MDchanic

Archer... Science Fair... Micronta... SounDesign...

Well, here's a site that will bring back those childhood memories, no matter how old you are:

http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/ca...directory.html

- Eric

oldcutlass

Back when they were an a electronics store.

dc2x4drvr

I used to be in the component business, and Radio Shack was a customer back in the day (1980's) they bought tons of resistors, caps, pots,IC's, shrink tubing...
Yah, I miss the days when I could walk into a RS, and ask for a butt connector and the counter guy asked what size??

76olds

I bought my first cassette deck and 2 rear speakers from radio shack back in 1984, they installed it outside in the parking lot imagine that. I can't remember the brand but they were great to deal with back in the day. I believe it turned into a circuit city somewhere around the late 80's. Its now the source here. The old reel to reel's in that catalogue reminds me of my grandfather. Great post Eric!!

don71

Good reading there, lots of memories.

I've got some Realistic speakers in the shop stereo. I remember paying like 80 bucks a piece for them. That was hard on a McD's paycheck. They still work just fine. Still have a 10 channel scanner too, that I occasionaly get out.

Radio Shack has been in financial hot water for some time. You might want to visit one soon, some of them are going away.

I read a post on another web site where the chap was boasting about his five foot long receipt. His store would be closing soon and went in to stock up on switches/wire and electrical doo-dads. From his description, it was still one of the good stores.

oldcutlass

Radio Shack is in liquidation and all the stores will be going away.

rob1960

Thanks, Eric for posting that link,pretty cool!!!nicely done display format. I had the very same "optimus" system that's shown on the '69 catalog cover! Those old "hi-tech" receivers were pretty pricey back then. Like "oldcutlass said,that's when they used to be an electronics store, not a cell phone outlet! Sad to see 'em go! There was another large electronics chain back then also,I think it was Lafayette Audio. They did allot of "build your own" stereo kits The old Sears(another once great company soon to go the way of the dinosaurs) catalogs are great fun to look through too!! I used to drool over those minibikes & go-karts that they had!

MDchanic

Yes, Lafayette Radio Electronics was actually a bit better than Radio Shack in my opinion - a bit less consumer fluff and a bit more technical stuff. And they had a better tube tester, too.

They went out of business sometime around 1980, if I recall, driven out by the highly successful radio Shack.

I also used to patronize a couple of remnants of "Radio Row" on Church Street by Chambers, and a place called Packard Electronics, on Union Square West, on the ground floor of the building where Warhol had his second Factory.

All gone now...

Last night I discovered I need two 89¢ electrolytic capacitors. Normally, I'd drive on over to Radio Shack and pick them up, but I don't expect they've got them anymore, in the tiny corner where they keep a few dusty drawers of electronic components, so I'll probably have to pay Mouser an extra $6 to mail them to me.

- Eric

oldcutlass

Newark electronics is a good mail order electronics supplier. I remember when radio shack carried electronic kits for everything from build your own am radios to computers.

MDchanic

Newark is good, but Mouser charges actual shipping, with no minimum, so I usually use them.

- Eric

67442nut

I still have an old Micronta analog multi-tester I've had for years that still works perfectly.
Haven't heard the name Lafayette in electronics for years.
Used to love to look through the Lafayette Electronics and Allied Radio catalogs.
Had a Hallicrafters SX-110 short wave receiver when I was a kid.
Had a bookcase headboard where I kept it.
Fell asleep listening to a lot of interesting stuff from around the world plus
could pick up U.S. AM stations from all over the country like WBZ-Boston ("Cousin Brucie" ?),
WLS-Pittsburgh (I think) and the Chicago station, WGN I think.
A big deal for a 12 year old in Charleston, West Virginia in the late '50's and early '60's.

redoldsman

I believe Realistic was their electronic component brand.

oldcutlass

You are correct sir.

Professur

I gotta be honest .. the Sears catalogue held my attention a lot better.

redoldsman

I think JC Whitney and Honest Charley were the best.

don71

If you'll search American history, the sear catalog was often used as tissue paper.

And I don't mean blowing your nose.

But at that point, I'm sure any substance would work.

That's my attempt at humor anyways.

becerra66

Great memories I still ove radio shack one of my fav places..\
My dad had the hook ups..one day he brought these huge walkie talkies home
it was a huge silver walkie talkie Im looking for a picture but I will obesse over the pic until I find it I will post later

On my way home from work

Koda

I still have a few Realistic items lying around. My separate little garage at my house has a sign "Protected by Radio Shack Security System" on the door, which was from the previous owner and will stay there as long as I have a say in it.

jensenracing77

I loved that place back in the 80s and 90s. Now they have very little for me. My parents got me an electronics lab from there when I was real young.
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