Nice find in the Sue Ryder shop. Hacker Sovereign.

[kirstyd]

Hi guys. Walking past the local SD shop here in Leeds, I was tempted by a nice looking Grundig tape recorder, so in I went for a look. On closer inspection the Grundig was not in good condition so I left it alone. I was just about to leave when I something caught my eye. At the back of the shop, tucked away on a shelf among what can only be described as china cabinet dross, was this rather grubby white Hacker Sovereign with a price tag of 15 quid. I had to have it. On getting it home I borrowed a couple of PP9s from another Hacker, put them in, and away it went working on all wavebands. Its filthy and covered in cooking fat [That may have preserved it a little] but should clean up really well. Its also in not bad condition considering its age. There's some almost inevitable battery staining, and the aerial tip is missing. Also the grille on the back has gone, but for 15 pounds I'm happy with it. Here's a few pics. Will take more when its had a bath.

[Herald1360]

Sounds like a candidate for the "Kitchen Radios" thread!

Some sort of white plastic grille may well be easier to find than a black one.

A suitable size and colour glass bead looks OK glued on the aerial tip if a proper replacement is difficult to source.

[unitaudio]

I knew as soon as I saw the title of this thread it'd make me sick with jealousy! What a brilliant find, well spotted!

Regards,
Paul

[Nickthedentist]

Yes, a great find indeed. The white ones are fairly rare, and look much nicer in a bedroom than the others IMHO.

I got a Sov II for a tenner in a charity shop in Didcot a couple of years back in similar condition to yours, but it was a boring black one.

Yours will smarten up really well.

Nick.

[G6Tanuki]

For replacing the grille, have a look in one of the large DiY "sheds" - they have a range of small white plastic grilles used for "Soffit vents" and the like.

[kirstyd]

The glass bead is a great idea will see what I can come up with.

Just found this. Its 6 inches by 3 so should fit nicely and its only £2.49

[paperboy]

Good spot. See similar tidy up job "Hacker Helmsman" thread in December. Paperboy.

[kirstyd]

well the grill arrived today and i have to say short of finding an original it couldn't be a better fit .if i had to pick a fault with it i would say its just a little too white cant decide weather to glue it on or find four tiny screws .However i do intend to replace the foam padding first

[G6Tanuki]

That's a really rather neat and 'appropriate' retro-fit!

[paulsherwin]

You could always spray it cream.

[kirstyd]

yes i thought so too i have ordered four more i of which will replace the melted grill on my hacker gondolier

[kirstyd]

i have a neighbour that chain smokes i could take it round there for a few days it would soon change colour

[Herald1360]

My first thought was that it might take a few years in a kitchen to get the right shade, a heavy smoker's kitchen- even better.

[stevehertz]

Looks like you used the same grille as I did a few months ago. Here's the thread on how I prepared and sprayed mine. But do remove those raised logos and give it a very fine sand down before spraying to remove sharp edges, moulding flash etc:
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?p=791254

[kirstyd]

Hi everyone
well today i dismantled the hacker and so far so good and i would like to know how best to clean the perspex scale panel and what is the best way to repair the damage caused by the foam padding underneath [if any] I had not intended to completely dismantle the cabinet but on closer inspection i noticed that it was coming apart in two places which i have now glued back together . I also found a brass spacer and a screw in the bottom of the cabinet i knew exactly where it had come from because i have a Hacker 200 radiogram that has more or less the same tuner .Theres also some damage to the white leatherette caused by leaking batteries is there any way to get rid of this or cover it up [it is on the bottom so not really a problem]