign III sets that featured this grille/badge combination too. That said, the very last Sovereign II RP25B sets had an aluminium badge, so maybe - just maybe - the badge changed just ahead of the grille? Either way, thanks again for the report

Cheers,

Mark
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Old 3rd Apr 2012, 2:30 pm   #29
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

OK, just checked over lunch: Hunter VHF, RP38A, single piece handle, perforated sheet grille, white/green scale, DC input socket, gold (passivated?) elac speaker, silver (aluminium?) tone knobs.
Neil
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Old 3rd Apr 2012, 3:43 pm   #30
mhennessy
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Thanks Neil,

Just need to know the serial number now. From the data collected so far, I reckon it could be somewhere in the 35,000 region...

Thanks,

Mark
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Old 3rd Apr 2012, 4:21 pm   #31
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Sorry Mark, I had written it down but had skipped over it, 33518.
Neil
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Old 3rd Apr 2012, 4:52 pm   #32
mhennessy
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Thank Neil,

That's an interesting one because it's the earliest with the gold Elac - before I had 34756 as the earliest. So thanks for helping to narrow down that change for me

I've taken the liberty of adding your set to the Hacker Radio group database.

Thanks again,

Mark
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Old 5th Apr 2012, 7:32 pm   #33
mhennessy
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Quote:
Originally Posted by westcliff View Post
Grille type - extruded aluminium? - horizontal black/silver bar effect
Hi Gus,

Sorry to be a pain, but is there any chance of seeing a picture of your set? The reason I ask is because I'm investigating a set that is slightly later than yours, but has a mesh grille. The set in question appears to have been built from several scrap ones, so it's probably not typical. Either way, a picture of yours will help me

Thanks in advance,

Mark
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Old 5th Apr 2012, 8:03 pm   #34
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

- Model designation (RP38 or RP38A, "VHF Hunter" or "Hunter fm/am") Hunter VHF.
- Serial number. The only number I can see is 8746 on the plastic cover over the FM tuner. There is also a handwritten label saying "M0823".
- Handle type (single piece or the later 3-piece type) Single.
- Grille type (sheet aluminium or extruded aluminium) Sheet - I think.
- Scale print (all white, or with some green) All white.
- DC input socket (or not!) No.
- Loudspeaker type and finish (most were "gold" Elac, earlier ones had a grey painted frame, earliest examples used a Goodmans loudspeaker) Goodmans.
- Tone control knob style (most were silver, the very later ones were black+chrome) Silver.
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Old 5th Apr 2012, 8:14 pm   #35
mhennessy
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Hi Jeffrey,

Many thanks for this. A nice example

I reckon the serial number is correct - that label on the tuner is pretty typical. Often, you'd find those stickers on the bottom of the set, and sometimes stuck to the instruction sheets. That said, you should find a serial number stamped onto the chassis - normally in the vicinity of the volume control. Turn the set upside down and have a look...

Everything else fits, and yours is actually the latest I've seen with a Goodmans loudspeaker - you've advanced that cause forward by around 500, so thanks for that!

All the best,

Mark
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Old 5th Apr 2012, 8:25 pm   #36
mhennessy
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mhennessy View Post
Sorry to be a pain, but is there any chance of seeing a picture of your set?
Gus - I'm going mad - forgive me. I'd forgotten that I'd already queried your set just a couple of days ago!

A picture would be great, but on the other hand I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted to speak to me again

It must be looking at all these serial numbers - I'm cracking up. Time for a

Sorry again,

Mark
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Old 5th Apr 2012, 8:55 pm   #37
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mhennessy View Post
...you should find a serial number stamped onto the chassis - normally in the vicinity of the volume control. Turn the set upside down and have a look...
I did and there is. What's more it's the same number as on the label.
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Old 6th Apr 2012, 12:29 am   #38
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Only one Hunter currently in my possession:

- Model designation: RP38A Hunter VHF.
- Serial number: 49857.
- Handle type: Single piece.
- Grille type: Extruded.
- Scale print: All white.
- DC input socket: Yes.
- Loudspeaker type and finish: Elac, gold.
- Tone control knob style: Alloy (silver).
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Old 6th Apr 2012, 9:23 am   #39
mhennessy
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Good morning!

Jeffrey, thanks for the confirmation. Also, does your handle have the faux wood strip? I think it should based on the serial number, and I think I can see a hint of it in the photo...

Thanks Darren for your details - yours fits perfectly with the pattern.

I've added both sets to the database, and notice that we now have over 1000 Hacker radios recorded in there! More submissions are always welcome - if you're not a Yahoo member, drop me a PM (unless it's a Hunter - in which case add it to this thread).

Thanks again,

Mark
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Old 6th Apr 2012, 9:33 am   #40
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Default Re: Calling Hacker Hunter owners!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mhennessy View Post
Jeffrey, thanks for the confirmation. Also, does your handle have the faux wood strip? I think it should based on the serial number, and I think I can see a hint of it in the photo...
It looks like a strip of wood effect sticky back plastic fitted in the groove. Looks awful. Was this really the Hacker original or has somebody been bodging.
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