[Heathkit] Does Heathkit Still Exist?

[Chris Codella, W2PA]

Yes, it exists and sells educational products (in technology) - and is 
an offshoot of the original company. 

Go here: http://www.heathkit.com/

73,
Chris, W2PA

Duane Fischer, W8DBF wrote:
>
>
> 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
>
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