Hammarlund Super Pro

Lore & Background

The Hammarlund Manufacturing Company began the Super-Pro line in March 1936 with the SP-10 receiver, followed by the SP-100 in January 1937. Efforts to improve the design resulted in the SP-200 series in October 1939, an 18-tube single conversion superhet receiver. The SP-200 series was manufactured through 1945, with thousands delivered to the military during World War II. They saw wide use by the U.S. Signal Corps as the BC-779 and BC-794, and government agencies like the FBI used them at listening posts. Many were used at ground stations in England to communicate with Royal Air Force and U.S. Air Force armadas bombing Germany.

After the war, surplus Super-Pro receivers flooded the market at bargain prices, which may explain why many working examples are still found today. From 1946 to 1948, Hammarlund produced the SP-400 Super Pro for the amateur radio market. In 1947, the SP-600 Super-Pro was introduced, surpassing the SP-200 in performance. The SP-600 series were widely used throughout the world for military, laboratory, and commercial applications. Various SP-600 sub-models included versions for the CIA and FAA, as well as diversity reception and SSB reception.

Reader's Guide

The Hammarlund Super Pro series holds significance as a widely used communications receiver during World War II, with thousands delivered to the military. The SP-200 series, in particular, was employed by the U.S. Signal Corps as the BC-779 and BC-794, and by the FBI at listening posts. Its use at ground stations in England to coordinate bombing missions with the Royal Air Force and U.S. Air Force underscores its strategic importance. The post-war surplus of SP-200 receivers at bargain prices contributed to their continued presence today. The subsequent SP-400 and SP-600 models extended the series' legacy, with the SP-600 being adopted globally for military, laboratory, and commercial purposes. The series' longevity and adaptability, including specialized variants for the CIA and FAA, demonstrate its enduring utility in communications.

Did You Know?

• The SP-200 Super Pro used 18 tubes and was a single conversion superhet receiver.
• The SP-200 series was manufactured through 1945 and saw wide use as the BC-779 and BC-794 by the U.S. Signal Corps.
• After World War II, surplus Super-Pro receivers were sold at bargain prices, which may explain why many working examples are still found today.
• The SP-600 series included variants produced for the CIA and the FAA.