[Boatanchors] vacuum tube radio kits

[Rob Atkinson]

For a first product, I'd forget about offering any kind of ham
specific gear such as a transmitter.  Too legally complex for one
thing, even if it is a xtal controlled cw rig.  And anything that
transmits gets FCC involved in some way.   I'd try to find something
simple that everyone can use; not just hams.  The broader the market
the better.  Perhaps a monophonic AF 10 to 15 watt push pull
amplifier.  No RF, no oscillator and it has the glass audio appeal for
audio fanatics who can't afford $2000 for a tube 'hi fi" amp, and hams
can find ways of using it such as driving a speaker with detector
audio.  also the voltages can be relatively low as tubes go and the B+
is kept under the chassis (i.e. no anodes and tank circuits on top).
 Audio people don't seem to mind buying two for stereo.   Only problem
I can think of is you'll need a high to low Z load transformer,
usually a secondary with taps for 4, 8 and 16 ohms and another
feedback winding, and that might be unobtainium these days.  Back a
year ago I was looking for a tube amp to boost the audio from my rigs
and I briefly searched for such a kit before I wound up buying old two
heathkit p.p. amps and fixing them up.  These old amps are frequently
sold on eBay so there is a market for them.

Another possibility might be some kind of tube mic preamp or code
practice oscillator (the market for these are probably smaller hi hi).
 But I agree on consulting a lawyer and finding out about liability
insurance.  In America products that can harm such as soldering guns
are routinely sold in stores.  What you don't see is anything that can
easily kill you accidentally where the potential for harm is not
obvious (this excludes guns and knives).  If you can keep the B+ under
around 150 v. I'd guess you might lower your liability but this is
just idle speculation from a ham.  You must consult legal and
liability professionals.

73

Rob
K5UJ