Editing Heathkit

{{short description|Brand name of kits and other electronic products produced and marketed by the Heath Company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Heath Company
| logo = Heathkit logo.svg
| type =
| industry = Aviation, [[electronics]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1911}} in [[Saint Joseph, Michigan]], United States
| founder =             <!-- or: | founders = -->
| hq_location =
| hq_location_city = [[Fargo, North Dakota]]; formerly [[Benton Harbor, Michigan]]
| hq_location_country =
| area_served =         <!-- or: | areas_served = -->
| key_people = [[Will Cromarty]], CEO
| products =
| brands =
| services =
| owner =               <!-- or: | owners = -->
| website = {{URL|heathkit.com}}
}}
[[File:Radio TV News Jan 1949 pg76.jpg|thumb|right|1947 Heathkit ad featuring the 5-inch oscilloscope.]]
[[File:Heathkit Oscilloscope.jpg|thumb|Oscilloscope OL-1 from 1954, the company's first with a relatively small 3-inch [[cathode-ray tube|CRT]] which allowed for a highly competitive price of [[United States dollar|US$]] 29.50 ({{Inflation|US|29.50|1954|fmt=eq}}) for the DIY kit.<ref>Bob Eckweiler: [http://www.w6ze.org/Heathkit/Heathkit_041_OL1.pdf Heathkit of the Month #41 - OL-1 Three Inch Oscilloscope], Orange County Amateur Radio Club, 2012</ref>]]

'''Heathkit''' is the brand name of kits and other electronic products produced and marketed by the '''Heath Company'''. The products over the decades have included [[electronic test equipment]], [[high fidelity]] [[home audio]] equipment, [[television]] receivers, [[amateur radio]] equipment, robots, electronic ignition conversion modules for early model cars with point style ignitions, and the influential Heath [[Heathkit H8|H-8]], [[Zenith Z-89|H-89]], and [[Heathkit H11|H-11]] hobbyist [[computer]]s, which were sold in [[Electronic kit|kit]] form for assembly by the purchaser.

Heathkit manufactured electronic kits from 1947 until 1992. After closing that business, the Heath Company continued with its products for education, and motion-sensor lighting controls. The lighting control business was sold around 2000. The company announced in 2011 that they were reentering the kit business after a 20-year hiatus but then filed for bankruptcy in 2012,<ref name="closed">Swindwa, Julie, [http://www.heraldpalladium.com/news/local/disassembly-complete-heathkit-is-no-more/article_c00ffaac-d15b-11e1-a9e7-0019bb2963f4.html "Disassembly complete: Heathkit is no more"], ''[[The Herald-Palladium]]'', 19 July 2012</ref> and under new ownership began restructuring in 2013. {{asof |2022}}, the company has a live website with newly designed products, services, vintage kits, and replacement parts for sale.<ref name="HeathNew">{{cite web |title=Shop |url=https://heathkit.com |website=Heathkit |access-date=2019-05-22}}</ref> In August 2023 Heath Company announced its acquisition by [[Kirkwall (company)]] as part of a planned expansion in [[North Dakota]], and named former [[CIA]] officer and entrepreneur [[Will Cromarty]] as President and Chief Executive Officer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7101952363187380224/ |title=Heath Company posted on LinkedIn }}</ref>

== Founding ==
The Heath Company was founded as an [[aircraft]] company in 1911<ref>{{Cite journal|date=June 1911|title=Aircraft|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hx3sgb;view=1up;seq=392|journal=Aircraft|volume=1|pages=418|via=hathitrust.org}}</ref> by [[Edward Bayard Heath]] with the purchase of Bates Aeroplane Co, soon renamed to E.B. Heath Aerial Vehicle Co. Starting in 1926 it sold a light aircraft, the [[Heath Parasol]], in kit form.<ref>{{cite journal|journal = [[QST]]|date=January 2015|author =  Philip Brown|title = Two kits still cruise the airwaves and the skies|publisher = [[ARRL]]|volume = 99|issue = 1|page = 20|issn = 0033-4812}}</ref> Heath died during a 1931 [[test flight]].<ref>{{cite book|title=A History in the Making: 80 Turbulent Years in the American General Aviation Industry|author=Donald M. Pattillo|page=13}}</ref> The company reorganized and moved from Chicago to [[Niles, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite book|title=U.S. Civil Aircraft: Vol. 5 (ATC 401 – ATC 501)|author=Joseph P Juptner}}</ref>

