The 1980s presented many significant challenges to the Heath Company’s kit business. Commercial electronic equipment had become abundant, and automated assembly, especially with the advent of surface-mount technology, drove down the labor costs in many consumer products including stereo receivers, televisions, and Ham gear. Microcomputers and PCs became the main focus of attention. While Heath continued to develop new, more advanced products for the amateur radio … Read More → "“H” is for Heathkits and Hams: Part 4 – The 1980s, 1990s, and the end"
Part 3 of this article series covers a period of sustained growth for the Heath Company. The company’s amateur radio equipment kits continued to sell well, but by the end of the 1970s, its most advanced radio kits were already becoming too difficult to build for less advanced kit builders. Meanwhile, the company’s early microcomputer kits quickly started to dominate Heath’s product portfolio.
Read More → "“H” is for Heathkits and Hams: Part 3 – The 1970s"
Part 2 of this article series covers a period of explosive growth for the Heath Company as its amateur radio equipment kits captured a larger and larger share of the market. This article series is based on a presentation by Chas Gilmore (W8IAI), a life-long Ham who joined the Heath Company in 1966 as a design engineer and worked at the Heath Company for more than two decades, … Read More → "“H” is for Heathkits and Hams: Part 2 – The 1960s"
Late last year, I published a 6-part article series that recounted the history of the Heath Company and its world-famous Heathkits. The series was based on an interview with Chas Gilmore, who joined the Heath Company in 1966 as a design engineer and worked at the Heath Company for more than two decades, eventually becoming VP of product development, marketing, and sales and finally EVP and General Manager. … Read More → "“H” is for Heathkits and Hams: Part 1 – Early Days through the 1950s"
I’m afraid I’m in a techno-dweeby mood at this moment in time. My head is filled with thoughts that are bouncing around my noggin like demented ping pong balls. Speaking of which, do you remember my 12×12 ping pong ball display?
If so, then—as you may recall—the last thing I did with this bodacious beauty was to implement a Read More → "This One’s for the Techno-Dweebs"
