On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 02:34:40 GMT, Lazy Senior
wrote:

Steve wrote:
How about offering these as kits? Maybe even offering them
with or without tubes? If you're able to keep the cost low I
think you have a shot.

Steve


I dunno, a company called Heathkit tried that and went belly up.

While that's true (and several other companies have ceased selling
kits), it seems they never charged anywhere near what an "unassembled
Heathkit" sells for now (factoring in inflation), as they're more
properly called collector's items, rather than kits.
I've had the thought of having faceplates and chassis made,
assembling the parts and offering 'kits' of some of the more desirable
Heathkit models. Much of the work, the actual design and the writing
and debugging of the assembly manual, is already done for you. I'm
unlikely to actually do this myself, maybe some others can run with
it.
There may be some copyright problems with the manuals, as well as
possible legal problems with copying the design. Circa 1996 I called a
phone number for "the real Heathkit - the only place for legal Heath
manual copies, still covered by copyright" that I saw in some
magazine, asked about a couple manuals (transmission tube testor, $25
at hamfest, metal dector $5 at yard sale), and they were $30 each. I
went ahead and got the tube tester manual.
But I wonder if there would be some interest in having boatanchor
'kits' available of some specific models that might be popular. Such a
kit would likely cost more than a completed original can be bought
for, but I can imagine that some people would pay extra to be able to
build just one more "Heathkit."
At the prices they go for, true unassembled Heathkits are real
collector's items and are unlikely to be built, as that would destroy
their (dollar) value, at keast much more so than building a 'copy'
kit. This way, one could buy a 'kit' for its original purpose, to
build into a working product.
While selling such a kit may have legal hurdles with copyright and
copying the design, you can build your own for personal use with no
such problems.

The OP wrote:

based on schematics and design
principles that have gone into the public domain.

Hmm, would this include the older (1950's) Heathkits, or has what
remains of Heath Company renewed the copyrights?

Lazy senior