The success of the computer line attracted the attention of Zenith Corp., which went on to buy Heathkit in 1979 from the owner Schlumberger, an oil field service company that also owned Fairchild Semiconductor at the time. Zenith carved out the computer product line and started Zenith Data Systems (ZDS), and that company went on to build a several billion dollar business making Zenith computers and PC compatibles. Groupe Bull of France eventually bought that business, and ultimately it succumbed to the market forces driving the PC-compatible business with all its shakeouts, ups, and downs during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In the meantime, the kit business suffered. Zenith didn’t really want that business, but it came with the deal. It was neglected as ZDS grew, and so began its slow decline into oblivion. But a great deal of that decline had little to do with Zenith. It was also the time of great progress in semiconductor manufacturing. More and more equipment was being made of more and smaller ICs and surface-mount components, both of which were always a challenge for kit builders. It became harder to make a kit people could build at home with basic hand tools.
At the same time, wired products became cheaper thanks to Asian engineering and manufacturing. You could buy a great stereo or color TV set for less than what a kit cost, and you didn’t have to spend three weekends building it. Everyone was into instant gratification in the 1980s, so nobody wanted to spend time building kits.
Heathkit discovered it could no longer compete in many markets like ham radio, audio, TV, and test equipment as it took as much time and money to create the manual as it did the product. With double the development costs and the technology making assembly more difficult, Heathkit eventually concluded it could not compete. This perfect storm of conditions led to the formal phasing out of the kit business in 1991 and 1992. There was lots of editorial coverage about that being the end of an era.
But Wait—Heathkit Really Didn’t Go Away
Everyone thought that Heathkit was no more. Wrong! The education and publishing business now called Heathkit Educational Systems (HES) was still doing well. While the courses, materials, and trainers were sold to individuals, HES also developed a huge college and university business. HES was soon sold to a private buyer and continued as a successful operation. It still is today.
While its primary customers are educational institutions, you can still buy individual learning programs and even the trainer kits. HES also retained the rights to all those amazing kit manuals. The company still has many in stock. If you’re looking for the documentation on an older Heathkit transceiver, scope, or whatever, you can get a copy of the manual. It’s a nice little side business.
And despite the surface-mount components, ever smaller ICs, and challenging construction, you can still buy a kit today. Most of these kits are smaller products, but a few larger ones require some skill to build. An example of some of the smaller kits can be found at Ramsey Electronics (www.ramseykits.com), which offers a wide range of kits like power supplies and amplifiers that hobbyists love. Ramsey also has many ham radio kits and some commercial radio kits.
Jameco (www.jameco.com), which you might recognize as a mail order parts house, also has a line of small kits for hobbyists and educational institutions. Some of the ham radio companies offer kits as well, like Elecraft (www.elecraft.com) and TenTec (www.tentec.com). Other sources include Elenco Electronics (www.elenco.com) and Kelvin Electronics (www.kelviin.com).
Most kits go light on the newer parts and stay with older but still good ICs with the larger through-hole packages. When newer ICs are used, they’re often pre-mounted on a PCB or the assembly using them will be pre-wired to prevent damage from poor construction.
It is still fun and satisfying to build a kit—at least to some people. And if you have the patience, you will actually experience that “Eureka” feeling one gets from building a particularly large and difficult kit. It works! It is a rare, satisfying experience that few enjoy any more. Next time you want to encourage one of your kids or relatives to enter the electronics field, give them a kit.
So despite the fact that almost everyone thought Heathkit died, it still exists and is still doing well. Check out its Web site at www.heathkit.com. The company’s new address is 2024 Hawthorne Avenue, St. Joseph, Mich. 49085. Call 269-925-6000 or 800-253-0570. Many of the original Heathkit employees are still with the company, and that “we won’t let you fail” attitude still prevails.
Acknowledgements
My special thanks to Chas Gilmore (W8IAI) of PPM Inc. as well as Doug Bonham and Randy Kaeding (K8TMK), both of Heathkit, for clarifying some of this information.
I USED TO BUILD THE KITS WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND I ENJOYED THEM VERY MUCH. I REALLY LIKED THE BLACK & YELLOW ELECTRONIC TESTER THAT PRODUCED SOUND WHEN CHECKING COMPONENTS. HEATH KITS CAN'T BE BEAT.
WILLIAM-NOVEMBER 15, 2009 -November 15, 2009
Greetings. I was in the Marine Corps when I built a complete "Heath Kit" stereo system. I was stationed on the island of Luzon, Philippines. That was back in 1960. I was stationed 30 miles North of Subic Bay (Olongapo) in the middle of now where. The Kit came, I put it together, and Voila, it worked the first time I plugged it in. Talk about the old days. The good products "just aint out there no more" With out Heath Kit to keep me occupied I would have gone nuts. I had a great time putting it together and a better time listening to the 33 1/3 records.
Ray Rudnick, Delafield, Wisconsin
Anonymous -October 19, 2009
Greetings. I was in the Marine Corps when I built a complete "Heath Kit" stereo system. I was stationed on the island of Luzon, Philippines. That was back in 1960. I was stationed 30 miles North of Subic Bay (Olongapo) in the middle of now where. The Kit came, I put it together, and Voila, it worked the first time I plugged it in. Talk about the old days. The good products "just aint out there no more" With out Heath Kit to keep me occupied I would have gone nuts. I had a great time putting it together and a better time listening to the 33 1/3 records.
Ray Rudnick, Delafield, Wisconsin
Anonymous -October 19, 2009
I remember building heathkits when I was a kid, and they were some fun memories. I haven't thought about them in years, but today someone mentioned them, and I thought I'd look them up. I have to admit that after reading the wikipedia page and your article, I'm left feeling really sad. Heathkit kits were sold new during a time in history that was really neat to live in - I mean, build your own clock? Sure! Build your own TV? Why not? I didn't really appreciate it at the time. Now with iphones and other ultra-miniaturized things of such complexity, it's hard to get that build-it-yourself feeling across to a new generation. This stuff has been commoditized to the point where it's "just magic" and "just works", and you miss out on the feeling that you used to get with building these kits - that complicated consumer devices that at first seem mysterious can be understood. I guess maybe I'm just old.
Phillip -September 24, 2009
Yeah, I guess you are dating yourself Louis, when you claim to be knowledgeable about Heath Kit. I built a Heath Kit shortwave radio and 'Q' multiplier in 1962 which I used for many years. I also have to agree that Heath provided the Cadillac of assembly/documentation manuals. Things just ain't the same as they used to be! !
Phil Giesbrecht -August 04, 2009
Excellent article on What ever happened to Heathkit! Thanks.
scott fisher -July 20, 2009
Sadly, no one has produced kits like Heathkit. And the little kits available now are not very good for system level development. And not the same level of documentation. Very poor for this day and age. No wonder kids shy from electronics.
Anonymous -March 27, 2009
Your Comments:
Enter the text from the image below
Please refresh the page if you have trouble reading this text.
Search Electronic Design
Email Newsletter
Sponsored By:
Electronic Design UPDATE provides readers with late-breaking news, opinions from industry experts, and timely technology stories. It's a unique opportunity to get your product message in front of engineers, engineering managers, and corporate managers while they're reading about critical information online.
Reprints
