What Happened to Heathkit? The Ham Radio Legend That Vanished!

Educating, Entertaining, and Helping Radio Enthusiasts to learn more about the History and Stories behind the technology we enjoy.

Long before we were building robots with Arduinos or automating our homes with Raspberry Pis, there was a company quietly empowering ordinary people to build their own technology—one vacuum tube at a time.

CORRECTIONS: Thanks to very smart viewers who pointed out that the answer to Quiz Question #3 is incorrect. Apparently, Heathkit DID sell a microwave oven. Check out page 13 of this Heathkit catalog. I never remember them selling microwaves so that is my mistake.
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Catalogs/Heathkit-Catalogs/Heathkit-1972-800-65.pdf

For non-English speakers, Subtitles are available in French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.

Think Heathkit was just a bunch of mail-order gadgets? Think again. In this video, we take you back to the golden age of DIY electronics to uncover the surprising rise (and fall) of Heathkit—the brand that turned everyday people into engineers and helped launch countless careers in electronics, radio, and computing.

From war surplus beginnings to hobbyist heaven, you’ll learn:

• Where Heathkit really got its start (hint: WWII leftovers!)
• How they revolutionized learning electronics at home
• Why their kits were more than just fun—they were educational gold
• And what ultimately brought the Heathkit legacy to a standstill

Whether you’re a ham radio operator, a vintage tech geek, or just love a good origin story—you’ll get the full scoop right here.

References and Research
Heathkit Company History – Heath Company Archives and official product catalogs
🔗 https://www.heathkit.com

“Heathkit: A Guide to the Legendary Electronics Kits” by Chuck Penson
🔗 https://www.amazon.com/Heathkit-Legendary-Electronics-Chuck-Penson/dp/1886606202

ARRL (American Radio Relay League) – Historical articles on amateur radio education
🔗 https://www.arrl.org
(Search “Heathkit” in their archives or QST magazine back issues)

Popular Electronics Magazine Archives – Vintage reviews and Heathkit project writeups
🔗 https://worldradiohistory.com/Popular-Electronics-Guide.htm

IEEE Spectrum: “The Rise and Fall of Heathkit”
🔗 https://spectrum.ieee.org/heathkit

Museum of Radio and Technology – Heathkit displays and documentation
🔗 https://www.mrtwv.org

QRZ.com Forums – Real stories and memories from amateur radio operators
🔗 https://forums.qrz.com

EEVblog Forum: Vintage Electronics Discussions – Restoration tips, history, and user experience
🔗 https://www.eevblog.com/forum/vintage-computing/