Fw: [Amateur-repairs] Where are the knobs???

[John A. Diefenbach]

Here's one for you ex-Heath folks....

jd, K1TLV
----- Original Message -----
From: <kiyoinc at attglobal.net>
To: <Amateur-repairs at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 10:21 PM
Subject: [Amateur-repairs] Where are the knobs???


> I'm restoring some Heathkits.  I'm taking it slow, trying
> to restore the rigs to better than new operating
> conditions.
>
> I'm picking the better models but not necessarily the best
> built rigs.
>
> My approach is to fix the obvious electrical problems and
> get the rig working.
>
> Then I move on to the cosmetics.  I remove the knobs, align
> the shafts, put washers under the switches so the knobs sit
> closer to the front panel.  I lube all the moving parts,
> de-ox-it the switches, clean the pots.
>
> I put the mechanicals right, clean the case with a mild
> bleach solution, last I tackle the knobs.
>
> Some Heathkit knobs have loose skirts.  I tighten these
> with a thin bead of superglue.
>
> I clean the knobs, taking care to get the dirt out of the
> gooves and polish the bright metal.  Later Heathkit knobs
> had blade setscrews.  I replace these with stainless steel
> allen head setscrews.  It takes me 15 minutes to set up one
> knob.
>
> Then I align the knobs to 1/16th inch from the front panel.
> It's a little close but looks right when all the knobs sit
> exactly the same distance.
>
> I spend a lot of time on the knobs.  I've seen a Heathkit
> book that says that the Heath engineers struggled and
> argued for the design of the Heath knobs.  They wanted them
> looking and feeling right.  I'm trying to build on their
> engineering.
>
> Here's the question.  When Heath shut down Ham Radio, what
> happened to the parts?  They must have had hundreds,
> thousands of knobs in inventory.  What happened to them?
> Where are they?
>
> Is there an overlooked warehouse somewhere with SB200
> parts, LMO's, LMO dials, cases, etc?
>
>
>
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