The history of Hacker - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Superhet Si · 6th Sep 2006, 9:53 am

I have been searching the net looking for any reference to the Hacker radio company.
I have found nothing of any detail regarding the founder of the company, where in Maidenhead the factory was etc.
Can anyone shed any light on this lost company?

Nickthedentist · 6th Sep 2006, 9:58 pm

Hi Simon,

There's an excellent little book about the Hacker brothers' (Ron & Arthur?) first company, Dynatron, but it does contain some info about Hacker too. It was published about 10-15 years ago. I have a copy somewhere (probably at my parents') and will scan it for you if no-one beats me to it.

The factory was at Norreys Drive, Cox Green, SL6 4BP. Looking it up on Streetmap or Multimap will show you where it is, and Googling the postcode will tell you what's there now (an industrial estate, I think).

Nick.

Superhet Si · 6th Sep 2006, 10:16 pm

That would be a very kind gesture Nick thanks a lot. You have told me something I did not know, that the hacker brothers used to be Dynatron

Paul_RK · 6th Sep 2006, 10:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superhet Si

You have told me something I did not know, that the hacker brothers used to be Dynatron

Yes, that was from 1927 to 1960! Hacker Radio Ltd. started production in 1960, meeting with recurrent financial crises from the early '70s on: R.H. and A.G. Hacker sold the firm at the end of 1975, and after a liquidation and a second buyout it ended its days in Bournemouth circa 1980. I've not been able to discover exactly when, but one of my Bournemouth-made sets (serial numbers beginning with B) carries a 20/6/1979 date stamp.

Paul

Tom_I · 7th Sep 2006, 10:03 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superhet Si

You have told me something I did not know, that the hacker brothers used to be Dynatron

There's a little bit about them here:

http://www.dynatronmuseum.org.uk/History.htm

ianj · 8th Sep 2006, 9:44 am

I own a Hacker music centre 600, which dates from the mid-late 70s, with dolby cassette, and garrard belt drive deck......Hacker and Dynatron were top dog...................................back then. ianj

Superhet Si · 8th Sep 2006, 4:19 pm

Thanks for all the information regarding a great manufacturer of quality radio equipment.
It was such a shame they went to the wall in the end.
Keep the info coming please, if there is more

Paul_RK · 8th Sep 2006, 4:52 pm

The booklet Nick's scanning for you will tell you most of what I know, even though its information on the Hacker Radio years is fairly sparse. I remember my own dismay on reading in Practical Wireless at the time of one of the company's three (at least) collapses, in which memory tells me they were reported to have been bought out by a Brazil-based seat belt manufacturer (Pullmaflex?). Nothing against Brazil or seat belts, but it seemed a sad day...

In case you haven't found it yet, there's a fair and growing collection of Hacker material (sales brochures, instruction leaflets, dealers' letters - thanks Nick! - plus a smattering of photos with many more to come) available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hackerradiogroup/ , where attempts to piece together more of the company's production history will continue

Paul

Superhet Si · 27th Sep 2006, 10:19 pm

Look foward to Nick posting the story on the Hacher bros. Any day now i'm sure ;-)

Nickthedentist · 27th Sep 2006, 10:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superhet Si

Look foward to Nick posting the story on the Hacher bros. Any day now i'm sure ;-)

Er, well no

Off on holiday soon, then have to wait until I go to my parents' house to retrieve the booklet.

It's literally written on my "to do" list though, so I haven't forgotten.

Nick.

Superhet Si · 28th Sep 2006, 5:58 pm

Cheers Nick I was just teasing......

dazzlevision · 29th Sep 2006, 9:51 pm

Hello,

Here is all the information I have about Hacker history, including Dynatron.

Dynatron Radio Ltd, Perfecta Works, Ray Lea Road, Maidenhead, Berks (in 1947). Maker of radios and radiograms (also industrial electronics & TV sets). Founded by R H & A G Hacker in 1927 (as H Hacker & Sons, Ray Lea Road, Maidenhead), to manufacture Dynatron radiograms. In 1954 at The Firs, Castle Hill, Maidenhead. In 1957, they were at St Peter’s Road, Furze Platt, Maidenhead. In 1955, they sold out to E K Cole Ltd (Ekco). RH & AG Hacker remained with the company until 1959, when they left to form Hacker Radio Ltd in 1960.

