[Heathkit] opinion poll time

[Bwana Bob]

Well, Chuck Penson, in his book, says, "The answer is simple-- don't.
Rare or not, there are plenty of examples of whatever you have found
that are already assembled. An unassembled kit, on the other hand, is an
artifact frozen in time. Unassembled kits are finds of historical
significance because they are direct links to the past. When assembled,
the link is irretrievably broken. Unlike assembled pieces which endure,
unassembled kits, once assembled, are lost forever. Without them, the
idea of Heath "kits" becomes a mere abstraction."

Now, having quoted the master, here is my opinion. I cherish the
Heathkits that I've built. They are a tangible link with my lost youth
and my early days in amateur radio. A couple were built jointly by my
dad and me, which makes then extra special. So for me, a bit part of the
value of a kit is having built it. If I came across a kit that I had
"always" wanted but never bought, I would most likely build it. If it
were not a kit that I desired or would actually use, I would sell it to
a collector and buy a Ten Tec kit that I would build and use.

So, an unassembled kit may be worth lots to a collector, but to me, much
of the value is in the building. An unassembled kit is lifeless because
in building, we invest a little of our own life and history in it.


			73,

			Bob WB2VUF

paul wrote:
> 
> ok folks...  here is the  quandary...  ( kind of like king solomon  and
> sharing the baby)..  you come upon a rare unbuilt heathkit new  in box...
> if you assemble it , now you are like everyone else with  an assembled
> heathkit...  it you place it as a trophy ( unassembled in its factory box)in
> a prominent place in your shack never to be assembled, you now have a "one
> of a kind rarity"..  what do you do. what do you do..  paul w8jn
> 
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