Heathkit Glory

[Ray Friess]

Harvey's reminder of the smell of a Heathkit is right on.  when i smell
that same smell in a Twoer or a dx 100 or other old Heath, it takes me
back to my novice days of the 60's.
     one of the best smells around....  even after all these years.
ray  wa7itz

Harvey A. Kader wrote:
>
> With all the bandwidth relating to Heathkit quality, it may be
> instructive to go back 30 years to 1970, and re-read what Heathkit wrote
> in their well designed instruction manuals.
>
> I recently acquired an unbuilt IM-38 AC vacuum tube voltmeter. Ah, the
> smell of a vintage unbuilt Heathkit when the box is opened reminds me of
> the true Heathkits of yesteryear! It smells just like it left the
> factory in Benton Harbor.
>
> Qulity parts everywhere. The meter is built by Ideal Precision Meter Co
> Inc. What a meter. Looks like a jeweled movement that is found in
> mechanical watches. The magnet of the meter is HEAVY - just like a
> speaker magnet.
>
> Rotary switch is made in USA. Tubes are IEC by Mullard in Great Britain.
> Capacitors are manufactured in USA, Mexico, and Taiwan.
>
> Quality is evident everywhere. NOBODY builds kit of this caliber
> anywhere on this planet - then or now! The kit is built to laboratory
> standards. It reminds me of the quality found in Leica, Rollei, and
> Hasselblad cameras. Built to last forever.
>
> To get back to what is printed in the instruction manual :
>
> The back states " The world's finest electronic equipment in kit form".
>
> The inside front cover states in the warranty " Dear customer. The
> Heathkit electronic product you have purchased is one of the best
> performing electronic products in the world."
>
> Included with the kit is a note from a technical consultant at Heathkit.
> A photograph of this individual is on the note. The note states " Hello,
> I have been assigned as your personal technical consultant during the
> assembly and checkout of your kit. Since we're partners in the project,
> I'd like to introduce myself.
>
> "I'll be a 'silent' partner unless you need me, but want you to know
> I'll be most happy to help you in any way possible if you do have
> technical questions or problems with your kit".
>
> The note ends, after some detail of where to get technical support, with
> " If you do have a problem you can't solve,don't feel embarrassed.
> Contact us. It's probably something that can be resolved right away.
> Remember, we are all dedicated to fulfill Heath's promise... 'we won't
> let you fail'.
>
> Now how many kit companies go to such great lengths for customer
> service?
>
> I believe that the Heathkits from the 1960s and 1970s were the very best
> they ever produced. When Schlumberger owned them, quality was high. In
> the 1980s some kits were produced in Hong Kong, and some were
> subcontracted out to other companies. This had an affect on quality.
>
> So when I buy unbuilt Heathkits, I tend to only buy kits of 1960's and
> 1970's vintage.
>
> Heathkit is an experience that no other kit company could ever come
> close to. One has to live it to believe it!
>
> Harvey

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