[Hammarlund] Hammarlund HX-500 Transmitter...

[David Thompson]

The cost cutting that Jack found in the HX-500 occurred at Hammarlund all 
along.  Lloyd Hammarlund was the man in charge (appointed by the owner at 
the time) mainly due to his last name
as the Hammarlund name needed to be with Hammarlund even though they were 
owned by outside interests.

In 1964 I met the Hammarlund team at Mars Hill which included Lloyd 
Hammarlund, Stu Meyer, W2GHK, Bill W2HEL/4 (Engineering Manager) and Bob 
Belknap (Marketing).  Even though the HX-500 was supposed to be no longer 
made I saw a whole line of HX-500's in the plant.  Belknap said they were 
made for a South American Country.

Lloyd followed in the footsteps of his father, Oscar in being a penny 
pincher.  If the cost even started to approach the maximum costs then 
corners were cut.  My 1958 HQ-110 had the IF coils wiring merely wrapped 
tightly around the pins BUT not soldered.  Yep, Lloyd was the master at 
keeping costs low.  I assume W2HEL approved the HV wire going through a hole 
in the chassis rather than
a more costly part.

I met with W4AMJ (ex W2AMJ) in 1994 at his Englewood, Florida home.  HE was 
the last NYC employee and retired in 1970.  His name is on most of the 
SP-600 notes and invented the HC-10 converter that was incorporated into 
several other Hammarlund receivers in 1957.  He was the father of the more 
modern look of the HQ-100, 110, 145, 170 receivers.  If he were still alive 
today I am sure he could agree with all of Jack's points and provide us with 
many others.  But remember National and even Collins cut corners were they 
could.

Good luck Jack on bringing the HX-500 to life.

73 Dave K4JRB