[Heathkit] Does Heathkit Still Exist?

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Hi All,

No, this is not one of my infamous spoofs. This is serious.

I have a Ham who insists that Heathkit is still manufacturing products. 
Specifically what products he did not say. Nor did he indicate if these 
products were being made in Benton Harbor, MI where the original Heathkit 
was.

Has somebody else purchased the name of "Heathkit" and is now making 
products bearing the "Heathkit" name, even if said products are not Ham or 
other types of electronics?

I am aware of several small companies who own the name of several famous 
brands, but do 'not' produce any of the former companies products. Just 
owning the name of "Heathkit" or "Hallicrafters" would not initself give a 
company the legal right to manufacture the former companies product line. 
Right? Would one not have to purchase the rights to each product first 
before they could build it?

Now I realize this is Hallicrafters based, not Heathkit, but since the 
question ties into both, I am going to ask it here.

He also claims that he worked for Hallicrafters "after" Northrup purchased 
Hallicrafters in 1967. As far as I know, Northrup could not get rid of the 
name "Hallicrafters" from buildings, parts, products, manuals etc fast 
enough after purchasing the company. Hence, employees worked for Northrup, 
"not" Hallicrafters. This was true even though William Halligan, Sr. stayed 
on for one year after Northrup bought his company. This was at Northrup's 
request, it was not some part of the purchase agreement that Halligan set 
forth!

Northrup paid Bill the same salary that he had been drawing from 
Hallicrafters for that one year. Bill helped with transition, mostly 
regarding the huge number of military contracts that Hallicrafters had. 
Which is the real reason that Northrup bought Hallicrafters to begin with! 
The Amateur Radio was of no interest to them whatsoever. As soon as they 
could unload it without doing damage to their corporate image, they did!

Here is a bit of the text I received:

"Have you ever been to the newer Hallicrafter's plant in Rolling Meadows 
(500 Hicks Rd)? I worked there from 1997 to 2004. Fun place with a Ham club 
but unfortunately no more HF radios coming out the door......"

Now, I ask you wizards of wires and lovers of things that still go glow in 
the dark:

1. Who "really" designed the FPM-300? Hallicrafters prior to the sale or 
Northrup "after" the sale?

2. Who did Northrup sell the Ham Radio division to when they got rid of it ? 
When did they get rid of it?

3. The companies I am aware of that sold electronics under the name of 
Hallicrafters "after" Northrup sold the name, did not produce any actual 
Hallicrafters products. Mainly Citizens Band radios etc. that had the 
Hallicrafters name on them. Most, if not all, were made in Japan. So, did 
Northrup sell just the name of "Hallicrafters", as in the rights to the 
trademark name? Or did they sell the rights to the actual Hallicrafters 
equipment: FPM-300, SX-115, HT-32b etc.?

4. I am being told that one former Hallicrafters building in Chicago still 
bears the Hallicrafters name, logo and whatever. I am also told this 
building is still in use. Is any of this true? If so, and I am assuming that 
Northrup still owns the property, is it Northrup using it, or who is using 
the building and for what purpose?

5. What "really" became of all the construction plans, diagrams, test 
documentation and rights to produce and/or actual product ownership  for the 
Hallicrafters products designed and built from 1934 until 1967?


Duane Fischer, W8DBF/WPE8CXO
dfischer at usol.com
HHI: Halligan's Hallicrafters International
http://www.w9wze.net
HHRP: Historic Halligan Radio Project
hhrp.w9wze.net