I absolutely agree. The search engine is a poor tool when one does not know the "official" or trade name for a component. It is way easier 9AND AN EDUCATION IN ITSELF0 to browse through a paper catalog. A good catalog - and DigiKey and Mouser fall into that category - is organized according to a logical scheme, and Kees related things together, often presented sequentially in a logical scheme.
I have one old Mouser catalog and another from Digikey. I also have Hammond old catalog (their products never seem to change), and Newark Electronics catalog.
I have one old Mouser catalog and another from Digikey. I also have Hammond old catalog (their products never seem to change), and Newark Electronics catalog.
The old phone book size National Semiconductor data books, along with everyone’s catalog while sitting on the pot. Lots of “bad” ideas originated there, while taking 5 minute *****. Speaker porn from Parts Express and MCM, too. Before that, of course, was McGee. That catalog LIVED in the bathroom.
Well before that the Allied Electronics catalogs were the size of a small phone book, Thankfully these have been archived on the WWW.
I have some old Heathkit and Eico catalogs from the 1960-70's
The original DK catalog from the early 1980's was about 32 pages.
You would take the Schwann Catalog into the record shop and they would recognize you as serious. Best when you had done the latest "Hifi News and Record Review" and knew what you wanted.
There was an international bookstore on 42nd St between Avenue of the Americas and 7th Ave which had HFNRR and other Brit and French hi-fi mags.
I have some old Heathkit and Eico catalogs from the 1960-70's
The original DK catalog from the early 1980's was about 32 pages.
You would take the Schwann Catalog into the record shop and they would recognize you as serious. Best when you had done the latest "Hifi News and Record Review" and knew what you wanted.
There was an international bookstore on 42nd St between Avenue of the Americas and 7th Ave which had HFNRR and other Brit and French hi-fi mags.
I wondered why some of the central telephone offices had tall chimneys. Turns out, they were used to burn the old phone books. In fact, I once saw a photo of a mountain of those phone books in NYC. I am sure that people threw out the ones that they had, but maybe these were extras. When I was a kid, I remember my mom taking our old phone book in for a new one. The things that we remember, right?
McMaster-Carr is a good one to have as well. I too kept the last DK and Mouser catalogs I got - sometimes thumbing through leads you to things you didn't know they had. It's crazy how the DK and Mouser catalogs grew over the years - I remember them from the late 70s when I first got into electronics when they were thin spine-stapled magazines, not the phone book thick onion-skin paged tomes they evolved into.
These are the ones that have gotten me into the most trouble through inspiring searches on the bay of evil that threaten the structural integrity of my house:
-Pat
These are the ones that have gotten me into the most trouble through inspiring searches on the bay of evil that threaten the structural integrity of my house:
-Pat
Someone mentioned McGee. As a trailing end baby boomer, as a kid I saw the last of the Olson Radio catalogs, which definitely was exciting for a kid to read. Does anyone even remember who he was?
Going back to theme of education through a catalog, I remember Small Parts catalog was fabulous for introducing me to things like Belleville washers and screw transfer punches. I am so sorry that evil Amazon bought the company and promptly closed it.
Going back to theme of education through a catalog, I remember Small Parts catalog was fabulous for introducing me to things like Belleville washers and screw transfer punches. I am so sorry that evil Amazon bought the company and promptly closed it.
So inspirational to read catalogs.
Such a peaceful feeling to sit and read and let your imagination run.
Would someday like a full room in the house dedicated
as a library. Walls of dark wood book shelfs.
Of course lately enjoying reading electronics magazines
and catalogs from the 1930's and 40's
using World Radios History archive
Such a peaceful feeling to sit and read and let your imagination run.
Would someday like a full room in the house dedicated
as a library. Walls of dark wood book shelfs.
Of course lately enjoying reading electronics magazines
and catalogs from the 1930's and 40's
using World Radios History archive
Fancy stuff is nice...sorta
I agree. New sites break a lot.
They take fast internet for granted too
and pile in to much junk.
Dial up days, we maximize page load time with numerous tricks.
And be creative for impressive graphics and flow
But keep things simple and smooth.
Paper libraries are nice.
Page load time is when I turn it.
I agree. New sites break a lot.
They take fast internet for granted too
and pile in to much junk.
Dial up days, we maximize page load time with numerous tricks.
And be creative for impressive graphics and flow
But keep things simple and smooth.
Paper libraries are nice.
Page load time is when I turn it.