When I decided to purchase a “for parts” copy of a Heathkit SM-2420 frequency counter from an eBay seller for $60 back in 2023, I had no idea what I was getting into. The unit was listed as not operable. Its line cord had been cut off, leaving a short and very sad looking pigtail. Nevertheless, it was a Heathkit frequency counter. I’d wanted one for decades. When the counter arrived, I unpacked it and was immediately taken aback by how scratched and dirty it was.