Noise Blankers Purchase Heathkit; Have No Idea What They’re Doing

A Ham Hijinks Editorial

By K5PO, Noise Blankers VP

May 29, 2013

The rumors are true: Heathkit is back! It all started at a recent Noise Blankers club meeting. Noise Blankers Club President Gary, WB0RUR, was speaking warmly about a Heathkit SB-102 transceiver he had as a youth. “Dad wouldn’t let me touch the Collins gear until I was better at tuning the finals,” said Gary, nostalgically. “…but he wasn’t too worried about the 102.”

Chief Information Officer and Treasurer Kevin, K5KVN, then chimed in on how he’d love to build a Heathkit transceiver, “But for the cost of those new old stock kits on eBay… I could build a new K3/100 for cheaper!”

Club Gear Scavenger Nathan, K5KAC, noted how he’s the youngest member of the club but that he is “,till the one with the most valve rigs,” and that he’d “love to add a new SB-104 to his collection, if only the company would make them again.”

This conversation continued for a few more hours and a few more rounds of beer when I boastfully claimed that “the Noise Blankers should resurrect Heathkit! I don’t see why not! We love ham radio and we’d love to be part of bringing an amateur radio icon back to the masses! We can do it!”

I then somehow snagged the club credit card away from Treasurer K5KVN and promptly went forward to buy Heathkit! I think I spent about 30 minutes researching on the internet and drinking whiskey before shelling out some $75 and proudly proclaiming that “We’ve done it! We now own Heathkit!” Gary then adjourned the meeting and we all parted with smiles and high-fives.

At approximately 8:45 a.m. the next day I started to get concerned and began to draft a memorandum to the club members. We own Heathkit. Now what? Club Technical Chief Fred, WD5DKA can fix dang near anything… but he won’t have time to dedicate to RF engineering. And what about the money? Club Attendance Chief Steve, K5OY could provide financial expertise, but he doesn’t even have time to make the club meetings!

I think the club credit card has a limit of $150 or so, and I’d already spend half that on the Heathkit acquisition. My stomach sank. We were going to let down the whole amateur radio community by allowing the prominent vintage gear brand to languish.

So this is me saying I’m sorry. Sorry to the community. Sorry to those who so love the Heathkit name, because we have no idea what we’re going to do with it now. Do you want it? You think you can make it right? We’ll part ways with it for a bargain price of $50. PayPal is fine. Just let me know.

K5PO

***Update*** The Noise Blankers’ lawyers have looked into this matter and determined that K5PO did not in fact purchase the company, but rather, just bought a group of six original Heathkit assembly manuals off eBay. Further research has indicated that Heathkit is in fact alive once again, but it has nothing to do with The Noise Blankers. The actual owners have a survey online and would love to get the feedback of the amateur radio community.

### www.hamhijinks.com