Radio Shack, R. I. P.
Jul 7, 2017 09:58:16 #
NJphotodoc
Loc: Now in the First State
Wow! Lafayette Electronics! The main store in Syosset was like taking a trip to Mecca. Got my amplifiers, speakers, and a couple of 23 channel CBs there years back. Still have my 23 channel SSB transceiver and it does work.
Too bad they vanished years ago. We could use a good hobbyist store like them now.
Too bad they vanished years ago. We could use a good hobbyist store like them now.
Jul 7, 2017 09:59:09 #
Dngallagher wrote:
I remember well the days of Radio Shack and Lafayette Electronics - my favorite stores for a time it seemed. Personally I favored Lafayette though they closed and disappeared decades ago.
I remember buying a TV antenna from Lafayette, and spending several hours on my roof attaching it to my chimney. AHH the good old days
Jul 7, 2017 10:17:18 #
NJphotodoc
Loc: Now in the First State
My uncle owned a small electronics store on LI and became an "associate distributor" for Lafayette. Helped him to grow his business as customers were able to shop from the Lafayette catalog and get their purchase delivered to their home or store pickup. Effectively tripled his inventory at no cost. Much better than a Big Box store today
Jul 7, 2017 11:01:11 #
Jul 7, 2017 12:17:58 #
So far as I can find there is no other outlet for their line of electronics supplies. Like, mutlimeters, battery meters, micro soldering irons, resistors, capacitors, transistors, tuning heads, radio & amplifier kits, microphones, speakers, etc. Seems there was another store that never came to my town. The Internet is said to be a boone but certainly not for everything.
Jul 7, 2017 12:27:29 #
NJphotodoc
Loc: Now in the First State
I know of 2 stores in northern NJ (one in Wayne and on in Lodi) that carry electronics for builders, etc. Otherwise it is eBay or a Google search. Sad, because a generation of electronics technicians, experimentors and builders will soon be disappearing and it looks like there is no one to replace them
Jul 7, 2017 13:34:10 #
Cragzop
Loc: NYC
jerryc41 wrote:
It's sad to see an old standard like Radio Shack bite the dust.
http://mashable.com/2017/07/05/radioshack-auction-electronics-nostalgia/?utm_campaign=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_cid=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=webfeeds#WFar4gxn6Pq3
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I remember the Tandy leather goods company on 5th ave. in Manhattan, and when they expanded and purchased Radio Shack. Being in a rock band during the 60s, Radio Shack was the goto place for things like capacitors, resistors, etc, when we needed them to replace burned out components.
Our Radio Shack closed about 2 months ago.
Jul 7, 2017 13:38:28 #
NJphotodoc
Loc: Now in the First State
How sad. A while back, I needed a thermistor to fix a portable heater. Part would cost normally < $1 but since I could not find one anywhere locally, had to go online and buy a 10-pack from some place in China. Sad commentary on how our society has evolved into a throw-away economy. BTW does anyone need a thermistor (250'F 5A)?
Jul 7, 2017 15:34:19 #
My very first computer with a keyboard was a Tandy Model 100 8 line, 40 characters per line, 32K laptop wannabe. Storage was a cassette, but a third party came along with a 100k 3 1/2 floppy drive. The computer set me back $1200 and the drive $250. A couple years later, I went to a Heath/Zenith Z150 (IBM XT Clone). Hmm, I don't recommend people follow my lead. :-)
Jul 7, 2017 15:44:28 #
Dngallagher wrote:
I remember well the days of Radio Shack and Lafayette Electronics - my favorite stores for a time it seemed. Personally I favored Lafayette though they closed and disappeared decades ago.
Wow ... does that bring back memories ... Lafayette Electronics. Put Radio Shack to shame. I remember my first CB was from Lafayette. One huge box ... 23 channels, but the neat thing about it was, by changing the plug it would work off of 12 volts or 120 volts. Mobile or base in one unit.
Jul 7, 2017 16:09:27 #
Jul 7, 2017 16:18:15 #
jpintn wrote:
Ours was a locally owned Radio Shack. They said they were NOT going to close. Now closed!
My personal favorite was
"Heathkit" Being an " Ham Radio" operator and "RC" Flyer....I use too build many of their kits.
Back in the day they were quality components.
Jul 7, 2017 16:32:45 #
sirlensalot
Loc: Arizona
We had a modernized one that opened a few years ago after all of them that were nearby had long since closed. I paid it a visit for a few cable connectors. The stock was pitiful. Last time I drove by did not see their sign. Loved it when they were in their prime - electronics and tools, computers, a few TV's, then to RC planes and cars. Thinking back, it was all made in China too.
Jul 7, 2017 17:02:44 #
sirlensalot wrote:
We had a modernized one that opened a few years ago after all of them that were nearby had long since closed. I paid it a visit for a few cable connectors. The stock was pitiful. Last time I drove by did not see their sign. Loved it when they were in their prime - electronics and tools, computers, a few TV's, then to RC planes and cars. Thinking back, it was all made in China too.
When Heathkit offered their radio control transmitter, receiver, and servo kits, they were assembled using "Phil Kraft's" components. All quality parts.
Heathkit also sold the "Proline", radio kit...designed by Ted White, which at one time was known as the "Gallaxy".
My how the time do fly..
.
Jul 7, 2017 17:49:29 #
I remember my buddy built a Heathkit receiver back in abt '53-'54, I don't think he ever got it operating. In the 80's those of us in the CADD group were cussing the POS Sperry 2D clunkers, while one of our troops cussed his TRS-80(or Trash-80) but he didn't mind the Sperrys. Then there were the Compacts 5m & 15m(or something like that) then they purchased a few 25s and things almost came to blows to get one of those machines.
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