In 1935, [[Howard Anthony]] purchased the then-bankrupt Heath Company, and focused on selling accessories for small aircraft. After World War II, Anthony decided that entering the electronics industry was a good idea, and bought a large stock of surplus wartime electronic parts with the intention of building kits with them. In 1947, Heath introduced its first [[electronic kit]], the O1 [[oscilloscope]] with 5-inch diameter [[cathode-ray tube]] (CRT) display that sold for [[United States dollar|US$]]39.50 ({{Inflation|US|39.50|1947|fmt=eq}}) – the price was unbeatable at the time, and the oscilloscope went on to be a huge seller.<ref name="columbiaara.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.columbiaara.org/CNL/CN200011.pdf |last=Rostky |first=George |title=A Tale Of The Unstoppable Electronic Kit |work=[[EE Times]] |date=2 October 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706210656/http://www.columbiaara.org/CNL/CN200011.pdf |archive-date=July 6, 2007 }}</ref>

== Heathkit product concept ==
[[File:HeathkitStereoTunerAmplifier-1972-DrDennisBogdan.jpg|thumb|left|Heathkit stereo tuner (AJ-43D) and amplifier (AA-21D) (1972)]]
[[File:HeathkitAA141f-19710220.jpg|thumb|right|Heathkit stereo preamplifier (AA-141) (1962)]]
[[File:HeathkitAA141w-19710220.jpg|thumb|right|[[Point-to-point construction]] of a Heathkit stereo preamplifier (AA-141) (1962)]]
After the success of the oscilloscope kit, Heath went on to produce dozens of Heathkit products. Heathkits were influential in shaping two generations of electronic hobbyists. The Heathkit sales premise was that by investing the time to assemble a Heathkit, the purchasers could build something comparable to a factory-built product at a significantly lower cash cost and, if it malfunctioned, could repair it themselves.  During those decades, the premise was basically valid.<ref name="BrueschkeMack"/>{{rp|141}}

Commercial factory-built electronic products were constructed from generic, discrete components such as [[vacuum tube]]s, tube sockets, capacitors, inductors, and [[resistor]]s, mostly hand-wired and assembled using [[point-to-point construction]] technology. The home kit-builder could perform these labor-intensive assembly tasks himself, and if careful, attain at least the same standard of quality. In the case of Heathkit's most expensive product at the time, the [[Thomas Organ Company|Thomas electronic organ]], building the kit version represented substantial savings.

One category in which Heathkit enjoyed great popularity was [[amateur radio]]. [[Ham radio operator]]s had frequently been forced to [[Amateur radio homebrew|build their equipment from scratch]] before the advent of kits, with the difficulty of procuring all the parts separately and relying on often-experimental designs. Kits brought the convenience of all parts being supplied together, with the assurance of a predictable finished product; many Heathkit model numbers became well known in the ham radio community. The HW-101 HF transceiver became so ubiquitous that even today the "Hot Water One-Oh-One" can be found in use, or purchased as used equipment at [[hamfest]]s, decades after it went out of production.

In the case of electronic test equipment, Heathkits often filled a low-end entry-level niche, giving hobbyists access at an affordable price.{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}}

The instruction books were regarded as among the best in the kit industry, being models of clarity, beginning with basic lessons on [[soldering]] technique, and proceeding with explicit step-by-step directions, illustrated with numerous line drawings; the drawings could be [[gatefold|folded out]] to be visible next to the relevant text (which might be bound several pages away) and were aligned with the assembler's viewpoint. Also in view was a [[checkbox]] to mark with a pencil as each task was accomplished.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://electronicdesign.com/article/analog-and-mixed-signal/whatever-happened-to-heathkit-20689 |work=Electronic Design |date=February 18, 2009 |title=Whatever Happened To Heathkit? |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229095811/http://electronicdesign.com/article/analog-and-mixed-signal/whatever-happened-to-heathkit-20689 |archive-date=December 29, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="BrueschkeMack"/>{{rp|146-147}} The instructions usually included complete [[schematic diagram]]s, [[block diagram]]s depicting different subsystems and their interconnections, and a "Theory of Operation" section that explained the basic function of each section of the electronics.<ref name="BrueschkeMack"/>{{rp|146-147}}

==Heathkits as education==
[[File:Io12u.jpg|thumb|upright|Heathkit IO12U oscilloscope built in 1967]]
No knowledge of electronics was needed to assemble a Heathkit. The assembly process itself did not teach much about electronics, but provided a great deal of what could have been called basic "electronics literacy", such as the ability to identify tube pin numbers or to read a [[Electronic color code|resistor color code]].  Many hobbyists began by assembling Heathkits, became familiar with the appearance of components like [[capacitor]]s, [[transformer]]s, resistors, and tubes, and were motivated to understand just what these components actually did. For those builders who had a deeper knowledge of electronics (or for those who wanted to be able to troubleshoot/repair the product in the future), the assembly manuals usually included a detailed "Theory of Operation" chapter, which explained the functioning of the kit's circuitry, section by section.

