Page 1 of 7 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 69

Thread: Heathkit Darkroom timer revealed glory!

  1. #1
    Tin Can's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    22,385

    Heathkit Darkroom timer revealed glory!

    I bought a used Heathkit darkroom timer here. It was recently offered and the seller always sells great stuff. Look it up.

    Heathkit holds a special place for some of us of a certain age. They made advanced electronic kits for skilled hobbyists.

    I really regret not buying and keeping more Heathkit.

    This timer works great, very accurate. As soon as I got it, I opened it up for a safety inspection.

    Really skilled assembly, with great solder joints, very trim wiring and all components look like new.

    It even has one Electron tube!

    Draws only 5 watts and is as accurate as I can test with an electronic modern stop watch. I figure +/- 0.1 seconds.

    Not all people assembled these kits as nicely as this, so do not trust just any Heathkit device to be the same quality once assembled. Old tube equipment can be dangerous. I put my tube radio collection on a high shelf so I can admire them, but no longer use them.

    This timer will be used safely. ymmv

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DSCN5986.JPG 
Views:	238 
Size:	135.1 KB 
ID:	129054Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DSCN5981.JPG 
Views:	318 
Size:	162.1 KB 
ID:	129055
    Tin Can

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    667

    Re: Heathkit Darkroom timer revealed glory!

    ___

    I was wondering where that one went to!

    Yes... That is most certainly a very beautifully constructed Timer.
    (*I like how the Wiring is all 'routed' at nice 90° Angles)
    .


    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Moe View Post
    ... It even has one Electron tube!
    I would guess... That that Raytheon Tube, is perhaps being employed as a simple Shunt Regulated VR (Voltage Regulator) Tube -- In order to keep the 120V 'Line Voltage' constant?

    Thanks for posting the pic. Enjoy!
    --
    Best regards,

    -Tim.

    _________

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Minnesota and Massachusetts, USA
    Posts
    593

    Re: Heathkit Darkroom timer revealed glory!

    Do you remember Lafayette Electronics? From (in my memory) mid 60s.

  4. #4
    Tin Can's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    22,385

    Re: Heathkit Darkroom timer revealed glory!

    Quote Originally Posted by HMG View Post
    Do you remember Lafayette Electronics? From (in my memory) mid 60s.
    Yup, and Allied catalogs. Now I shop Jameco, Pololu and some QST advertisers. I am KD0IJD, but only DX receive AM & SW, as I always have. Not as fun as it used to be.

    I made a pirate radio AM station in '65 which I shut down before getting caught. I was wreaking havoc with the local phone system, aka, my inductive antenna...seems phones were ringing off the hook...
    Tin Can

  5. #5

    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Norwalk Ca.
    Posts
    696

    Re: Heathkit Darkroom timer revealed glory!

    Built a Heathkit radio receiver in H.S. in the early 60's in the electronics class, its a shame they don,t offer classes like that any more in the high schools around here. Nothing like a 60cly hum to wake a student up.

  6. #6
    Tin Can's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    22,385

    Re: Heathkit Darkroom timer revealed glory!

    I learned the hard way not to solder live 120 volt circuits with a wire in my mouth instead of...
    Tin Can

  7. #7

    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Norwalk Ca.
    Posts
    696

    Re: Heathkit Darkroom timer revealed glory!

    It is surprising how fast us young know it all students learn the real facts on the job!! Ha,Ha

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    650

    Re: Heathkit Darkroom timer revealed glory!

    Ah, yes---the days of kit-form electronics.

    I still have and regularly use an Eico Cortina stereo amplifier from 1968; the chassis is the size of a cigar box, and has about two cubic inches of unoccupied space. A friend who worked in in a high-end hi-fi store in Houston, Texas took it in and reported that according to their distortion analyzer, it was a good as anything in the shop. Sometime in the late 80s, the power supply filter capacitors started to go, so I replaced them with computer-grade electrolytics. I should dig out the manual and see if the power transistors are germanium or silicon...

  9. #9
    Tin Can's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    22,385

    Re: Heathkit Darkroom timer revealed glory!

    Quote Originally Posted by Micheal Clark View Post
    It is surprising how fast us young know it all students learn the real facts on the job!! Ha,Ha
    I'm real good with hammers now. My 2 oz is my favorite...
    Tin Can

  10. #10

    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    El Cajon, CA
    Posts
    674

    Re: Heathkit Darkroom timer revealed glory!

    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Moe View Post
    I'm real good with hammers now. My 2 oz is my favorite...
    I have a really nice 32 oz "persuader" for use with stuff which needs to be sacrificed to the gods.

    I have a Heathkit PT-1500 Darkroom Timer. I can't remember when I bought and assembled it, but it is still a great timer. I keep it in the kitchen, use it for everything from cooking to developing film.

    m
    Michael Cienfuegos

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •