When “Classic” Heathkits Were New…
With this issue devoting quite a bit of space to articles on restoring or repurposing various classic Heathkits, we thought it would be fun to dig back to when some of these radios were new. We discovered what appears to be the first review of a Heathkit radio in CQ, in the April 1954 “Novice Shack” column by Herb Brier, W9EGQ. In this installment, Herb examines the Heathkit AT-1 transmitter and its companion AC-1 antenna coupler. The combination provided half a station for many Novices, putting out about 35 watts, crystal-controlled CW, on 80, 40, 20, 15, 11, and 10 meters (yes, 11 meters was still a ham band then). The inclusion of 20 and 11 meters meant the rig would continue to be useful after a Novice upgraded to General. An ad for the AT-1 that ran in the same issue is also reproduced here. And in case that price of $29.50 is really appealing to you, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator tells us that $29.50 in 1954 is equivalent to $294 today.
Final note: We found the correspondence from readers that made up the second half of Herb’s column to be at least as fascinating as his review of the AT-1/AC-1 combo. We recommend reading the column all the way through.– W2VU
It has been some time since we have reviewed any commercial radio equipment or kits in the Novice Shack. This month, we have a double-header in the form of two companion kits. They are the Heathkit AT-1 transmitter kit and the AC-1 antenna coupler kit, which are manufactured and distributed by mail by the Heath Company, of Benton Harbor, Michigan.
When assembled, the AT-1 is a compact 3.5 to 30 Mc, c-w transmitter. A 6AG7 crystal oscillator drives a 6L6G output stage to a maximum input of thirty-five watts. Band changing is accomplished by means of a band-selector switch, eliminating the need for plug-in coils. Crystals plug into a socket on the front panel.
Power is supplied by a built-in supply utilizing a 5U4G rectifier tube. It has an output
