Heathkit is a name that almost all electronics hobbyists are familiar with. Either you were old enough to be seeing the kits come out new, or you were like me and grew up with the kits as staples in every lab and garage. For those who are unfamiliar, Heathkit was a company that put out kits and educational electronics materials from the 40s through the 80s. There’s a virtual museum where you can explore some of the kits, ranging from HAM radios, to stereo equipment and even a computer.
Sadly Heathkit stopped producing kits, leaving many people yearning for the companies return. Strangely, there have been several announcements of the return of the kit producer, but not much has come of it.
Back in 2011, Phillip Torrone shared his excitement about Heathkit’s possible return. Unfortunately, nothing happened in 2011. In 2013, another big announcement was made that the company was going to return, and again, nothing has happened.
Phillip has dug in and researched out everything he can find about who owns what parts of Heathkit and what the current status is. He may have uncovered more questions than answers, but it is a fascinating read nonetheless. Head over to Adafruit and see what you can decipher.
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