hacker rotary table factory

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Hacker Radio Limited manufactured domestic radio and audio equipment. The company was formed in Maidenhead by brothers Ron and Arthur Hacker in 1959, and traded successfully until 1977. Financial difficulties resulted in the company being sold and relaunched with the name Hacker Sound which closed in 1979.

The Hacker brothers, Ron (born 1908) and Arthur (born 1910), founded Dynatron in the late 1920s with help from their father Harry, but in 1955 Ekco took over the company, which at the time employed 150 people. By 1959, the number of employees had risen to 250, but the Hacker brothers were uncomfortable with the arrangements and decided to set up their own company, Hacker Radio Limited. In December 1960 Ekco merged with Pye, then Pye was bought by Philips in 1967. In 1981, Roberts Radio bought Dynatron from Philips.

The Hacker brothers acquired a factory in Cox Green, Maidenhead, and started producing a range of transistor portable radios, beginning with the RP10 Herald. Throughout the 1960s, profits were healthy and the workforce increased. In 1973, the company was awarded its first Royal Warrant of appointment, and gained a second in 1976. But financial difficulties experienced in the 1970s caused the company significant problems, and despite cost-cutting measures, the firm"s bankers called in the receivers in May 1977. The assets were bought by Pullmaflex and the company reformed as Hacker Sound; the Hacker brothers were retained as consultants. Arthur Hacker"s son John, who had been made a director in 1975, was made Technical Director. However, difficulties continued, and the company was bought by Motoradio, who moved the operation to Bournemouth. Finally, a fire put an end to activities, and the Hacker trademark was purchased by Roberts Radio.

Hacker Radio primarily marketed its products to the UK domestic market, and were priced towards the top of the market. This, plus the relatively short period of operation (only two decades) results in a lower brand awareness today compared to other household names such as Roberts Radio. However, Hacker products have a strong following among vintage radio enthusiasts and collectors. An active group on Yahoo

The stated Hacker philosophy was to focus on technical performance rather than cost, and words to this effect are frequently found in printed material from the time. Many examples of their products survive today, and it is widely accepted among vintage radio enthusiasts that the build quality is higher than most similar sets from the same era.

Hacker produced many products during their 19 years of trading. Some of their more notable models are described below - a full list is available on-line.

The first product launched was the RP10 Herald. In common with many of their 1960s designs, this was built into a wooden case covered in leathercloth, with foam padding under the front and rear panels and a turntable to enable the set to be rotated for best reception (the internal ferrite rod aerial being highly directional). It featured a large (5 inch by 8 inch) 30Ω loudspeaker, and was powered by two PP9 batteries. Initial sets used Ediswan transistors; later sets used Mullard devices, including the AF117, which unfortunately went on to suffer from tin whisker formation within the encapsulation.

The next Herald, the RP30, retained the same loudspeaker and grill, but had a restyled cabinet that retained the padded leathercloth, which was available in charcoal black, blue or red (the latter with brass trim). The electronic design was revised, and the audio amplifier was rather more complex, incorporating rotary bass and treble controls. Coverage was MW and LW as before, but a version including short wave (16.5 to 50 metres) was offered (the RP31SW). Later, another version offering Marine Band (70 to 200 metres) in addition to MW and LW was released (the RP32), but this sold in relatively small numbers, and few exist today. These sets continued to use the Mullard AF11x-series of transistors.

Another AM Herald, the RP82, was introduced towards the end of Hacker"s existence, but these are very scarce indeed. Electrically, they are based on the very basic AM-only RP70 Ranger.

The RP37 VHF Herald looked like a third-generation Herald, but the presence of a telescopic aerial indicated that this is an FM-capable receiver; indeed it was an FM-only radio. Like most Hacker sets from the 1960s and early 1970s, this set used two PP9 batteries. They were available in the same colour choices as the RP35 AM Herald, and there was a variant with a revised scale in royal blue that incorporated the Open University logo in place of the local stations. The terms of this arrangement are presently unclear.

