Heathkits [telecom]

In the separate discussion on Teletypes, there was mention of Heath products. I presume they mean the hobbyist chain, Heathkit, which, among other products, sold kits that customers put together themselves. The descriptions of the old BBS (Bulletin Board System) showed that everything was discrete components wiring together by hand.

I knew computer experimenters who used Heathkits, both to build something as well as test and experimental pieces, such as jumper boards as described in the other thread. It was also big for amateur radio.

I forgot how much in the early days was hardware work.

Wiki has this to say:

Cheap electronic assembly eliminated the cost savings of kits and the Heath business model. Heath ceased selling kits 3/30/92. The company is into other stuff now.

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Posted 5 years ago by hancock4 in General Telecommunications Forum

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