Pye took over E K Cole in 1960 and, in 1966, the Pye High Fidelity Division was at St Peters Road, Maidenhead. The firm remained in Maidenhead until the 1970’s (under the ownership of Pye and then Philips). In 1975, Dynatron had a product development team at Hansa Road, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn, Norfolk (Pye TMC / Pye Electro Devices were also on this estate). Philips sold the brand name to Roberts Radio Ltd around 1980.

Roberts replaced their “Roberts Video” brand with “Dynatron” thereafter. Roberts is now a subsidiary of Glen Dimplex plc.

Hacker Radio Ltd, Norreys Drive, Cox Green, Maidenhead, Berks (in 1961 – this new site was built in 1960). Established by RH & AG Hacker – late of Dynatron Radio Ltd. Maker of radios and HiFi, but also industrial electronics (e.g. for UKAEA – in 1969). Circa 1975, the firm went into liquidation and was bought – the new company was called Hacker Sound Ltd. Not long after, this company was bought by Motoradio Ltd of Blackburn (In Car Entertainment manufacturers). Production was then transferred from Maidenhead to Motoradio’s plant in 83-95 Stanley Road, Bournemouth. How long did this last for - into the 80’s.

Regards,

Dazzlevision

Paul_RK · 29th Sep 2006, 10:54 pm

Main dates for the stages of Hacker's demise seem to be :-

December '75 - initial sale of Hacker Radio Ltd. R.H. and A.G. Hacker were retained as consultants.

May '77 - receivership. New company formed, and bought out by car seating manufacturer Pullmaflex. Production as "Hacker Sound" begins.

April-May '78 - production moved to Bournemouth after sale of the company to Motoradio. (I have an April '78 Sovereign IV from Maidenhead, Howard's just acquired a May '78 one made in Bournemouth). The Hacker brothers had retired shortly before the move.

Some time after June 20th '79 - I'd guess not many months - an accidental fire destroyed the Bournemouth factory and put an end to Hacker production. (June 20th is the latest date I've seen on a Bournemouth set, and there aren't very many of them around).

Paul

ben · 1st Oct 2006, 1:59 am

weren't they the company that produced ugly looking stuff used in schools, usually with a crummy garrard sp25 turntable inlvolved?

Paul_RK · 1st Oct 2006, 2:06 am

Umm... well, they produced the best portable record players of their day (with only really the Decca Deccalian that comes to mind as competition), if those are the instruments you're thinking of. The SP25 was hardly a hi-fi deck, granted, but it was pretty robust, and there weren't many better alternatives to use in a portable - an SME 3009 wouldn't have fared very well

I guess ugliness is in the eye of the beholder

Paul

Mike Fulton · 1st Oct 2006, 2:16 am

Hmmm, probably, I seem to remember pretty rugged teacher proof (

) stuff wearing the Hacker label when I was of school age in those times.....

Hacker products in general were (are!) pretty bombproof anyway.

I liked the SP25 series, fitted with a decent cartridge nothing could touch them in their price range (or has since!!!)

Paul_RK · 1st Oct 2006, 2:50 am

Yes, my own first encounter with Hacker came at age 5, when a new Mayflower II had taken up residence in Sculthorpe VA school just before I started there myself (I'm pretty sure it wasn't there during a preliminary visit!) The record player budget can't have been so generous, as we had to make do with a Dansette Conquest. A few years later and I remember a Hacker Gondolier occasionallly having its seven watts RMS called on to entertain about 600 boys in an echoing school hall during assembly...

Paul

dazzlevision · 1st Oct 2006, 7:14 am

Hi,

I think Ben may be referring to Clarke & Smith products.

Regards,

Dazzlevision

Paul_RK · 1st Oct 2006, 12:09 pm

Yes - that had crossed my own mind, though I rather like their oak cabinets

Funny thing is, I never actually met any Clarke & Smith items in a school, just Hacker, Ferrograph, Tandberg and so on. But doubtless they were sold to schools, or they wouldn't have existed at all

Paul

plumbweiss · 29th Nov 2006, 2:06 am

There's a few paragraphs in the Bussey-Geddes setmakers book about these guys.