This was Hacker"s premium portable model, featuring AM and FM reception, and the name was used for four generations of the receiver. The first three versions featured separate tuners and IF stages for the AM and FM sections. The first generation, the RP18 Sovereign, was released in 1964, and was slightly larger than the contemporary Herald. The case was leathercloth-covered wood with padding for the front and rear panels, and was only available in charcoal black. The same large loudspeaker was used. The FM front end was bought in from German company Görler, and the rest of the tuner sections used Mullard AF11x-series transistors. User-adjustable station markers were provided to indicate the position of three favourite stations - but as these could only be moved over the lower half of the FM band (which only extended to 101 MHz), they were intended to locate the three national BBC services available at the time.

The final Sovereign - the RP77MB Sovereign IV - was rather different. It used simpler and cheaper circuitry that no longer had separate AM and FM sections. The case was somewhat larger because it was originally designed to accommodate a cassette mechanism; the RP77MB Sovereign IV was a radio-only version of the RPC1 radio-cassette recorder. The styling was similar to the previous model, with a black anodised finish to the aluminium components. The turntable was dropped for this model. As with the Sovereign III, operation is from eight D-cells or the mains supply, and MW, LW and FM (to 104 MHz) bands are covered. The amplifier circuitry is simpler than the Sovereign III; in fact, it"s electrically very similar to that used in the Sovereign II - though with some component changes. The loudspeaker is a 5 by 8 inch model made by Elac.

There was a variation of the third-generation Sovereign called the RP75 Super Sovereign. This took the basic RP72 Sovereign and added two short wave bands - the only Hacker set to include both FM and SW. Coverage was 10.9 to 33 metres and 27.5 to 89 metres. Electronic fine-tuning (band-spread) was provided, and switchable ISM returned to the FM band; separate switches are provided for ISM and AFC, unlike the Sovereign II where these functions were combined on one switch. A signal-strength (and battery test) meter was provided. Echoing the development of the RP72, a mains power supply was added (the RP75MB), then the FM coverage was extended to 104 MHz. With the MB models, an ATU (aerial tuning unit) was included to improve short-wave reception. The speaker fitted to the RP75 and RP75MB was the same as the RP72, but with a larger magnet.

The RP38 VHF Hunter was released in 1969, and was intended to be an "economy" set. It had MW, LW and VHF coverage. The cabinet was also cheaper to make and lacked a turntable. Initial models used the same 5" by 8" Goodmans loudspeaker as the contemporary RP35 Herald/RP25 Sovereign, but a model from Elac quickly replaced this.

An updated version followed a year later: the RP38A. This added bass and treble controls, using an amplifier that was electrically very similar to that in the RP35/RP25. This model was in production for many years, and went through several cosmetic changes before production ended in 1976. Initially available with side panels in finished hardwood or covered with black leathercloth, and black leathercloth covered front and rear panels (with no padding), the grill was thin aluminium perforated sheet which picks up dents rather easily. In 1973, a new grill was introduced - the same as the Sovereign III "family" - which was a heavy and thick aluminium extrusion. At some point afterwards, the handle is changed to a three-part unit that matches the rest of the Hacker range, and then towards the end of the run, the silver tone control knobs are replaced with black plastic versions. All versions of the Hunter have an FM band that is limited to 101 MHz (and non-switchable AFC).

In 1962, Hacker released the RV14 Mayflower; an FM-only valve table radio finished in striking veneers. Unusually for a Hacker, this set had coverage to 108 MHz - the FM front end was supplied by Görler. The audio sections were based around a pair of ECL86 triode/pentode valves that operated in push-pull, delivering around 7 watts in ultra-linear mode to a large (10 by 7 inch) loudspeaker. An EM84 "magic eye" tuning indicator valve was used.

Hacker made many mono record players, most of which could be converted to stereo with the purchase of a matching amplified loudspeaker; the GP15 Cavalier, GP42 Gondolier and GP45 Grenadier being commonly encountered examples. They also made a number of radiograms, and later music centres with matching loudspeakers and badge-engineered cassette decks from Japanese manufacturers including Sanyo and Nakamichi.

I am starting out with my recently acquired mill, and the (ever longer) list of projects contain several that would be easier (possible!) with a small rotary table.

The Mill (an SX1LP) seems to suit a 4" table. Reading the forum about such devices I think a simple H/V one would be fine. There seem to be two main choices (in my price bracket) 36:1 (10°/turn) ratio and 90:1 (4°/turn) ratio. The former are a bit cheaper, but the handwheel is on top in the vertical position while the 90:1 seem to have the handwheel horizontal in both orientations which would seem more useable on my small mill.