Heath developed a business relationship with electronics correspondence schools (e.g., [[National Radio Institute|NRI]] and [[Bell & Howell]]), and supplied electronic kits to be assembled as part of their courses, with the schools basing their texts and lessons around the kits. In the 1960s, Heathkit marketed a line of its electronic instruments which had been modified for use in teaching physics at the high school ([[Physical Science Study Committee]], PSSC) and college levels ([[Berkeley Physics Course]]).<ref name="BrueschkeMack"/>{{rp|149}}

Heathkits could teach deeper lessons. "The kits taught [[Steve Jobs]] that products were manifestations of human ingenuity, not magical objects dropped from the sky", writes a business author, who goes on to quote Jobs as saying "It gave a tremendous level of self-confidence, that through exploration and learning one could understand seemingly very complex things in one's environment."<ref>{{cite book |title=Inside Steve's Brain|author=Leander Kahney |publisher=Portfolio|year=2008 |isbn=978-1-59184-198-2 |url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/insidestevesbrai0000kahn}}, p. 196. Leander cites an oral history audio recording by the Smithsonian Institution as his source for the quotation.</ref>

== Diversification ==
{{anchor|OC-1401}}
[[File:Heathkit OCW-1401 01A.jpg|thumb|upright|Heathkit Aircraft Navigation Computer OC-1401/OCW-1401 (1978)]]
After the death of Howard Anthony in a 1954 airplane crash, his widow sold the company to Daystrom Company, a management holding company that also owned several other electronics companies.<ref name="BrueschkeMack"/>{{rp|147}} Daystrom was absorbed by oilfield service company [[Schlumberger Limited]] in 1962, and the Daystrom/Schlumberger days were to be among Heathkit's most successful.<ref name="BrueschkeMack">{{cite web |last1=Brueschke |first1=Erich E. |last2=Mack |first2=Michael |title=The History of the Heath Companies and Heathkits: 1909 to 2019 |url=http://www.ontheshortwaves.com/Ads/The_History_of_the_Heath_Companies_and_Heathkits-1909-2019.pdf |website=On the Shortwaves |access-date=2022-02-25 |date=2019}}</ref>{{rp|148}}

Those years saw some "firsts" in the general consumer market. The early 1960s saw the introduction of the [[AA-100]] integrated amplifier. The early 1970s saw Heath introduce the [[AJ-1510]], an FM tuner using digital synthesis, the [[GC-1005]] digital clock, and the GR-2000 [[color television]] set. In 1974, Heathkit started "Heathkit Educational Systems", which expanded their manuals into general electronics and computer training materials. Heathkit also expanded their expertise into [[Digital data|digital]] and, eventually, computerized equipment, producing among other things [[digital clock]]s and [[weather station]]s with the new technology.<ref name="columbiaara.org"/>

Kits were compiled in small batches mostly by hand, using [[roller conveyor]] lines. These lines were put up and taken down as needed. Some kits were sold completely "assembled and tested" in the factory. These models were differentiated with a "W" suffix after the model number, indicating that they were factory-wired.

For much of Heathkit's history, there were competitors. In electronic kits: [[Allied Electronics|Allied Radio]], an electronic parts supply house, had its KnightKits, [[Lafayette Radio]] offered some kits, [[Radio Shack]] made a few forays into this market with its Archerkit line, [[Dynaco]] made its audio products available in kit form (Dynakits), as did [[H. H. Scott, Inc.]], [[The Fisher (electronics manufacturer)|Fisher]], and [[Eico]]; and later such companies as [[SWTPC|Southwest Technical Products]] and the [[David Hafler|David Hafler Company]].

