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March 1960 Electronics World
Table of Contents
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles
from
Electronics World, published May 1959
- December 1971. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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Although Heathkit is probably
the most familiar line of build-it-yourself electronics products running from about
the late 1950s through the 1980s, there were others. Allied Electronics, under the
brand name of Allied Radio, had a line of "knight-kits" (many of which can be bought on
eBay) that included oscilloscopes, multimeters, stereo amplifiers, signal generators,
citizen band radios, amateur radio transmitters and receivers, AM/FM radios, vacuum
tube test sets, audio and RF generators, and much more. In the days before just
about everything electronic was manufactured in China by poor souls getting paid practically
nothing for longs hours of work, it was often cheaper to buy and assemble a kit
than to buy a ready-to-use equivalent item. It is always interesting to plug prices
from vintage magazine ads into the Inflation Calculator on the Bureau of Labor Statistics'
website to see what the cost would be in today's dollars. The Deluxe 40-Watt Stereo
Amplifier Kit that cost $79.50 in March of 1960 would cost about $694 in 2019. That's
an inflation factor of 8.7x.
Allied Radio Ad
 newest knight-kits ... years ahead
DELUXE 40-WATT STEREO AMPLIFIER KIT
Y-774D $79.50 $5 down
Finest hi-fi stereo amplifier you can buy in money-saving kit form. Features
special full-frequency range, extra center-channel output for 3·speaker systems.
Dual built-in equalized preamps accommodate every existing sound source; exceptional
control versatility, including single knob channel balance and separate dual concentric
tone controls for each channel. Outputs for stereo tape recording. Exclusive printed
circuit switches and plug-in units for easy assembly. Custom-styled in Cordovan
gray vinyl plastic bonded to steel; Desert Beige and Sand Gold extruded solid aluminum
escutcheon; 4 1/8" x 15 1/2" x 11 1/4" Shpg. wt. 24 lbs.
Model Y-774D. 40-Watt Stereo Amplifier Kit. $5 down
all-new knight-kits citizens band transceivers ...
2-way radio everyone can afford
CITIZENS BAND SUPERHET TRANSCEIVER KIT
Y-712D $79.95 $5 down
A high-sensitivity do-it-yourself transceiver for efficient, economical 2-way
radiotelephone communication. Any citizen, 18 or older, can get a license - no exam
required. For mobile or stationary use. Covers up to 20 miles, depending on antenna
height and terrain. Works just like an intercom, with talk-listen operation. Receiver
is sensitive superhet; tunes all channels continuously. 5-watt transmitter section.
Built-in AC power supply. With transmitting crystal (available for any channel from
1 to 22-specify preference) and doublet antenna. Extras available: Y-723, 6-12 v.
DC power supply, $10.95; Y-729 vertical antenna, $6.50; Y-714 mobile mounting bracket,
$5.35. Distinctive high-impact styrene case; 5" x 12" x 12". Shpg. wt., 20 lbs.
Model Y-712D. Superhet Transceiver Kit.
knight-kits break through the professional instrument price barrier
5" LAB DC SCOPE KIT WITH IVA
Y-611D $285.00 (less preamps)
For the first time in easy-to-build kit form-a triggered sweep DC precision quality
lab scope with plug-in interchangeable vertical amplifiers (IVA). Brilliantly engineered
with an impressive array of {less preamps} professional features, including: crystal-controlled
timing markers; DC amplifiers in both horizontal and vertical channels; electronically
regulated power supply; sweep timing adjustable to 1%; built-in voltage regulated
peak-to-peak calibrator. Three interchangeable vertical preamplifiers are available:
high-gain differential, $35.95; wide-band (to 10 mc), $24.95; dual-trace, $48.95.
There is no other instrument like this in kit form-here is laboratory precision
quality and reliability at far less than the cost of any comparable factory-built
unit. Shpg. wt. 50 lbs.
Model Y-611D. Lab DC Scope Kit. $10 down
years ahead knight-kit amateur gear
AMATEUR 400-WATT TRANSMITTER KIT
Y-716D $395.00 400-Watt CW Transmitter
Truly the "dream" transmitter - has what it takes to punch
out a $QRM-busting SSB, AM, or CW signal. 600 watts P.E.P. input on SSB; 400 watts
on AM and CW. Covers 80, 40, 20, 10, and 15 or 400-Wall CW 6 meter bands. Start
with the basic CW kit - then add AM and SSB Transmitter accessory units and other
"add-ins" whenever you wish. Has heterodyne VFO to assure a signal which "stays
put." Tremendous 14" dial is precision-calibrated for all bands, 80 through 6 meters.
SSB features: front panel controls-VOX, anti-trip and adjustable speech compression.
Smooth, chirpless screen-clamp keying, plus VFO keying for complete CW break-in.
Has 7034/4X150A final - coasts along well within its CCS ratings; silicon rectifier
power supply runs cool. Dozens of advanced features put this job in a class all
its own. Shpg. wt. 140 lbs.
Model Y-716D T-400 CW Transmitter Kit
$10 down
Posted August 29, 2019
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