History according to Hediger 10

Great story! Move your camera closer to the interviewer so we can see Jim’s face better. That way, Jim won’t have to look back and forth between the interviewer and the camera.

Odegard looks like the kind of weasel that would pull a stunt like this!
Maybe it’s just me but, I find this colossally unfunny. Maybe if he were capable of assembling an oscilloscope himself and (most importantly) made sure to stand by to oversee this painfully unpractical joke, not letting it go too far, maybe then it could be given a courtesy laugh. Little did we realize, back in the day, what kind of nonsense was taking place behind the scenes as we enjoyed our MRs every month. Thanks ever so much for the history, nevertheless.

I also built the scope plus a 21" color TV from a Heath kit. Cost only a few bucks, did it under the GI bill. Used the TV for a bunch of years.

great! we do need more History according to Hediger. Same as Windle, like being at Lou Cook’s shop when some of the colorful guys where in the shop. Another side of the hobby, which I enjoy.

I bought one of those kits too. It was a great investment at the time, used it for many years.

That was great. There is one in every crowd.

The kids of today just have no idea what their missing. Could you imagine building an X-Box 360 from a kit?

Yes most of todays models and electronics are already assembled, but imagine if you would how it would be to assemble say your own computer or other electronic device, I know I would enjoy it.

James,
Here’s a link to Jim’s story about “Lurch” the elevator
http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=3349

Dana Kawala
Associate Editor

Ahh Heathkits. I’ve lost track of how many I built. Sure do miss them.

Just great. Keep these stories coming.

All right!!! Nothing like an old “Twidget” tale to bring a smile. I wonder, did the scope get calibrated and did it work when it was finally turned on? Keep the stories comming. Maybe we can her about some of thoose old projects that required an O’scope. Does the average modern model railroader know what an O’scope is???!! I’d like to see some of the expressions on those faces as the joke unfolded!

Oh, if I could only tell about the various jokes played at work with each other, but like someone said, today you would not get away with it. Good laugh, fellows. Thanks!

I hope that Russ got a similar “prank” against Gordy !

So many nostalgic comments, I felt I had to add mine. My long awaited first color television set was a Heathkit 25’ beauty I put together with great success. I was also able to repair it myself when something went wrong. Cool! The bare chassis we viewed in our living room for months and months awaitng the cabinet I finally constructed with a lift-up hand carved artwork door. I built many Heathkits including a voltmeter I still use on my bench today.

What a memory jolter !!! (no pun intended)–I assembled a scope in '53 while taking a NRI corse in raido/electronics—Quite a challange for a young lad in high school—It paid off really good when in '55 I joined the Navy, went to Class A Electrical school at Great Lakes --Got aboard a Tin-Can out of Norfolk, Va. as an Electrican’s Mate— THANKS for those interviews !!! Love to hear stories of things that happen to all of us all the time-----

Know the feeling,Back in the day,I assembled a Peco Preamp/Amp kit. Glad GO wasn’t around!

I am an electronics engineer also and dearly loved the Heath, Knight, Lafayette, and Eico kits. I hired techs right from DeVry and started them in the shop building A VTVM kit they would use in their work for the company, which was theirs to keep. I guess I have a mean steak too, as I would sometimes remove a part or add one to the list if one of them was bit “cocky” about their abilities.
Model kits were a piece of work in 1950 when I started in the hobby. It took me 2 weeks of careful filing and sanding to get all the casting flash off my Varney diesel cast from Zamac.

I, too, built one of the Heathkit O’scopes - one of several Heathkits built through the years. And, there were a LOT of parts in that kit.

I am enjoying these episodes - keep them coming.

David, What is the theme music for History According to Hidiger? Love the music and the history. Glad you are recording it. Keep up the good work.