[Hammarlund] Age list of HQ-129-X?

[Richard Knoppow]

    I am another who is curious. I have an HQ-120-X in very good 
condition although its on the back burner for a little work. Mine 
has a dark gray front panel. It looks like its a factory original 
but I have not seen another, maybe one in a google search. I am 
curious if anyone knows anything definite about this. I have a 
very vague memory that Hammarlund may have changed the color at 
some point. I think mine is late rather than early.
    It is an interesting design as is its predecessor the 
HQ-120-X. I will always be puzzled by the inside out arrangement 
of the dials on both where the lowest frequency band is on the 
outside and the highest frequency on the inside. One would want 
the longer scales on the outside. Both receivers are the same as 
are all others I've seen. Hammarlund certainly knew better, they 
used the correct arrangement on the Super-Pro.
    BTW, there was a break in production of the HQ-129-X after 
its announcement c.1946 and a year or so later. My understanding 
is that the economy changed so fast after the war that it was 
impossible to make them for the original price of  $129. Also, 
the first advertising illustrations show an different front 
escutcheon with a larger meter. I wish they had stuck with the 
longer scale meter as used in the HQ-120-X.   BTW, the X means it 
has the patented crystal filter. Evidently Hammarlund intended to 
sell an economy model without the crystal but I've never seen one 
or read mention of one. This filter, later adopted for the Super 
Pro was the best crystal filter made and was also adopted years 
later by Collins and TMC, maybe other companies.

On 3/20/2020 2:17 PM, Ray LaRue wrote:
> I have acquired a rather nice HQ-129-X in good physical 
> condition.  I have not yet recapped it but will get to it 
> shortly.  I am pairing it up with a nice rebuilt Johnson Ranger 
> for an operating "classic" station, to go along with my rice 
> boxes.
>
> Is there a list of serial numbers online where I could estimate 
> it's age?   The serial number on this one is #14574, stamped 
> into the back of the chassis.
>
> Your attention is appreciated.
> Ray, W4BYG
>

-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL