1926 – the Heath Parasol airplane kit produced
1931 – Heath killed in airplane test flight. Acquired by Walter Clinnin
1933 – changed to the International Aircraft Corporation
1934 – International Aircraft Corporation bankrupt
1935 – Howard Anthony purchased the company and changed the name back to the Heath Aircraft Company.
After WWII began producing kits from war surplus
1947 – Heathkit produced the O-1 Oscilloscope kit
1954 – Anthony killed in an airplane crash
1955 – Heathkit acquired by Daystrom
1958 a 205,000 square foot plant constructed in St. Joseph, Michigan.
1962 Daystrom was purchased by Schlumberger Limited.
Heathkit by Daystrom
Heath Company
Benton Harbor 42, Michigan
1974 – Heathkit started Heathkit Educational Systems
1975 Address:
Heathkit Company (Schlumberger)
Dept. 17-12
Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022
1979 – Zenith Radio Company purchased Heath Company from Schlumberger
1982 – Heath Company launched thier last amateur radio, the SS-9000, which was so complicated to build it came factory assembled.
1983 – Heathkit Company, Benton Harbor MI 49022
1985
1989 – Zenith Data Systems was cquired by the French company Groupe Bull.
1990 – The Heath Company launched it’s last PC-kits, the HS-3629 and HS-2862, a 80386 desktop and 80286 laptop.
1991 – The Heath Company, except Zenith Data Systems, left the Hilltop Road plant and moved to a former K-mart building at Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor.
1992 – The end of Heathkit, as the kit producer we remember it to be, was definite. The kit lines was discontinued and all product lines that was left was the Lighting, Security and Educational Systems
1995 – The HIG Capital Management Inc bought the Heath Company and Packard Bell bought Zenith Data Systems
1998 – DESA International bought the Lighting and Security business, but also the Heath Company name. Donald Desrochers private investment corporation bought the Heathkit Company, i.e. The Heathkit Educational Systems and that is what’s left of the former Heath Company.
2002 – The HIG Capital Management Inc bought the bankrupt DESA back and became the owner of the Heath/Zenith Co for the 2nd time
2007 – The Duchossois Group Inc bought the Heath/Zenith Co from HIG and established the HeathCo LLC
2008 – The Heathkit Company moved to Hawthorne Avenue in St. Joseph. Data Professionals in Pleasanton, California, bought all Heathkit manuals and the rights to sell and distribute them
2011 – The Heathkit Company announces that they are back in the kit-business. They first launch the GPA-100 (Garage Parking Assistant).
2012 – Heathkit Educational Systems bankruptsy, is sold out and the Heathkit story seems to end.
2013 – The Heath Company Inc. resurrects in stealth mode.
2015 – Data Professionals was acquired by the Heath Company
2015 – The new Heathkit launched their first kit. An AM radio receiver GR-150-BK, that is assembled without any soldering of the components.
2015 – The GR-152-BK is launched. It is a variant of the GR-150-BK where the components are soldered in a traditional way