Hacker RP38A radio

[hinged_bap]

This set is from around the early 70's, it works perfectly and sounds very good. I have severel Hacker radios and many are coming up for sale. They may appeal to fans of british stuff and are defiantely retro. This one runs on 2 PP9 9V batteries but in one of the piccies, you can see its been converted so that each pp9 case holds 12 AA's batteries. There is some very slight trauma to the grill, hardy noticeable when viewing head on but only noticeable when looking down its edge ( like you would when checking a cars sidepanels ). Also, the black strip on the small bass know has gone awol. Other than that, i'd say shes in pretty good nick for the age. Hacker radios are held in very high regard by many vintage radio enthusiasts because of the build quality and excellent sound. Looking for £30 posted.
https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/a...7&d=1497796984
https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/a...8&d=1497797054
https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/a...9&d=1497797074
`https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/a...0&d=1497797645

[SD1too]

I've got one of those too David, but mine's the 'series 1' with only a tone control (RP38 without the 'A' suffix). It also doesn't have the separate Hacker badge at the top left. It's part of the metal speaker grille pressing.

You're right about the build and sound quality; Hackers were the best portable radio money could buy.

I also have a Sovereign (RP77 I think) from the late seventies by which time build and sound quality had suffered slightly and the company had moved from its Maidenhead site.

Simon

[murphyv310]

These are excellent radios and very collectable now. These are the later models without the AF117's that develop tin whiskers so reliability will be top notch.
One little point each PP9 should have 6 AA batteries fitted. Sure it's just a typo though.

[hinged_bap]

Originally Posted by murphyv310

These are excellent radios and very collectable now. These are the later models without the AF117's that develop tin whiskers so reliability will be top notch.
One little point each PP9 should have 6 AA batteries fitted. Sure it's just a typo though.

Hi Trevor, I converted the PP9's so that each hold 12 AA's. Each PP9 case has inside 2 battery holders, and each of these hold 6 AA's in 2 rows of 3, it all fits together extremely snugly. Much cheaper than lead acid PP9's and if you use Alkalines ( available from maplins for £15 for a hundred ) they last ages and ages. You can also run with 6 in each PP9, as this will still get you the 18v required to run the set. ( but you couldn't have 12 AA's in just one PP9 as you'd only be getting 9v.

BTW, I do have a Hacker that was originally fitted with the dodgy AF117's but they were all changed, that radio is a Sovereign Mk 1 and dates from 1965, sounds lovely.

[murphyv310]

Originally Posted by hinged_bap

Hi Trevor, I converted the PP9's so that each hold 12 AA's. Each PP9 case has inside 2 battery holders, and each of these hold 6 AA's in 2 rows of 3, it all fits together extremely snugly. Much cheaper than lead acid PP9's and if you use Alkalines ( available from maplins for £15 for a hundred ) they last ages and ages. You can also run with 6 in each PP9, as this will still get you the 18v required to run the set. ( but you couldn't have 12 AA's in just one PP9 as you'd only be getting 9v.

BTW, I do have a Hacker that was originally fitted with the dodgy AF117's but they were all changed, that radio is a Sovereign Mk 1 and dates from 1965, sounds lovely.

I'm slightly confused. Each AA is 1.5 volts, 12 of them in series is 18volts.
Having 12 in each PP9 battery case will give you 36 volts. So unless you have a series/parallel network in each battery then you are over running the set seriously.
I'm sure it's all down to either me not reading the post right or a little mistake in the explanation.
Do you have two sets of connectors on each PP9? If so I understand now

[hinged_bap]

Originally Posted by murphyv310

I'm slightly confused. Each AA is 1.5 volts, 12 of them in series is 18volts.
Having 12 in each PP9 battery case will give you 36 volts. So unless you have a series/parallel network in each battery then you are over running the set seriously.
I'm sure it's all down to either me not reading the post right or a little mistake in the explanation.
Do you have two sets of connectors on each PP9? If so I understand now

Hi Trevor

Here is what I did to convert a lead acid PP9 to hold 12 AA's.

2 of these:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/6-aa-battery-box-hq01b

2 of these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/pp3-snap-battery-clip-hf28f

some heatshrink

and a dead pp9 are required.

- Remove the lid of the PP9 ( its bonded but will come off ), I use a stanley knife to split the bond.
- extract the lead acid pack ( still attached to wires ), and snip wires leaving circa 1 1/2 inches remaining attached to the pp9 lid.
- Using 2 of the connectors above, solder the 2 red to the positive lead still attached to the pp9 battery top
( not forgetting the heatshrink first to insulate it all ).
- repeat for black/negative wires and connect the battery holders. You now have the 2 2x3 AA holders each producing
9v but wired in parallel.
- Load the holders with 12 AA's, and pop it all into the pp9 case, I usually secure the lid with a couple of small pieces of black insulating tape.