Heathkit cult

[Jack Crenshaw]

Here's a thought:  I know you guys out there are mostly hams, but I
wonder if Heathkit retro kits, like the tube audio amplifiers, would
sell?  Lately there's a _LOT_ of interest in tube audio, and people are
paying as much as $20,000-50,000 for high-end amps.  Can you imagine the
interest if Heathkit announced a new version of, say, the W-5M?

Used W=5M's typically bring around $300 on eBay, but an unbuilt one can
easily bring $1000.

I worked for Heathkit ca. 1977-78.  From my perspective, it seemed like
two factors contributed to their downturn:

1) The switch from tube to transistor/IC technology. Assembling
tube-based stuff is labor-intensive. Wave-soldering PC boards isn't.
In the 50's, Heath could sell kits much cheaper than factory units.  By
the 70's, it was the other way around.

2) The trend to more doo-dads, switches, LED's, etc.  The Japanese
companies like Sanyo, Panasonic, Sony, etc., love to put all kinds of
extra bells and whistles on their products, and to the people to whom
these things appeal, they are the masters.  I think Heath made a huge
mistake to try to out-knob the Japanese.  We couldn't even _BUY_ the
itty-bitty little pots, switches, etc., in this country.

On the other hand, a simple, monobloc amplifier, especially retro, might
have a chance.  Ditto for straightforward, simple ham equipment, I reckon.

Jack


BMW wrote:

> As many of you know, I spent a fair amount of time trying to convince them
> to do restart the kit biz and even offered them a business plan to that
> effect. One of their board members told me that they had toyed with the idea
> of restarting the kit business from time to time, but were inclined to
> partner with someone rather than start it up from scratch. I don't think
> that will work. You may recall that they did that with Yaesu in the 80's. It
> is pretty obvious when a company OEM's someone else's stuff. It's just not a
> Heathkit if it's an Elecraft or Ten-Tec or DZKit (www.dzkit.com). Those of
> us trying to recreate the Heathkit ambience have to go it alone, I'm afraid.
> There are very few people left at The Heathkit Co. who remember how it was.
> Randy Kaeding, on this list, is one of the last.
>
> 73,
>
> Brian, W0DZ
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Heathkit Owners and Collectors List
> [mailto:HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV]On Behalf Of Mark Sykes
> Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2004 10:01 AM
> To: HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV
> Subject: Re: Heathkit cult
>
>
> A simple way for Heath to see if there is interest would be to design and
> private label something from an established kitter such as Vectronics,
> Elecraft or Ten-Tec.  That would reduce startup, inventory and tooling
> costs.
>
> If there was a Heathkit (or 'Heathkit by TecTec,' etc.) linear amp kit out
> there and the quality was there, I'd buy one.
>
> Mark
> KD8RG
>
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Products bought, sold or traded here is the responsibility of the
parties involved.  This list and the City of Tempe are not responsible
for losses or misrepresentations of any kind.  Buyer beware!

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