6th Sep 2006, 9:53 am	#1
Superhet Si Pentode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Crawley Down, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 151	The history of Hacker I have been searching the net looking for any reference to the Hacker radio company. I have found nothing of any detail regarding the founder of the company, where in Maidenhead the factory was etc. Can anyone shed any light on this lost company? __________________ My Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/simonspiers

6th Sep 2006, 9:58 pm	#2
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,838	Re: The history of Hacker Hi Simon, There's an excellent little book about the Hacker brothers' (Ron & Arthur?) first company, Dynatron, but it does contain some info about Hacker too. It was published about 10-15 years ago. I have a copy somewhere (probably at my parents') and will scan it for you if no-one beats me to it. The factory was at Norreys Drive, Cox Green, SL6 4BP. Looking it up on Streetmap or Multimap will show you where it is, and Googling the postcode will tell you what's there now (an industrial estate, I think). Nick.

6th Sep 2006, 10:16 pm	#3
Superhet Si Pentode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Crawley Down, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 151	Re: The history of Hacker That would be a very kind gesture Nick thanks a lot. You have told me something I did not know, that the hacker brothers used to be Dynatron __________________ My Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/simonspiers

8th Sep 2006, 9:44 am	#6
ianj Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 525	Re: The history of Hacker I own a Hacker music centre 600, which dates from the mid-late 70s, with dolby cassette, and garrard belt drive deck......Hacker and Dynatron were top dog...................................back then. ianj

8th Sep 2006, 4:19 pm	#7
Superhet Si Pentode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Crawley Down, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 151	Re: The history of Hacker Thanks for all the information regarding a great manufacturer of quality radio equipment. It was such a shame they went to the wall in the end. Keep the info coming please, if there is more __________________ My Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/simonspiers

8th Sep 2006, 4:52 pm	#8
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: The history of Hacker The booklet Nick's scanning for you will tell you most of what I know, even though its information on the Hacker Radio years is fairly sparse. I remember my own dismay on reading in Practical Wireless at the time of one of the company's three (at least) collapses, in which memory tells me they were reported to have been bought out by a Brazil-based seat belt manufacturer (Pullmaflex?). Nothing against Brazil or seat belts, but it seemed a sad day... In case you haven't found it yet, there's a fair and growing collection of Hacker material (sales brochures, instruction leaflets, dealers' letters - thanks Nick! - plus a smattering of photos with many more to come) available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hackerradiogroup/ , where attempts to piece together more of the company's production history will continue Paul Last edited by Paul_RK; 8th Sep 2006 at 5:01 pm.

27th Sep 2006, 10:19 pm	#9
Superhet Si Pentode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Crawley Down, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 151	Re: The history of Hacker Look foward to Nick posting the story on the Hacher bros. Any day now i'm sure ;-) __________________ My Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/simonspiers

28th Sep 2006, 5:58 pm	#11
Superhet Si Pentode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Crawley Down, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 151	Re: The history of Hacker Cheers Nick I was just teasing...... __________________ My Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/simonspiers

