On 04/12/2015 17:46, gareth wrote:
I wonder what the extent of home manufacturing of componenets
is these days, apart from, say, microphones, earphones and Morse keys?

With the advent of 3D printing I would say that it is about to enter a
second golden age.
I already use metal 3d printers at work, and I have seen technology
demonstrators for multilayer printed circuit board with encapsulated
passive components. Once those reach the domestic market price range
then the prospect for a home manufactory is quite exciting.

On a more Heath-Robinson side of things I have made cardboard and foil
tuning capacitors as a crystal radio tuner. Not practical but certainly
an interesting demonstrator for showing kids how capacitors work.

Andy