A 36:1 table turns more quickly than 90:1, making it faster to use, but less accurate. Reduced accuracy doesn"t matter provided only simple angles will be needed. Stuff like hexagon heads.

However, new rotary table owners are soon likely to find jobs where extra accuracy is valuable! Gear cutting is the obvious example, but there are many others, such as cams, helices, drilling awkwardly spaced PCDs etc.

If gear cutting & chums are ever on the menu, a 90:1 table is better. But, oh dear, more money - gear cutting requires a set of division plates or a stepper motor with driver. Manually moving a table to cut 57 teeth ( 6.316° ) per step, soon reduces operators to a nervous wreck and mechanical help keeping track is pretty much essential. I"m not sure 4" tables can be had with division plates, and would recommend a 5" 90:1 table with plates if any advanced functions are on the cards.

Strong rotary tables cost big money. I suggest the hobby type and some expensive makes are unsuited to heavy work whatever the ratio. Brutally hacking out the inner arcs and spokes of several big traction engine wheels at top speed will trash them. Treated with mild respect for ordinary work either ratio should be fine.

I"m actually quite liking using 72:1 and tend to pick that up in preference to my 90:1 table but not sure if there are any to fit your budget with that number of turns as the ARC ones are a bit more costly than the norm.

If (and I repeat, if) you go down the route of adding dividing plates to it, you will almost surely have to calculate all the plate and hole numbers for the 36:1 ratio table.

As far as I can tell, you"re on your own if you want to have a division plate set-up. I was part way through designing such a thing for mine when the need for a 63 tooth changewheel became urgent, so I went for the cheap and cheerful approach of printing a strip of paper with the appropriate divisions marked on it, and taping it round the circumference of the table. Eyeballing alignment with the index mark on the table worked fine - it may not be super precision, but my Imperial threads screw into existing fittings without a problem (and the 63-tooth method isn"t perfect anyway).

The only slight irritation with this method is that the strip is 319.9 mm long for my table, so you have to print it at 33 degrees to fit it on a sheet of A4 - it would have been nice to have printed a whole lot of them on one sheet for different tooth numbers.

The 36:1 model would probably have bigger, stronger teeth and more suited for machining while rotating the table while the 90:1 model will be more accurate but will have smaller, weaker teeth. No problem if locked in stationary position but not as good while rotating.

A more important question may be the number of slots. I think 4 slots is much more useful than 3, which many of the cheaper tables have, as it is easier to fit a 4 jaw chuck which will allow more accurate centering and take up less vertical space than a 3 jaw. Also generally allows easier clamping.

Peter, I have the SX2P mill and apart from it having 25mm more height between table and spindle the table size and X and Y travel are the same as your SX1LP. I started out with a 4 inch rotary table (a cheapie dont go there) but I found it a bit too small. A 6 inch would be too big but came across a 5 inch which is what I went for, came as a set with chuck, tailstock and plates.

A picture below showing its size against the table which gives you some idea. With the 4 jaw chuck and backplate fitted and a Jacobs in the spindle there is only 45mm between the two chucks so I have had to resort to shortening one or two drills in the past. There is more space of course with collet mounted drills and cutters and without the 4 jaw there is 205mm between the rotary face and spindle.

Thanks for all the advice - very helpful. The main projects I have on the (ever growing) list that need some sort of controlled rotation are a motor mount for the Taig lathe so that I can fit a DC speed controlled motor, and some calibrated dials (HH"s Lining tool is on the timeline for that and the ratchet wheels will need the table). The motor mount needs curved adjustment slots but it will be in aluminium so less of a risk.

Thanks Paul for the warning. The reason I asked about relative strength was that the cheap 36:1 tables all seem to have the handle angles towards the centre while the 90:1 ones it is straight. That suggested the cheap tables had a smaller wormwheel, and I was wondering.

Just an update for anyone interested - against advice I ordered table & index plates from a remote supplier (China!) but who shipped from the Czech Republic so no customs or duty (until 1st Jan). Table arrived by courier in less than a week. First impressions good. certainly looks more than adequate for my needs and mill.