== Personal computers ==
[[File:Heathkit H-8 computer.jpg|thumb|First 8-bit Heathkit H8 computer (1978)]]
Before entering the burgeoning home computer market, Heathkit marketed and sold microprocessor-based systems aimed at learning about this technology. The ET-3400, for example, was released in 1976 and was based on the [[Motorola 6800]] microprocessor. This system included 256 bytes of RAM, a 1k monitor in ROM, and a keypad for easy entry and modification of programs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heathkit ET-3400 Trainer - Computer - Computing History |url=https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/44383/Heathkit-ET-3400-Trainer/ |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=www.computinghistory.org.uk}}</ref> Despite being a small trainer kit, it was powerful and flexible enough to be used in rudimentary control systems.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Milligan |first1=W. Lloyd |last2=Richardson |first2=Anthony |date=1979-03-01 |title=A microprocessor-(Heath ET-3400) based backup control system for laboratory experiments |journal=Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation |language=en |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=314–315 |doi=10.3758/BF03205668 |issn=1554-3528|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In 1977, Heathkit introduced the [[Heathkit H8]] home computer. The H8 was very successful, as were the [[Heathkit H19|H19]] and [[Heathkit H29|H29]] terminals, and the [[Heathkit H89|H89]] "All in One" computer. The H8 and H89 ran the Heathkit custom operating system [[HDOS]] as well as the popular [[CP/M]] operating system. The H89 contained two Zilog [[Z80]] 8-bit processors, one for the computer and one for the built-in H-19 terminal.<ref>{{cite news| first = Tom | last = Williams| title = Heathkit to Market Computer Products Through Distributors| journal = [[The Intelligent Machines Journal]]| issue = 9| publisher = Jim C. Warren, Jr.| location = Woodside, CA| quote = The new terminal, the H19, is also built around a Z80 microprocessor,...| date = 1979-06-11| page = 7| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Gj4EAAAAMBAJ&q=Heath+H19+schematic&pg=PA7| access-date = 2010-02-19}}</ref> The [[Heathkit H11|H11]], a low-end [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] [[LSI-11]] 16-bit computer, was less successful, probably because it was substantially more expensive than the 8-bit computer line.

By fiscal year 1980 computers were 40% of Heathkit revenue.<ref name="mace19820412">{{Cite magazine |last=Mace |first=Scott |date=1982-04-12 |title=Zenith working on 16-bit micros |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YjAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3#v=onepage&q&f=true |access-date=2025-03-16 |magazine=InfoWorld |pages=1,4}}</ref> Seeing the potential in personal computers, [[Zenith Electronics Corporation|Zenith Radio Company]] bought Heath Company from Schlumberger in 1979 for $63 million,<ref>Sol Libes ''BYTE News...'' in ''BYTE'', {{ISSN|0360-5280}}, Volume 4 No. 11, November 1979 p. 81</ref>{{r|lawrence19920330}} renaming the computer division '''[[Zenith Data Systems]]''' (ZDS). Zenith purchased Heath for the flexible assembly line infrastructure at the nearby St. Joseph facility as well as the R&D assets.<ref name="BrueschkeMack"/>{{rp|151}}

Zenith opened additional Heath stores after the acquisition.{{r|mace19820412}} Heath/Zenith was in the vanguard of companies to start selling personal computers to small businesses. The WH-89 assembled version of the H-89 kit was re-branded as the [[Zenith Z-89]]/[[Zenith Z-90|Z-90]], an assembled all in one system with a monitor and a [[floppy disk drive]]. They had agreements with [[Peachtree Software]] to sell a customized "turn-key" version of their [[accounting]], CPA, and [[real estate management]] software. Shortly after the release of the Z-90, they released a 10MB [[hard disk]] unit and double-density external floppy disk drives.

While the H11 was popular with hard-core hobbyists, Heath engineers realized that DEC's low-end PDP-11 microprocessors would not be able to get Heath up the road to more powerful systems at an affordable price. Heath/Zenith then designed a dual Intel [[8085]]/[[8088]]-based system dubbed the [[Heathkit H100|H100]] (or [[Zenith Z-100|Z-100]], in assembled form, sold by ZDS). The machine featured advanced (for the day) bit mapped video that allowed up to 640 x 225 pixels of 8 color graphics. The H100 was interesting in that it could run either the [[CP/M]] operating system, or their OEM version of [[MS-DOS]] named [[Z-DOS]], which were the two leading business PC operating systems at the time. Although the machine had to be rebooted to change modes, the competing [[operating system]]s could read each other's disks.

After hinting at a robot at the 1982 [[West Coast Computer Faire]],{{r|mace19820412}} that year Heath introduced the [[HERO (robot)#HERO 1 (ET-18)|Hero-1]] [[robot]] kit to teach principles of industrial robotics.<ref>Steven Leininger ''Heath's HERO-1 Robot'', ''BYTE'', January 1983 pp. 86–96</ref> The robot included a [[Motorola 6800|Motorola 6808]] processor, ultrasonic sensor, and optionally a manipulator arm; the complete robot could be purchased assembled for $2495 or a basic kit without the arm purchased for $999.  This was the first in a popular series of Heathkit robot kits sold to educational and hobbyist users.

