HRO receiver - the name?

[Skywave]

As a companion Thread to my Thread about the Name of the RCA AR88D, et al, , does anyone know the history / origin of the name "HRO" for that well-known radio, manufactured by 'National'? One theory that I have read is that is arose out of an urgent need to get it into production: Hell Of A Rush - which, initially, was abbreviated to "HOR" - until someone realised that that abbreviation could be mis-construed! :s - and was subsequently re-arranged to "HRO". Personally, I find that theory to be a bit far-fetched . . . but you never know!

Your thoughts - especially documented info. - will be appreciated; thank you.

Al. / Skywave.

[Shaman]

Originally designed in 1934 to meet a contract for a very stable aviation ground receiver, it derived its name in part from the penciled notes written on the various work orders for engineering and design. The note "HOR" stood for "helluva rush". When it came time to name the receiver, the initials were switched. So the origin of "HRO" can be interpreted as standing for "helluva rush order". The mechanical engineering was the work of James Millen and the electronic design was by Herbert Hoover, Jr., son of the former United States President. Millen mentions the development of the receiver in his letter-ad in the August 1934 QST (page 69). A two page description of the first HRO is found in the National catalog which was included in the October 1934 issue of QST. See pages 72 and 73. Millen apologized for the HRO not being available during November in his letter-ad in the December 1934 QST (page 69). Perhaps a possable explanation....Alan.

[Skywave]

Thank you Alan: that is exactly the full story that I was referring to in my Opening Post. And I repeat what I said there: I find it very difficult to believe. Call me an old-fashioned sceptic if you will, but for a nascent company who had developed a receiver on which their future depended, and had spent an enormous amount of time and money to get it to the 'finished product' stage, to me, it seems utterly incredulous that that was the real reason for the choice of name. A name, that when the buyer asked my very same question of the manufacturer - which was an almost guaranteed question to ask - would the buyer (customer) have been told that's what the letters really stood for? Seems to me to be very unlikely, considering the almost guaranteed 'negative impact' that such a response would have had on the nascent company's future trading prospects.

Moreover, "Hell Of A Rush", when abbreviated, would have become "HOAR". If it was chosen to omit the "A" and then re-arrange the remaining letters to make "HRO", why not omit the "O" and re-arrange the remaining letters to make "HRA" - or some other strange 3-letter sequence?

As I stated, I have heard & read the story as you reported it - for which thank you. Until I read that story myself (which was a long time ago), and although I thus knew of the 'aviation connection', I always suspected that the prototype design was originally aimed at the Amateur Radio market (note: AmRad bandspread coils, yes?) - and "HRO" simply stood for Ham Radio Operator. Then along comes the urgent - and much more profitable - 'aviation requirement', and it's "Oh dear! What do we have on the drawing board or in development we can re-work for this urgent job? Ah-Ha! I know . . . " etc.

Anyway, all of that is simply my 'take' on the subject; and yes, I may be totally proven wrong one day - but I'll always find that apocryphal tale that you related a very difficult one to swallow!

Al. / Skywave.

[Shaman]

Al, the mind boggles, as to the suffix/lettering of some things, i guess the war demanded a lot of " We want it yesterday" the term HRO for in my eyes was a lovely comms set with plug in coil packs for frequency, sure makes you think....regards...Alan.

[Skywave]

In common with most of us here, I am interested in vintage electronics, especially vintage comms. radios. And for me, that includes the history of such items, which, therefore, includes their names - as arcane and obscure as some of them seem to be!

So thank you for your assistance in this Thread. Perhaps more Posts from others will follow shortly.

Cheers,

Al. / Skywave / March 27.