About the Company
Hanimex (an abbreviation of HANnes Import and EXport) was an Australian electronics distributor and manufacturer, founded in 1947 by Jack Hannes in Sydney. Initially the firm focused on photographic equipment and imported consumer electronics, later expanding into various audio products, including tape recorders and cassette equipment.
Founded: 1947
Headquarters: Brookvale, New South Wales, Australia
Business: Import and distribution of cameras and electronics; local manufacture and rebadging of audio gear
Defunct: Brand discontinued in 2004 when absorbed into FujiFilm Australia.
Hanimex was not primarily a tape recorder manufacturer with its own complex transport designs, but it sold and occasionally built/imported reel‑to‑reel tape decks marketed under its label, particularly in the 1960s consumer market.
Reel‑to‑Reel Production History
Mid‑1960s — Entry into Reel Recorders
In the mid‑1960s, as reel‑to‑reel audio became popular for home recording and playback, Hanimex introduced several reel‑to‑reel tape decks and recorders under the Hanimex‑General name — typically consumer‑level models sold in Australia and possibly exported to other English‑speaking markets.
Typical models from this era include:
Hanimex‑General M732A (c.1965–1966)
Two‑track, three‑speed deck supporting 1⅞, 3¾ and 7½ ips speeds and up to 7″ reels.
Wooden cabinet with integrated speakers and conventional home consumer styling.Hanimex‑General M522‑A (c.1965–1967)
All‑transistor two‑track recorder with two speeds (1⅞, 3¾ ips) for shorter reels (up to about 5″).
A more compact, push‑button‑operated consumer machine with built‑in loudspeaker.Hanimex‑General S734‑A (c.1965–1966)
A four‑track stereo recorder with three speeds (1⅞, 3¾, 7½ ips).
Larger, table‑top “hi‑fi” styled deck with dual loudspeakers and features aiming at better fidelity.
These units were characteristic of mid‑1960s consumer open‑reel machines rather than high‑end hi‑fi or professional gear: they tended to be relatively simple in design, targeted at hobbyists and general home use.
Manufacturing & Branding Notes
Many Hanimex audio products — especially in the reel‑to‑reel and later cassette recorder lines — were likely rebadged or assembled from imported components rather than entirely in‑house engineered.
It was common in this era for Australian brands to source mechanisms or circuit boards from Japan or other Far East OEMs and then market them under a local brand name.
There is anecdotal evidence (e.g., collector discussions) that certain Hanimex reel decks (such as the Hanimex 3000 seen in some posts) may have been built by other OEM manufacturers like Fujiya Electric Co. or shared mechanisms similar to other consumer brands.
Decline of Reel Decks and Shift to Cassette
By the late 1960s and early 1970s, the compact cassette format (introduced in 1963) became dominant in consumer audio. Hanimex’s product line shifted accordingly:
In the 1970s, Hanimex offered cassette recorders and players (e.g., HC‑1000, HC‑2000, HC‑2040, later desktop and radio‑cassette units), reflecting broader market trends.
Reel‑to‑reel models became less prominent or disappeared from catalogs as cassettes and later digital formats overtook open‑reel home audio.
Summary — Hanimex Reel‑to‑Reel History
Brand: Hanimex Pty. Ltd., Australia — importer and rebadger of consumer electronics.
Reel‑to‑Reel Era: Mid‑1960s (c.1965–1967).
Key Models:
Hanimex‑General M732A — three‑speed home tape deck.
Hanimex‑General M522‑A — transistor two‑speed recorder.
Hanimex‑General S734‑A — four‑track stereo with multiple speeds.
Position: Consumer‑level open‑reel recorders, not professional or high‑end hi‑fi units.
Decline: As cassette decks became widespread in the 1970s, Hanimex shifted focus away from reel‑to‑reel.
Legacy
Hanimex’s reel‑to‑reel machines are now rare and collectible curiosities, especially in Australia and among vintage audio enthusiasts. They represent a local brand’s entry into the home tape‑recording market in the dynamic transition period between early tape technology and the cassette revolution.