Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => AmpTools/Tech Tips => Topic started by: jjasilli on January 27, 2012, 11:29:41 am
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http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalog_directory.html (http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalog_directory.html)
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I loved RS when I was a kid. Now they mostly have cell phones and "batteries sir? need any batteries today?".
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Yeah, me too. I can remember buying tubes for my amp in there back in the early 1970`s.
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That was the coolest place on earth before I could drive!
After I built my first computer My dad took me to radio shack and bought me a brand spanking new TRS-80 RSC2 . Some where along the line I managed to get dual 9" floppys, A real powerhouse!
I could go in and talk to just about any of the sales people and get sound advice on whatever project I was into (none of that tube stuff They hat TI integrated circuits! oh those 74XX IC's and the awesome TTL logic)
Not to mention the parts quality was real good. I took a 15 yr hiatus from buying anything from there. started going back now, now and again they'll have what I need, not often.
Thanks for that link JJ! trip down memory lane to my child hood adventures
Ray
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I noticed the 1959 catalog guarantees tubes for 12 months. However, I have a later "Realistic 12AX7" (really an RCA) which has a Lifetime Guarantee on the box.
Anecdotally, I've heard others say they have taken in a dead tube decades later on that guarantee and get a new replacement. Of course, that probably means chinese at best today...
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It is true they aren't much of an source for parts, but they are getting a bit better. Not for the obsolete stuff we're talking about here, but for solid state hobby stuff they are getting a bit better, and they are even starting to get some µC stuff (Arduino, mostly, but also some Parallax and PIC basic stuff). And they do have a couple decent experimenters kits to help kids get into electronics, which is cool.
Gabriel
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I like those old catalogs
may be you can call me one of the Vintage Freaks
thanks for sharing
Kagliostro
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Yeah, I built a couple of kits from Radio Shack when I was about 12 or 13. A crystal radio kit of course and they also had this 8-button electronic organ. Our RS here in town has gotten better w/ parts but you're not going to find any high-voltage capacitors or stuff like that.
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In the late 80's I went in and asked about getting some tubes. They gave me a list of what they had "in the warehouse". They had KT88's for $12 or $26. I asked them what the dif was and he said the cheap ones were from chine and not that good. So I bought a quad of the "expensive" ones. They came in a Realistic box with the Lifetime Warrantee on it. When I opened them up they were brand spankin' new Gold Lions! That was my last new set of the best tube ever made. :sad2: I checked back in 90's and they were not available any more. That's when I went to the old Svetlana's (now =C=). Yeah, the Shack and Lafayette were my favs back in the day! Sigh.....
Jim
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Gosh, I almost forgot! Back in the 60's my dad got me their 50-in-one electronic experimenters kit! Man, I was the bomb!
Jim
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Those are really cool, got my first 23 channel CB radio from RS in 1976.
i remember all that stuff esp. their pr conductor guy on the magazine cover!
What was his name again, something like alfred?
I also remember going to their competition, Lafayette. They had similar stuff and also
a brand similar to RS's realistic.
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Arthur Fiedler (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Fiedler)
Radio Shack Catalogue Catalog Commercial 1976 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WTn_77qE-8#)
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:smiley:
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wow... dig that Kenworth cabover.... :-)