Hammarlund Super Pro SP-200
$$$··
| Frequency | RX: ~0.1–40 MHz (general coverage, 5 bands; varies by model) |
| Power | Receiver only |
| Modes | AM, CW |
| Weight | 33 kg (72.8 lb) |
| Connector | binding-posts |
| Year | 1939 |
| antenna | binding-posts |
Built for commercial and military monitoring. A 5-position crystal filter with variable phasing, plus continuously variable IF selectivity (3-16 kHz), was among the best available before Collins mechanical filters. Massive, over-engineered construction with two RF and three IF stages. Various models cover from medium wave up to 40 MHz.
About 73 lbs, plus a separate power supply of ~60 lbs. Eats tubes. The variable crystal filter needs periodic realignment. A given model covers only part of the 0.1-40 MHz range. Restoration is a commitment.
Hammarlund's answer to the National HRO. Where the HRO was elegant, the Super Pro was brute force. Commercial and government stations used these alongside amateur operators. A restored Super Pro is impressive on the bench but you will need a strong desk.
The Hammarlund Super-Pro is the receiver line that set the professional standard before and during World War II, a series of premium communications receivers (the SP-10 through SP-400 family) renowned for performance, build quality, and the continuously variable bandwidth control that became a Hammarlund signature. These large, rack-or-table sets cover the high-frequency spectrum (and longwave/mediumwave on some models) and receive AM and CW, built to a standard far above ordinary consumer radios.
During the war the Super-Pro served extensively in military and government communications, where its sensitivity, selectivity, and reliability were prized, and it cemented Hammarlund's reputation as a maker of serious professional gear. Its variable-selectivity IF, smooth tuning, and robust construction influenced receiver design for years. As the direct ancestor of the later SP-600, the original Super-Pro is a landmark of communications-receiver history and a coveted collector's piece.
It is a discontinued classic. See the post-war SP-600 and the pioneering Comet Pro.