There were plans afoot to make use of surface-mount technology, which would have addressed the first factor.
Although these were factors, they are far from being the only reasons. The reasons for Heathkit’s demise are more extensive and complex than reasons speculated by folks from the outside, who typically focus on two reasons: Heath could not incorporate modern parts like surface-mount devices, and reduced assembly costs for electronic goods eliminated savings from building a kit. The original Heath Company kit business phased out in 1992. Prior to the demise of the kit business in the early ’90s, kit products were always the dominant business. Yes, from time-to-time certain kits were offered “Wired” or “Assembled” (we used both terms). The two names are often used interchangeably-even by those of us who worked there.ĭid Heath also offer some products in non-kit form? Heathkit was the primary registered trade name. I left Heath in 1993 after we closed the kit business. I returned in 1984 as VP of Engineering and Marketing, eventually becoming General Manager.
From 1966-1977, I progressed to Engineering Manager, Product Line Manager (Kit and Assembled) for Instrumentation, and Director of Engineering before joining another division of Schlumberger (then-parent company of Heath), and then starting a software company. At the same time, the Ham (amateur radio) department was updating the phenomenally successful SB-line of an HF SSB receiver, transmitter, and transceiver, and modernizing the popular $99 single-band SSB transceiver line (Fig.
It had rave reviews, putting Heath in the top tier of the Audio/HiFi market. The audio department was about to introduce the AR-15 FM receiver/amplifier. The kit business was making great strides. This was a new group designing laboratory instruments supporting the Malmstadt/Enke, Electronics for Scientists program. For those of you who fondly remember Heathkit and miss its products, here’s a look back at this amazing company and the lessons it offers.Ĭhas, what was your affiliation with Heath?Ī recent physics graduate, I joined Heath in 1966 as an engineer in the Scientific Instruments department. Recently, I had a chance to talk with Chas Gilmore, who was a Heath executive. Over the years, Electronic Design has published many Heathkit-related articles and blogs. Its products, called Heathkits, were exceptionally popular and many are still in use today. Heath designed and put practically every type of electronic product into kit form. Topic: Looking Back at Electronic Historyįor those of you who do not know or remember, Heath Company was the largest kit company in the world.
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