On investigation it turned out to be a 110mm diameter 4 slot 72:1 table rather than the 90:1 I thought I was getting. So opened discussions with supplier. Very responsive - offered a swap, or a discount if I kept it. Based on Jason B"s comments about usability I decided on the latter.

Unfortunately they too suffer from "cheapitis". Indian made tools fall into two definate classes of good and not so good. The problem being that there is little or no consistency from model, size or brand. Bison and some of the other vendors like Grizzly do have a decent quality offering, but they are not sub 100 dollar items. You definately want the largest table that your mill will accomodate because you also need room to be able to clamp and secure the piece you are working on. I am not familiar with the dimensions of your lathe/mill but you want to try to keep the quill retracted as close to the head as possible to impprove stiffness and reduce chatter, but you do not want to crowd the head too much either. I would also opt for the horz/verticle mounting options to increase the tools use and versatility. The sub 100 dollar units seem to be rough, have a good bit of looseness and have been found to even still have casting dirt still in the cavities. This is especially prevalent in the cheapest offerings from places like CDCO and Shars. So I would suggest a bit more shopping with an eye toward making one slightly more expensive purchase rather than having to revuild/repair a smaller unit that you will ultimately replace or relegate to the "spare parts" dungeon. I have not bught one myself yet, but I have been following a number of threads outlining the woes of others who failed too remember the old adage of :Ya gets what ya pays for, and nothing more" Hope this helps and is not intended to discourage just inform and to help you become aware of the pitfalls with rotary tables in general.

Unfortunately they too suffer from "cheapitis". Indian made tools fall into two definate classes of good and not so good. The problem being that there is little or no consistency from model, size or brand. Bison and some of the other vendors like Grizzly do have a decent quality offering, but they are not sub 100 dollar items. You definately want the largest table that your mill will accomodate because you also need room to be able to clamp and secure the piece you are working on. I am not familiar with the dimensions of your lathe/mill but you want to try to keep the quill retracted as close to the head as possible to impprove stiffness and reduce chatter, but you do not want to crowd the head too much either. I would also opt for the horz/verticle mounting options to increase the tools use and versatility. The sub 100 dollar units seem to be rough, have a good bit of looseness and have been found to even still have casting dirt still in the cavities. This is especially prevalent in the cheapest offerings from places like CDCO and Shars. So I would suggest a bit more shopping with an eye toward making one slightly more expensive purchase rather than having to revuild/repair a smaller unit that you will ultimately replace or relegate to the "spare parts" dungeon. I have not bught one myself yet, but I have been following a number of threads outlining the woes of others who failed too remember the old adage of "Ya gets what ya pays for, and nothing more" Hope this helps and is not intended to discourage just inform and to help you become aware of the pitfalls with rotary tables in general.

Standard T slots are pretty bulky when machined in a small mounting surface like a 6" rotary table. I"m of the opinion that small rotary tables are best arranged without T slots. I would prefer a plain flat top rotary table with a centering feature on it (a rabbet or a short taper) and a Morse taper in the center for locating spuds. Then have a half dozen thickish solid steel sub-plates to mount on it. One with a chuck, one with an X-Y slide (eh??), and the others blank for tapped holes as needed, or machining locatng features directly in the sub-plate - or tack weld directly to it!!

Refurbished, excellent condition, 6 x 10” Gardner Denver mud pump, 10" boom extension, Detroit 8V91 engine (rebuilt with low hours), 13” retractable table, 4 part kelly line, 4 part tool line, separate sand line, hydromatic brake, air clutches/throttle, weight indicator, 3” King swivel, 5” x 27’ hexagon kelly, automatic pump oiler, mud standpipe, air standpipe, reverse standpipe, 12VLED lighting, derrick mounted ladder with safety system, all bushings and wear items are brand new, mounted on brand new custom trailer  Price:  $370,000

Manufactured 1975. Single drum drawworks, trailer mounted, 75" telescoping mast, Hacker rotary table, set up for reverse air drilling, 6" kelly, kelly hose, 2" air hose, 12,000# working winder, wireline winch, tongs, counterweight, substructure, doghouse, tongs. Just completed a job in 2020 PRICE: $110,000

