Fw: Heathkit test equipment - 528 series

[Kees & Sandy]

Neil, I believe the answer changes with time, age, and finances.
Let me comment on kits in general, I'm never short of opinions.

I would say that when I built kits in the 50/60s it was 40% wanting
to learn, 20% because it was neat "to have built it yourself" and
40% because you got more for your money, which at the time,
you did.

In the 70/80s it was 20% neat to have "still" built it yourself but I
was running short on free time, 50% to relax mind and body by
doing something different from my day to day work (that's also
when I picked up welding), and 30% because you got more for
your money ....maybe, but that was fading fast with good off the
shelf boxes which were not that expensive.

In the 90/00 its 70% to show that I can still do it, but since kits
are not that available and built units "straight out of the garage/
attic/barn" ARE readily available, I take pleasure in rebuilding
a unit, replacing out of spec components, shortening leads,
resoldering joints, finding and correcting wiring errors, etc.
On units ...which from all indications, were never operational
or at least didn't work well. Also, 30% is that I can now purchase
units I wanted but couldn't afford years ago (and they are still
very useable on the air). I'm looking for that kit era, that's why
a "cake pan" radio kit is not interesting to me. And an AT-1 is
not interesting at $5100.

I recently sold a KnightKit Ocean Hopper and bought a KnightKit
Space Spanner in worse shape. One ham told me, "Are you
nuts ? ... the Ocean Hopper with coils is worth MUCH more".
Yep, that's true, but I BUILT and USED a Space Spanner when
I was a kid, as my first ham radio receiver.

73s  Kees K5BCQ

----- Original Message -----
From: Neil Morrison <neilsmorr at hotmail.com>
To: <HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 1:54 PM
Subject: Heathkit test equipment - 528 series


> E.G.
> IB-5281 RLC Bridge
> IT-5283 Signal Tracer
> IG-5282 Audio Signal Generator
> IG-5280 RF Oscillator
> IM-5284 Multimeter
> IPA-528? Power Supply
>
>
> I see that these still fetch good prices on eBay (I just bought some!)
> Are others looking for these? Would it be worth doing a project to create
> new kits? Comments?
>
> Regards,
>
> Neil Morrison
>
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