When I was young, my Dad built several Heathkit projects; a stereo amplifier, stereo tuner, a 23 inch color TV, and others. For a Christmas present when I was 10 or 11, I got one of those 101 Electronics Projects kits. I loved putting that together and learning about electronics. From there I got a GR-64 shortwave receiver, that really got me started into ham radio. Heathkit catalogs arrived in the mail a couple times a year, and I poured through them, and dreamed of having an SB-101.
My first ham transmitter was homebrew, and my first receiver was a Hammarlund HQ-110, but the Christmas after I got my novice license, I got a DX-60B transmitter. A few years later after I got my first part-time job, I bought a HW-101. I did get to use the Heathkit SB line at WB2GNR, the MCC club station.
I had several ham related Heathkit accessories: SWR meter, digital clock, wattmeter, electronic keyer, etc, but I never had a Heathkit rig after the HW-101.
I had seen this before, but a few weeks ago I saw an ad for “Heathkit – A Guide To The Amateur Radio Products” by Chuck Penson WA7ZZE. I guess previously, I figured I knew pretty much all about Heathkit. I still have several of their old catalogs. But when I saw the ad this time, with a nice photo of an HW-101, (advertising sometimes works), I though, what the heck, I might like reading this. So I ordered it.
A couple days later it showed up at the door. It is a paperback, but a substantial one, almost an inch thick (the pages aren’t numbered consecutively start to finish, but each chapter is numbered separately).
After a Forward and Introduction, it starts with a Brief History of Heathkit chapter. It is 48 pages and gives a nice overview of Heathkit’s history. More than enough detail for most people.
It has 14 chapters based on equipment type: HF Transmitters, HF Receivers, HF Transceivers, HF Amplifiers, Tuners, VHF Equipment, etc, Inside, all photos are black and white, but basically every product is pictured, though minor variants may not be. A description, price, model numbers is also given. Sometimes details on the development process, design changes, known problems is also included. It is quite a reference book for anyone interested in Heathkit Amateur Radio gear. Many interesting details are sprinkled in throughout, like that over 200,000 Cantennas were sold over a 30 year period.
The history section does cover the demise of Heathkit with some detail. It is something that is kind of intuitively obvious, but he includes some information that was likely not widely known.
Chuck Penson has written two other books about Heathkit, Hi-Fi and Stereo Products, and Test Equipment. His website is https://wa7zze.com
Pretty sure also available on Amazon and some other book outlets.
