Ooooold Kits?

[Jim Lowman]

                                At 10:54 AM 3/31/97 -0800, you wrote:
>Quick Question (mostly academic to me):
>
>Do some of the components in some of the ooooold kits age or
>"deteriorate"?  (e.g. electrolytics)

I understand that the electrolytics will deteriorate - and possibly
leak - over long periods of time.  Seems like I've seen ads for old
boatanchor gear for sale, where it was stated that the electrolytics
had been replaced.

>Will someone ever build the kit?
>
>I just thought "unbuilt kit collector" was a euphemism for a
>guy with more VISA cards than time to build stuff?  No offense!
>
>I've been "rescuing" a few NorCal kits from such "collectors."

Actually, there was quite a discussion - either on the QRP-list or
the Boatanchors-list - a while ago, about unbuilt Heathkits.  The
participants in the discussion were about evenly split as to whether
the kit should be assembled, or left in its "pristine" state, since
Heathkits are no longer available.


73 de Jim - KF6CR
San Bernardino, CA   DM14JC