Heathkit

[Thomas Beltran]

Here in Los Angeles, there was a Heathkit store.  When I got my HW-16 and
later, the HG-10B VFO, I think they came by mail though.  I do recall having
problems with the VFO, and I took it to the store.

Erik said:

"I think that is the key.  If you NEED a radio you
simply buy one.  If you want to have fun and
experience  the satisfaction of building your own you
could do that with Heathkit.  I don't think money (for
the most part) was a factor.  I think the incentive
was not only building a kit yourself but the unique
products that Heath had."

Some, as Erik, have observed that it was not for the most part cost.  For me
it was a BIG consideration.  In fact, most of my friends who were
considering buying new gear, looked no farther than Heath.

But also, as Erik says, it was the unique products.  I don't think there was
any other novice rig like the HW-16 in its time.  Break-in CW without a
separate relay, sidetone, 500 hz. selectivity, nice direct tuning without
the old bandspread, and all for $ 109.95 (in 1970).  For me, as a highschool
kid, price was a definite factor.  But that little rig beat the pants off my
old Hammerlund and Johnson Adventurer, with a knife-switch antenna
change-over, no side tone, having each transmission to throw the switch,
turn down my AF gain and on receive (because my Hammerlund was a general
coverage reciever), use a bandspread where I never quite knew where I was on
the band.  I still use my HW-16.  I'll take down my station, and just use it
for a few weeks - its a blast.

For me and many of my friends at the time, though, cost was a very big
consideration.  Later, I got the 2nt/2c twins, and later still, traded up to
the SB-303/401, again, some people called it the "poor man's Collins."
Whether the observation is correct or not, the reference demonstrates that
at the time, cost was a factor.  Unlike the HW-16, the 303/401 was not quite
so unique, it was less expensive.  Call me cheap, but to this day, I only
have old gear.  My main station is a Drake C line and SB-220, also picked up
a TS-520, and I still have the HW-16; I like the old gear, but also, I'm too
cheap to buy new gear when I know this older gear is perfectly usable for
the "modern" ham bands.  You can buy a TS-520 for about $150.00 - why buy
even the stripped-down Icoms etc, which cost over $500.00?  Tom W6EIJ

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