29th Sep 2006, 9:51 pm	#12
dazzlevision Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Swindon, North Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,608	Re: The history of Hacker Hello, Here is all the information I have about Hacker history, including Dynatron. Dynatron Radio Ltd, Perfecta Works, Ray Lea Road, Maidenhead, Berks (in 1947). Maker of radios and radiograms (also industrial electronics & TV sets). Founded by R H & A G Hacker in 1927 (as H Hacker & Sons, Ray Lea Road, Maidenhead), to manufacture Dynatron radiograms. In 1954 at The Firs, Castle Hill, Maidenhead. In 1957, they were at St Peter’s Road, Furze Platt, Maidenhead. In 1955, they sold out to E K Cole Ltd (Ekco). RH & AG Hacker remained with the company until 1959, when they left to form Hacker Radio Ltd in 1960. Pye took over E K Cole in 1960 and, in 1966, the Pye High Fidelity Division was at St Peters Road, Maidenhead. The firm remained in Maidenhead until the 1970’s (under the ownership of Pye and then Philips). In 1975, Dynatron had a product development team at Hansa Road, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn, Norfolk (Pye TMC / Pye Electro Devices were also on this estate). Philips sold the brand name to Roberts Radio Ltd around 1980. Roberts replaced their “Roberts Video” brand with “Dynatron” thereafter. Roberts is now a subsidiary of Glen Dimplex plc. Hacker Radio Ltd, Norreys Drive, Cox Green, Maidenhead, Berks (in 1961 – this new site was built in 1960). Established by RH & AG Hacker – late of Dynatron Radio Ltd. Maker of radios and HiFi, but also industrial electronics (e.g. for UKAEA – in 1969). Circa 1975, the firm went into liquidation and was bought – the new company was called Hacker Sound Ltd. Not long after, this company was bought by Motoradio Ltd of Blackburn (In Car Entertainment manufacturers). Production was then transferred from Maidenhead to Motoradio’s plant in 83-95 Stanley Road, Bournemouth. How long did this last for - into the 80’s. Regards, Dazzlevision

29th Sep 2006, 10:54 pm	#13
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: The history of Hacker Main dates for the stages of Hacker's demise seem to be :- December '75 - initial sale of Hacker Radio Ltd. R.H. and A.G. Hacker were retained as consultants. May '77 - receivership. New company formed, and bought out by car seating manufacturer Pullmaflex. Production as "Hacker Sound" begins. April-May '78 - production moved to Bournemouth after sale of the company to Motoradio. (I have an April '78 Sovereign IV from Maidenhead, Howard's just acquired a May '78 one made in Bournemouth). The Hacker brothers had retired shortly before the move. Some time after June 20th '79 - I'd guess not many months - an accidental fire destroyed the Bournemouth factory and put an end to Hacker production. (June 20th is the latest date I've seen on a Bournemouth set, and there aren't very many of them around). Paul

1st Oct 2006, 1:59 am	#14
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: The history of Hacker weren't they the company that produced ugly looking stuff used in schools, usually with a crummy garrard sp25 turntable inlvolved?

1st Oct 2006, 2:06 am	#15
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: The history of Hacker Umm... well, they produced the best portable record players of their day (with only really the Decca Deccalian that comes to mind as competition), if those are the instruments you're thinking of. The SP25 was hardly a hi-fi deck, granted, but it was pretty robust, and there weren't many better alternatives to use in a portable - an SME 3009 wouldn't have fared very well I guess ugliness is in the eye of the beholder Paul

1st Oct 2006, 2:16 am	#16
Mike Fulton Pentode Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: 7 Miles North of Durham, UK. Posts: 130	Re: The history of Hacker Hmmm, probably, I seem to remember pretty rugged teacher proof () stuff wearing the Hacker label when I was of school age in those times..... Hacker products in general were (are!) pretty bombproof anyway. I liked the SP25 series, fitted with a decent cartridge nothing could touch them in their price range (or has since!!!)

1st Oct 2006, 2:50 am	#17
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: The history of Hacker Yes, my own first encounter with Hacker came at age 5, when a new Mayflower II had taken up residence in Sculthorpe VA school just before I started there myself (I'm pretty sure it wasn't there during a preliminary visit!) The record player budget can't have been so generous, as we had to make do with a Dansette Conquest. A few years later and I remember a Hacker Gondolier occasionallly having its seven watts RMS called on to entertain about 600 boys in an echoing school hall during assembly... Paul

1st Oct 2006, 7:14 am	#18
dazzlevision Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Swindon, North Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,608	Re: The history of Hacker Hi, I think Ben may be referring to Clarke & Smith products. Regards, Dazzlevision

1st Oct 2006, 12:09 pm	#19
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: The history of Hacker Yes - that had crossed my own mind, though I rather like their oak cabinets Funny thing is, I never actually met any Clarke & Smith items in a school, just Hacker, Ferrograph, Tandberg and so on. But doubtless they were sold to schools, or they wouldn't have existed at all Paul

29th Nov 2006, 2:06 am	#20
plumbweiss Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 157	Re: The history of Hacker There's a few paragraphs in the Bussey-Geddes setmakers book about these guys.