Goin’ Down Memory Lane

My first HF rig was a Heathkit HW-100

I bought it use.   I think I paid $125 for in around 1979. It was old and tired when I bought it.  As a result, I probably spend as much time with the covers off, fixing it as I did operating.  I discovered first-hand what the term ‘gassy finals’ meant.

By then, Heathkit had already brought out its slightly improved successor, the HW_101.  The 101 had a switchable CW filter so you could switch between SSB and CW filters.  It also had several technical improvements.  I bought the HW-101 manual and spent a lot of time with the 100 and 101 manuals and schematics side by side.  I eventually incorporated most of the 101’s improvements into my 100.