Memory Lane Trip to 1961

[Adam_VE3FP]

Not sure if this is the place for this topic but here it is anyway.
Going back before I got my ham license in 1978 were few places like Heathkit, Allied Radio, Lafayette where  you could buy and build your station from kits. I build the Heathkit HR-10 receiver and a VTVM around 1968 and thought that was state of the art at that time but don't remember what I paid.
 
So to get an idea what the value of $100 CAD is today, well it would be worth $868.79. 
Here is a link to 1961 Heathkit catalog as provided by Jim Talens, N3JT  posted on groups.io

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Catalogs/Consumer/Heathkit-1961-Fall-Winter.pdf

You may find that the modern ham gear prices are actually cheaper today then they were in 1961. 

You decide ....

[VE3WI Dave]

Neat website!  One can waste a LOT of time there :-)

I got my licence when I was at U of NB in 1968.  The UNB club had the big Heathkit twins - Mohawk RX & Marauder TX.  I really enjoyed operating that station.  Later, I built an SB-102 and used it for quite a while.  I also built a Heathkit weather station, which I think is still at the Port Elgin airport.  Heathkits were a great way to get decent electronics, at reasonable prices, and have fun building them. 

These days, 1000-pin ICs and tiny SMDs make kits unfeasible for the average builder.  Most of the "kits" available (e.g. Elecraft) merely require mounting pre-assembled modules in a case.  Too bad.

73
Dave, VE3WI

[Adam_VE3FP]

Neat website!  One can waste a LOT of time there :-)

I got my licence when I was at U of NB in 1968.  The UNB club had the big Heathkit twins - Mohawk RX & Marauder TX. d I really enjoyed operating that station.  Later, I built an SB-102 and used it for quite a while.  I also built a Heathkit weather station, which I think is still at the Port Elgin airport.  Heathkits were a great way to get decent electronics, at reasonable prices, and have fun building them. 

These days, 1000-pin ICs and tiny SMDs make kits unfeasible for the average builder.  Most of the "kits" available (e.g. Elecraft) merely require mounting pre-assembled modules in a case.  Too bad.

73
Dave, VE3WI

I though the same. Back then most hams would home brew stuff for most part or buy home brewed equipment. I still own a SB101 but it needs some work. The belts that couple the tuning caps fell apart(maybe I can replace them with O-rings) and probably should be recapped but it's still in nice shape and would hate to send to the scrap pile. Even have a spare set of 6146B finals. 
Today it's not building, for most part is trying to figure the radio functions with all the menus and levels of submenus. It seems to be the most challenging for ops now.