Mounted on single axle trailer, 45’ mast, 6 part line on kelly, 5 part line on trip drum, John Deere Tier 4 4-cyl deck engine, Murphy controls, 18” hinged flip up Failing rotary table, Wagner hydraulic weight indicator, 6” Western Rubber swivel, 24’ kelly bar, 3 hydraulic leveling jacks, ready to work  Price:  $180,000

Manufactured 1980, hydraulic bailing drum, 5-1/2 x 8 Gardner Denver mud pump with new fluid end, new pump clutch, new rotary clutch, chain pulldown, 10" rotary table, mounted on 2002 Western Star, 10 speed transmission, pipe rack, air clutches, new 2" Little Giant swivel, new 4" x 24" fluted kelly, 44" derrick with flanges for extension, can easily be rigged up for reverse circulation  Price:  $260,000  PRICE REDUCED:  $225,000

Triple drum drawworks, 35” table opening, 6” x 18’ kelly, 35’ derrick, John Deere diesel engine, Sullair 375/125 air compressor (engine needs work), 6” centrifugal pump (removed, but available), mounted on International tandem axle truck with diesel engine  Price:  $170,000

Manufactured 1973, triple drum drawworks, John Deere diesel engine, 35” table opening, 6” x 18’ kelly, 35’ derrick, 6” centrifugal pump, mounted on 1982 International tandem axle truck with diesel engine.

Manufactured 1977, triple drum drawworks, mounted on Stering single axle trailer with International twin screw tractor with 277 Industrial diesel engine, factory air swivel, Detroit 671 diesel deck engine, 35’ derrick, 30” opening table, 6” centrifugal pump, 6” x 18’ kelly, 2012 Sullair 375/150 air compressor with Cummins diesel engine, 2 fuel tanks, 4 leveling jacks,, 300’ of 6” x 16’ drill pipe with 1-1/4 steel air line on outside of pipe with “O” ring, tandem axle pipe trailer, has drilled 500’ wells x 28” diameter and set 16’ casing, ready to drill  Price:  $325,000

Manufactured 1982, double drum drawworks, 1” main line, 1” laydown line,-1/2” tail out line, depth sounding line.  75’ x 100,000# derrick (new 2010), 6 cylinder Cat deck engine, (spare rebuilt engine in crate), 24” hydraulically driven removable rotary table, 15’ x 12’ x 8’ custom fabricated substrcuture with guard rails, pipe and accessories  Price:  $210,000

Manufactured 2011, Reverse circulation, sliding angle drilling rig, Dual stage 1150/500 Sullair compressor with clutch (900/500 and 1,150/350), 93,000# pullback, tophead has 106,000 in-lbs torque, Cummins QSK19-C Tier 1 deck engine (755 hp), 30’ sliding angle mast to drill holes up to 45 degrees from vertical, swing-out style control panel on side of rig, 22” hinged table opening , 60” adjustable pipe wrench, 0-5 gal/hr air operated DTH tool lubricator, jib boom to handle pipe at angles of 45 degrees (140 degree swing, extends 40”, 1,000# capacity vertical pull), 9,600# Braden PD12C winch, foam injection (diaphragm type electric pulse pump injects foam into intake manifold of water injection pump), 35 GPM bean water injection pump, no pipe rack, 2.375” hydraulically operate blowdown valve, Side inlet swivel, set up for 4.5” x 20” RC pipe, mounted on international 7600 8x4 truck, Cummins ISM-400 engine (400hp).  All equipment have been well maintained by large contractor, all major components changed based on hours suggested by Schramm and were not changed due to failure of components. New unit cost $1.8 million USD    PRICE:  $850,000

86" x 240,000# telescoping mast, hydraulcally raised, cable scoped, double drum drawworks with twin dic air clutches, Tier 3 Cat C9 (350 hhp) engine (new 2008), Allison transmission (rebuilt 2008), auto catheads and hydraulic cylinder for make up and breakout, Hopper T drive and stub shaft dor drawworks and table drive, 27-1/2" rotary table mounted on detachable sub base, new change of direction box for table drive with rebuit spare box and gears, rig set up for 4-1/2" x 30" drill pipe, tongs, slip and dog collars, mounted on 3axle semi low boy chassis  Price:  $325,000