Unbuilt Kits

[Jack Crenshaw]

I'm glad to see that someone out there also appreciates the value of an unbuilt kit.  I do
agree that the prices they're drawing, on bayside, are outrageously high.  IMO the folks
buying them are buying them as collectors, not as users.  My wife collects Madame
Alexander dolls, in the same way.  If they don't come in the original boxes, with the
"collars" still in place, the value goes way down. Even scuff marks on the cardboard boxes
reduces their value.

I reckon it's the same way with unbuilt Heathkits. They can only get more valuable with
time, because they ain't making any more of them.  The value is in the rarity, not in the
list price.

Of course, that means that if you buy an unbuilt kit and turn around and build it, you've
destroyed its value as a collector's item.

OTOH, I just paid a really nice seller a pretty good price for an unbuilt power supply.  I
fully intend to build it.  "Rubble" or not, when I get done I will know that it's built
properly. Lately, I've bought something like 20 Heathkits, mostly test equipment, and
you'd be amazed at some of the junk I've gotten. I got a W-5M (originally with KT-66
output tubes).  It had a 6L6 in one socket, a 6V6 in the other.  I got a resistor
substitution box (can't screw one of _THOSE_ up, right), and found that not only had the
builder swapped the two selector switches, he also cold-soldered _EVERY_ _SINGLE_
_JOINT_.  Have to work hard to do that.

I fully intend to build and use this kit.  Even if some of the stuff has turned to
"rubble," at least I'll know that the parts are in the right place, the resistors aren't
burned out or switches zapped by 120V, and the joints are properly soldered.  Ok, so
building it reduces its value as a collector's item. But it sure increases it, for me.
Anybody got a problem with that?

Jack

Shadow wrote:

> Find me a Kit I can build...... and not one with 2 led's and a switch.... They just do
> not exist.
>
> You people may not want to pay the $$$$$$$$$$
>
> But others do...
>
> If they are going to collect them... Well to each their own.
>
> If they want to build them... that's Cool they still are fun and like I said....
> " Find me a Kit to Build"
>
> shadow
>
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