[Heathkit] Does Heathkit Still Exist?

[Glen Zook]

Actually, Heath started out in Chicago as the
manufacturer of airplanes including kits.  The company
basically died after the founder was killed in an
airplane crash.  The company was bought by a fellow
named Anthony in 1935 and it moved to Benton Harbor
sometime before World War II and just after the war
acquired a lot of surplus electronics equipment
intending on going into the surplus sales business
instead of manufacturing aircraft.  The idea of making
electronic kits came up and the first kit was the OL-1
oscilloscope.

By 1957 the business had expanded to such a great
degree that a new plant was needed and the "H" shaped
plant in St. Joseph, Michigan, was opened early in
1958.  Now Heath was owned at various times by
Daystrom and Zenith.  The Heathkit company that is now
in business was part of the original Heath but took
the name "Heathkit" when the old company was divided. 
According to several former employees the "new"
Heathkit operated from the old St. Joseph location for
a number of years.  However, they only utilized a
portion of the building with the remainder being
"leased" to other companies.  Several years ago
Heathkit moved its operations from the St. Joseph
location relocating within the city limits of Benton
Harbor.

Glen, K9STH


--- Pat Swayne <me at patswayne.com> wrote:

I think Heathkit originally started in Benton Harbor,
and then moved to St. Joseph when they needed a larger
facility. They kept their Benton Harbor mailing
address. The company is now called Heathkit Company,
not Heath Company. There is a Heath Company, not
related, that makes office equipment. And there is
also still the "Heath/Zenith" brand name, from the
company at this rather strange URL:
http://12.153.20.71/Heath/









Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


       
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