+1. That would be very cool.
Even if we're steadily going towards everything SMD, there's a lot of stuff that is repairable with the correct tools (and good eyes/magnification assist and steady hands). They could likely sell some bench equipment, since people could actually see the stuff live.
Even if we're steadily going towards everything SMD, there's a lot of stuff that is repairable with the correct tools (and good eyes/magnification assist and steady hands). They could likely sell some bench equipment, since people could actually see the stuff live.
Almost perfect world at that point. Far as convenient local source for items when working on a project.
We could only hope they figure out and do well with items most people buy.
So all us builders have great drawers of Components to browse through.
Im with you guys, probably spent half my teen years reading Radio Shack Catalogs.
Loved going through all the Big Blue boxes of Speakers!!
Regarding the proclaimed evolution to surface mount devices- This has again and again been pointed to since the '90s really, as the end of the electronics hobbyist, and I don't think it really will be. Thru-hole will not be going away any time soon. Of course, there will be hot new IC offerings that will only be manufactured in SMD packages, and for those there will always be thru-hole bugs or break-out boards a plenty coming from China. Many things will forever have to be thru-hole: Op-amps, that audiophiles love to swap, resistors, especially higher power or higher tolerance metal films, audiophile favorite capacitor styles or electrolytic caps of any size, power transistors and chip-amps, etc etc.
I too have fond memories of Radio Shack, but my favorite story is second-hand.
A colleague from my corporate days was a physics professor at Uniniverity of Cincinnati, who hosted visiting professors from the USSR. Circa '70s, he took them to visit a Radio Shack, and they were astonished to being able to purchase, in a retail store, uA741 opamps. Unobtainable in the Soviet state, despite much fervent effort. 😀
A colleague from my corporate days was a physics professor at Uniniverity of Cincinnati, who hosted visiting professors from the USSR. Circa '70s, he took them to visit a Radio Shack, and they were astonished to being able to purchase, in a retail store, uA741 opamps. Unobtainable in the Soviet state, despite much fervent effort. 😀
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Yeah, I believe it. I'm surprised the 741 did not have export restrictions at the time. Perhaps they smuggled a few through customs 😀
(and maybe a few electronic calculators too . . . )
(and maybe a few electronic calculators too . . . )
Yeah, I loved my mommy too - she'd be the one to drive us to the mall, where the Radio Shack was. Here's hoping I'll see a few start up again in the PAC NW.
Yes in rushville indiana.
Google radioshack Osborne electronics in rushville Indiana.
I was there about 2 years ago.it was like going back in time.
Set up like it was decades ago
Only reason he still there he owns the building,owns everything inside and does other electronic work.
Has lot of old vintage rs audio but it's not 4 sale.
Also had some Pyle speakers .Pyle started in Indiana.
Pfanstiehl products.
.Mr Osborne is about 75 hrs old.
Still did tower work and computer repair
Rushville is SE of Indianapolis .
Doug
Google radioshack Osborne electronics in rushville Indiana.
I was there about 2 years ago.it was like going back in time.
Set up like it was decades ago
Only reason he still there he owns the building,owns everything inside and does other electronic work.
Has lot of old vintage rs audio but it's not 4 sale.
Also had some Pyle speakers .Pyle started in Indiana.
Pfanstiehl products.
.Mr Osborne is about 75 hrs old.
Still did tower work and computer repair
Rushville is SE of Indianapolis .
Doug
Nice. Sounds like a fun shop. I have always felt RadioShack was not quite enough by itself. But, combine that franchise with a second business, like repair/service, with at least ONE knowledgeable and experienced person, with additional local demand specific inventory and you have a real winner.
If you plan to take a trip there make sure hes still open.
There's nothing else electronics around there. I'm sure there's indy 500 museum, could stop by Uranus Fudge Factory in Anderson Indiana.
My wife goes to eye specialist in Carmel.
So I would search for other electronics stores or surplus.
Nothing like every other place is getting
There's nothing else electronics around there. I'm sure there's indy 500 museum, could stop by Uranus Fudge Factory in Anderson Indiana.
My wife goes to eye specialist in Carmel.
So I would search for other electronics stores or surplus.
Nothing like every other place is getting
Oh man, this is actually a thing, hahahaha! An excerpt from https://www.uranusgeneralstore.com/uranus-news/uranus-3-is-coming/
What no pictures?
What are they promoting now on the main sales floor? It used to be robots/speakers/remote controlled cars/ etc... Usually it was 2 or 3 things dominating the store with the normal stuff we all care about on the sides/back
I started my electronics interest there.
I used the 3" mid tweeter in the dash of a 1980 mustang that was awesome.
I still have and use my LAB 500 Turntable and 31-8000 ten band eq with graphic display.
I used the 3" mid tweeter in the dash of a 1980 mustang that was awesome.
I still have and use my LAB 500 Turntable and 31-8000 ten band eq with graphic display.
It was a long road trip, and I only had a few minutes to chat and browse. I had thought that this was a clearance operation, or an oddity, and only in the conversation did he indicated that they were expanding back out again. If I had thought for a second about sharing the news on the forums I am certain the fellow there would have been very happy for me to take photos and post them. There are 500 other stores, I'm sure someone on this forum has pictures they can share.
This location was a pretty small one in a small town- only about 20 x 40 feet. The walls were covered from low shelf to ceiling in different groups of merch- antennas and cables on one wall, another covered in toys, remote control things, radios and boom boxes, and so on, one wall was lots of connectors, adapters, PCB's and accessory parts, one part of a wall chemicals and soldering, thermal paste, etc. The metal drawer cabinets were pretty low along one wall, only a few cabinets with a couple of drawers each, and just the basic stuff they had when most of the stores closed, so not a huge selection.
Maybe other people can report what they see changing in their local locations, or I will on rare occasion as I only drive by there on road trips.
Anyone ever do this back in the day? I think I did at least once or twice. I remember "The Ferret" shortwave RF preselector in 1968 Popular Electronics. I may have etched that board myself, with the help of my father of course... It worked!
Yep. It seems like cheating to send a file to JLCPCB still!
I checked out the RS website. They have no locations in my area or I would have a look-see.
I checked out the RS website. They have no locations in my area or I would have a look-see.
The only one in the Seattle area uses a shipping terminal for their address, and the phone number of a general store in Alaska.
I worked for Radio Shack part time for a number of years in the 1980s. The best thing about working for them was the employee sales, the pay was absolute crap, and they had payroll policies that assured you didn't make decent money unless you were manager level or higher. It finally was not financially worthwhile to work for them and I quit. I think its time has come and gone, I don't see it being particularly viable against competitors on Amazon, not to mention for more serious folk Mouser, DigiKey, Newark, etc. Brick and mortar competitors include at least Best Buy and probably some regional competitors I don't know anything about.
I still remember going to one of the original Radio Shack stores in Kenmore Sq in Boston in 1961 where my dad bought his first stereo.
I still remember going to one of the original Radio Shack stores in Kenmore Sq in Boston in 1961 where my dad bought his first stereo.