[Heathkit] Unique Heathkit ad proof for sale

[MikeDoolin at aol.com]

Hi to the list - I will post this here before I put this on eBay.

I have a totally unique, one-of-a-kind Heathkit ad proof. This ad - titled “
The smile machine…Heathkit SB-102 and SB-220” - ran in the March 1971 QST and 
April 1971 CQ magazines. It is a black and white two page spread ad proof.

NOTE: this is NOT a tear sheet from the magazine. This is a PROOF from the 
original negative that was used by the magazine to actually print the ad. 
Although ads are not produced this way now, they were then. Type was set on a 
typesetting machine, then that type was pasted down on a piece of heavy artboard. 
This 'mechanical,' as it was called, was then photographed, and negatives were 
produced that were sent to the magazines. High quality paper proofs were made 
from these negatives, and that is what I have.

Heath typically produced three proofs for every ad. One went with the 
negative to the magazine, and the other two stayed in the advertising department.

How do I know this? Because I wrote this ad. Yes - I was the copywriter in 
the Heath advertising department from 1968 to 1974, the only ham in the 
department (WB8CDU), and I wrote all of the Heathkit ham ads, data sheets and catalog 
copy during that time period.

This is quite likely the only proof of this ad still in existence. It has 
been stored for nearly 35 years and has been folded in half vertically between 
where the two pages would be. It includes, at the bottoms of the two pages, the 
insertion instructions: Heath Company name, ad number, size, magazine name and 
date etc. The complete proof measures 11” high x 14.5” wide.

This ad proof would make a wonderful holiday present or a totally unique 
addition to a Heathkit memorabilia collection. It won't be inexpensive. Contact me 
off-list if you are interested. I have jpegs I can send you. This probably 
won't last long.

Mike Doolin, “One of the Hams at Heath”
Ex WB8CDU, now KC2TP