== Kit era comes to a close ==
Selling kit computers not designed to be shipped preassembled sometimes caused problems, so the Z-100 was the first Heath/Zenith computer not designed first as a kit.{{r|mace19820412}} While Heath/Zenith's computer business was successful, the growing popularity of home computers as a hobby hurt the company because many customers began writing computer programs instead of assembling Heathkits.{{r|lawrence19920330}} While their assembly was still an interesting and educational hobby, kits were no longer less expensive than preassembled products;<ref name="pease19920723">{{Cite magazine |last=Pease |first=Bob |date=1992-07-23 |title=What's All This Muntzing Stuff, Anyhow? |url=http://electronicdesign.com/boards/whats-all-muntzing-stuff-anyhow |magazine=Electronic Design}}</ref> ''BYTE'' reported in 1984 that the kit version of the Z-150 [[IBM PC compatible]] cost $100 more than the preassembled computer from some dealers, but needed about 20 hours and soldering skills to assemble.<ref name="rash198412">{{Cite magazine |last=Rash |first=Wayne Jr. |date=December 1984 |title=The Zenith Z-150 PC |url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1984-12/1984_12_BYTE_09-13_Communications#page/n251/mode/2up |magazine=BYTE |pages=252–259}}</ref><ref name="cohen198412">{{Cite magazine |last=Cohen |first=Henry B. |date=December 1984 |title=Building the H-150 Computer Kit |url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1984-12/1984_12_BYTE_09-13_Communications#page/n257/mode/2up |magazine=BYTE |pages=258}}</ref> The continuation of the integration trend ([[printed circuit board]]s, [[integrated circuit]]s, etc.), and mass production of electronics (especially computer manufacturing overseas and plug-in modules) eroded the basic Heathkit business model. Assembling a kit might still be fun, but it could no longer save much money. The switch to [[surface mount]] components and [[Large Scale Integration|LSI]] ICs finally made it impossible for the home assembler to construct an electronic device for significantly less money than assembly line factory products.<ref name="BrueschkeMack"/>{{rp|152-153}}

As sales of its kits dwindled during the decade, Heath relied on its training materials and a new venture in [[home automation]] and [[lighting]] products to stay afloat. When Zenith eventually sold ZDS to [[Groupe Bull]] in 1989, Heathkit was included in the deal.<ref name="BrueschkeMack"/>{{rp|153}}

In March 1992, Heath announced that it was discontinuing electronic kits after 45 years. The company had been the last sizable survivor of a dozen kit manufacturers from the 1960s.<ref name=lawrence19920330>{{Cite news |first=Lawrence |last=Fisher |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/30/business/plug-is-pulled-on-heathkits-ending-a-do-it-yourself-era.html |title=Plug Is Pulled on Heathkits, Ending a Do-It-Yourself Era |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=30 March 1992}}</ref> In 1995, Bull sold Heathkit to a private investor group called HIG, which then sold it to another investment group in 1998. Wanting to only concentrate on the educational products, this group sold the Heath/Zenith name and products to '''DESA International''',<ref name="BrueschkeMack"/>{{rp|154}} a maker of specialty tools and [[heater]]s. In late 2008, Heathkit Educational Systems sold a large portion of its physical collection of legacy kit schematics and manuals along with permission to make reproductions to Don Peterson,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.d8apro.com |title=Data Professionals Heathkit Page |author=Don Peterson}}</ref> though it still retained the copyrights and trademarks, and had pointers to people that could help with the older equipment.

DESA filed bankruptcy in December 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/dhpholdings-bankruptcy-idUSN2931880020081229 |title=Desa Heating parent files for bankruptcy |date=December 29, 2008 |author=Chelsea Emery |work=Reuters}}<!-- original link is dead, with no archive copy ( http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2008/12/29/afx5865486.html ) so it has been replaced with an equivalent reference --></ref>  The Heathkit company existed for a few years as '''Heathkit Educational Systems''' located in [[Saint Joseph, Michigan]], concentrating on the educational market.  The Heathkit company filed for bankruptcy in 2012.<ref name="closed"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arrl.org/news/heathkit-educational-systems-closes-up-shop |title=Heathkit Educational Systems Closes Up Shop |publisher=The National Association for Amateur Radio (ARRL) |date=May 9, 2012}}</ref>

