Unscientific Poll

[Brian Wood]

Larry & Mike (et al),

I think I may not be making my point quite right, so let me be more precise.
I am not suggesting that Heathkit be revived as if it was 1975 again. It
would be foolish to pretend that no advances have occurred in the
electronics industry. Nor am I suggesting that the two-tone green wrinkle
finish on large sheet metal panels be returned to glory. I am suggesting
that the things that made Heathkits fun to build and use could be
rejuvenated, and on a larger scale than anyone is attempting today. Those
things are:

1. The motto: We won't let you fail. Service and tech support is essential.

2. Attention to detail. Manuals were one of Heathkit's greatest claims to
fame. I see no reason to change that other than to update them based on
standards of today. I would consider using CD-ROMs and web sites to let
people download and print the assembly manual for a cost savings if they so
chose. In other words , let's use technology where appropriate to make it
possible to offer kits at a cost savings again. I recognize that not
everyone wants to use a PC to print off a manual. Fine! We'll be happy to
charge you extra for a printed manual! (By the way, all but one of you said
you'd have no problem with this).

3.  Getting a few extra features that aren't available in store-bought
equipment. Obviously today a few more things must be solved to make this
practical, especially rapid development time for new products.

4. Breadth of products. I built a TV set, shortwave receiver, ham
accessories, stereo receiver and computer/printer. My dad built a stereo amp
and RC equipment. I think that too many companies are "starting small" and
hoping to get big instead of working out a good, solid business plan,
getting venture capital (and I mean a lot of venture capital -- millions of
dollars), and starting up a real business. Not dabbling at it. That won't
work in today's economy.

5. Pride. Not every kit was a masterpiece, was it? But the people who
designed them put their heart and soul into them. And it showed in the huge
acceptance of the products. The "family" atmosphere of a small company is so
hard to achieve, isn't it! How many of us work for big guys who wish they
could capture that small company feel? I agree that the chemistry of the
people that created the Heathkit of the 60's-80's was special. But it does
happen today too. All it takes is a management staff that "gets it". That's
one of the things Heath lost in the 80's, due to all the forces Chuck
mentions so eloquently in his book.

6. Spirit of competition. Heath SB series rigs were extremely popular
because they offered compelling value for the time: they looked like Collins
but cost half as much, they worked, they were relatively easy to build, and
they had a few features that advanced the state of the art. Same with the
DX-100. Same thing with the HW series. And I distinctly remember that my 25"
color TV was cheaper than other ones of its time and had a built in dot
generator to make convergence easy. Would I remake an SB line today? Of
course not (even though I now have one that I like very much). Would I take
a real good look at the linears, update the industrial design and
manufacture a similar one? Very likely. Could a US manufacturer compete with
ICOM, Kenwood and Yaesu? Ten-Tec is trying hard, and their specs are
excellent, but their industrial design needs work. Wouldn't you like someone
to knock off the imports the same way they blew away Hallicrafters,
Hammarlund, National, Drake, Heathkit and so many others? (And I say that
even though I have owned Yaesu radios for 20 years). I don't like the
attitude that it's hard so why bother trying.

Chuck Penson, in his book, did a great job of explaining what went wrong.
And many of you have echoed his sentiments and added that there was a lot of
mismanagement added to the mix. Avoid those pitfalls, create great products
and market them well, then offer great support and I think you will succeed.
The only real question in my mind is the obvious one: can you make kits
profitably that are price competitive? I think so.

Larry asks "If Collins were to start making 75A4's again would it be the
same?" Well, I wouldn't buy one. But if Collins made a killer rig that
competed favorably with Yaesu, I would. Do you think that the existing rig
mfrs have put everything into a rig that you could ever want? I can think of
a few things I'd like to see that no one makes. Innovation is the key.
Heathkit had it, and I think that spirit can be revived by people who want
it badly enough.

Brian

----- Original Message -----
From: Larry Knapp <kc8jx at YAHOO.COM>
To: <HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV>
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2000 3:14 PM
Subject: Re: Unscientific Poll


> Brian - In answers specifically to your questions:
> 1).  No.
> 2).  "Heathkit" will NOT be revived (see comments below).
> 3).  No.
> 4).  D.
> 5).  Kits are available from a variety of sources today.
> 6).  Certainly.  Check with companies who do this today...i.e., Ten-Tec,
>      Vectronics and others.
>
> Comments:  Heathkit as most of us knew them and some of us worked for
(myself
> included) was a special place at a special point in time.  We may wish
that kit
> TV's and SB-102's were made again for us to buy, but that can never come
back
> again.  If an Edsel were made again would it still draw the same
attention?  If
> Collins were to start making 75A4's again would it be the same?  The
electronic
> kits that Heath engineered were special....at the time they were in
business.
> And they had one "heck of a run", to paraphrase Chuck Penson.  If one were
to
> "start' a kit company, Heathkit would certainly be a good model.  But
another
> "Heathkit" would never be.  If another kit company started up, fine.  But
don't
> try to have it be the same as the "olde" Heathkit.
>
> IMHO:  Larry (KC8JX), St. Joseph, Mi (one of the many former Ham's at
Heath)

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