[Heathkit] Edsel of radio?

[Guy Olinger, K2AV]

I'm not sure Ham Radio has ever had an "Edsel". Mostly because the 
qualifications for inclusion in that club are so stringent. To wit:

1) The Edsel candidate must be an offshoot of a respected and 
otherwise successful company or industry (Ford, historically)

2) There must have been substantial investment by the dealer network, 
including some brand new dealerships, in preparation for the rollout.

3) It must have been hyped almost to absurdity.

4) It has to have been obviously and overwhelmingly UGLY to anyone 
except those rolling out the hype or having something to gain.

5) It has to be called "xxxxx of the year" by one of the trade mags.

6) It has to suffer enormous public humiliation, and some portion of 
its backers go into bankruptcy on account.

I remember as a teenager being in the Edsel dealership telling the 
salesman out loud that the car was b*tt-ugly and being run out of the 
place.

Has there really been a radio that bad??   :>)


The only thing related to ham radio that I can think of at the moment 
that fits is BPL, and it's lacking qualification 6).

73, Guy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <W5HTW at att.net>
To: <Heathkit at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2004 11:30 AM
Subject: [Heathkit] Edsel of radio?


>
>
> <<Which raises the burning issue: If Collins was the best, what pray 
> tell, was the
> Edsel of radios?>>
>
> My vote would be the Cosmophone.
>
> Ed
>
>
> --
> Ed Brooks, W5HTW
> http://w5htw.home.att.net/index.html
> Active since June 1956 Extra since
> Jan 1970
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