==Revival==
In May 2013, Heathkit's corporate restructuring was announced on their website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heathkit.com/heathkit-survey.html|title=Spring 2013 Heathkit ® Survey|website=www.heathkit.com|access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref> An extensive [[FAQ]] accessible from their homepage stated clearly that Heathkit was back, and that they would resume electronic kit production and sales.<ref name=FAQ>{{cite web|url=http://www.heathkit.com/heathkit-faq.html|title=Heathkit® FAQ|website=www.heathkit.com|access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref>

On October 8, 2015, Heathkit circulated an email to its "insiders", who had indicated an interest in the company's progress by completing its online marketing survey. It had now secured the rights to all Heathkit designs and trademarks; secured several new patents; established new offices, warehouse space, and a factory in [[Santa Cruz, California]]; and had introduced the renewed company's first new electronic kit in decades.<ref name="santa cruz">Karplus, Kevin, [http://www.santacruztechbeat.com/2015/10/08/heathkit-moves-to-santa-cruz/ "Heathkit Moves to Santa Cruz"], ''[[Santa Cruz Tech Beat]]'', 8 October 2015</ref> Since then, Heathkit has announced and sold further kits in its new lineup of products.<ref name="HeathNew"/> In addition, limited repair service on vintage products, reprints of manuals and schematics, remaining inventories of original parts, and upgrades of some vintage models are available.<ref name="FAQ"/>

== Amateur radio ==
[[File:Kit HEATHKIT HW8.JPG|thumb|right|Heathkit HW8 amateur transmitter]]
Heathkit made [[amateur radio]] kits almost from the beginning.  In addition to their low prices compared with commercially manufactured equipment, Heathkits appealed to amateurs who had an interest in building their own equipment, but did not necessarily have the expertise or desire to design it and obtain all the parts themselves. They expanded and enhanced their line of amateur radio gear through nearly four decades.  By the late 1960s, Heathkit had as large a selection of [[Etymology of ham radio|ham]] equipment as any company in the field.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

== See also ==
* [[HERO (robot)]]
* [[History of personal computers]]
* [[Homebuilt aircraft]]
* [[Vintage amateur radio]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{citation |last1=Brueschke |first1=Erich E. |last2=Mack |first2=Michael |title=The History of the Heath Companies and Heathkits: 1909 to 2019 |url=http://www.ontheshortwaves.com/Ads/The_History_of_the_Heath_Companies_and_Heathkits-1909-2019.pdf |access-date=27 July 2021 |volume=32 |pages=125–164 |date=2019}}
* {{cite news |last=Post |first=Rich |url=http://www.ohio.edu/people/postr/bapix/HLegacy.htm |title=The Heathkit Legacy |work=Monitoring Times |date=July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222174113/http://www.ohio.edu/people/postr/bapix/HLegacy.htm |archive-date=2015-02-22 }}
* {{cite book |last=Penson |first=Chuck |year=1995 |title=Heathkit: A Guide to the Amateur Radio Products |publisher=Electric Radio Press |location=Durango, Colorado |oclc=34615100}}
* {{cite book |last=Penson |first=Chuck |year=2003 |title=Heathkit: A Guide to the Amateur Radio Products |edition=2nd |publisher=CQ Communications |location=Hicksville, New York |isbn=978-0943016238}}
* {{cite book |last=Penson |first=Chuck |year=2014 |title=Heathkit Test Equipment Products   |isbn=978-0615991337}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Heathkit}}
* {{Official website|http://www.heathkit.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080928075950/http://www.heathkit-museum.com/ Heathkit Virtual Museum]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091220192850/http://rigreference.com/heathkit Heathkit], at RigReference.com
* [http://www.nostalgickitscentral.com/heath/heathkit.html Heathkit Information, at Nostalgic Kits Central]
* [https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Catalogs/Allied-Catalogs/Heathkit-1967.pdf Heathkit 1967 vintage catalog]; [https://web.archive.org/web/20201005141607/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Catalogs/Allied-Catalogs/Heathkit-1967.pdf (archive copy)]

[[Category:Heathkit| ]]
[[Category:Amateur radio companies]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1926]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:Computer companies established in 1926]]
[[Category:Computer companies disestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:Audio equipment manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Electronic kit manufacturers]]
[[Category:Electronic calculator companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in Michigan]]
[[Category:Electronics companies established in 1926]]
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[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]