[Hammarlund] HQ-120X Restoration

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Sat, Feb 19, 2011 at 5:30 PM, Richard Knoppow
<1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Glen Zook" <gzook at yahoo.com>
> To: <hammarlund at mailman.qth.net>; "Joe Connor"
> <joeconnor53 at yahoo.com>
> Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2011 12:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [Hammarlund] HQ-120X Restoration
>
>
>> Basically, the HQ-120X had the old large pin tubes, then
>> morphed into the HQ-129X with octal tubes,


>     Check the handbook for the HQ-120-X, they always had
> octal tubes, and metal ones to boot,  the design was too new
> to use the old large-pin tubes. The HQ-129-X replaced the
> 6S7RF and IF tubes which had grid caps, with 6SS7 the
> single-ended version, which were developed after the 120
> went into production. It also has some other changes in tube
> types and circuitry but is still essentially the same.


Yet another example of bad information being spread via the internet
experts. Thanks for pointing out the facts, Richard. The only
Hammarlund models to exclusively use big pin tubes were the early
Super Pro SP-10 and earlier Comet Pro, the later SP-100 being a mix of
the two. The HQ-120 hadn't been developed yet. It came out during the
late SP-100/early SP-200 era, late 1938 IIRC.

My '120s also had all metal octal tubes throughout. And aside from the
tube changes you pointed out, the only other real changes were
cosmetic - gray panels with white pin striping to help jazz up a
pre-war design. Auto manufactures did the same thing after WWII,
lacking new models since the focus had been on winning the war. It was
easier to bring out the 1941 models dressed up as 'new' models until
the gap could be filled.

I've had 2 of the HQ-120X models, both were great performers for an
entry level rig, if you could call it that. Carl and I marveled at
this a few months back. With a Halli Sky Buddy, National NC-80/81X, or
HQ-120X for late 30s entry-level rigs from the three big
manufacturers, the '120 wins hands down.

You've got a good rig, Joe -

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4