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Radio Shack Memories
- Thread starter Mickey Richaud
- Start date
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My dad loved Radio shack, even bought my first pocket am transistor radio there. He was born in 1907 and built one of first crystal radios in The City as a kid. He made one for us with an oatmeal box and some wire. Then went to R.S. and got us an electronics kit to make door buzzers, a radio, electromagnets and who knows what with. A big fan of R.S into his 90's, he would be saddened to see the place today.
OP
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Basil said:
Au contraire, monsieur. That's what got 'em into trouble: trying to go with the flow. The downfall started, in my view, with their trying to hitch a ride on the computer business. Shoulda stayed with stereos and hobbyists.
But they're still around, so I guess we'll see...
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Mickey Richaud said:
They may have "tried" to go with the flow, but they didn't have the right business model in my view. With the explosion of the internet and computers and really high-tech gadgets, the hobbyists are becoming so 1970's! When I was in HS, I was heavily into CB radio and RS was one of my favorite haunts. I even built my own 150W Linear Amp (shhhh, wasn't legal but now you know what I used MY clips for!). These days, CB radio hobbyists are almost extinct. With all the high-tech stuff in the market place, how many kids are going to want to make a crystal radio set when they can video chat with someone in Japan on their iPhone? I think it's not just that they didn't keep up with changing times, it's that they didn't keep up with the times - with a winning business model (like Steve Jobs obviously did). But you're right - they are still around, so we will see what the future holds for them.
This is obviously satire, but in light of the current conversation, seems somehow appropriate: Even CEO can't figure out how Radio Shack is Still in Business.
I think that RS has done an admirable job staying in business at all. Not sure what their bottom line looks like but they transitioned from the infancy days of electronics where everything was fixable with a soldering iron and vacuum tube to today, where everything is disposable, literally. A bittersweet memory for those of us that were around then, to see those electronics parts inventory shrink from a "whole store" size to a small cabinet somewhere in the back corner. The way it is is the way it is.
In a way, the evolution of RS parallels the passion of LBC owners, we still like to solder and replace vacuum tubes.
In a way, the evolution of RS parallels the passion of LBC owners, we still like to solder and replace vacuum tubes.
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TR6BILL said:
Bill - you sure hit the nail on the head. Bravo.
I don't know a single young person around here who has an interest in how things "work" and constructing stuff. They seem to be more interested in "communications", by pushing buttons and watching videos. Not even interested in cars anymore, unless their dad has a racing connection or owns a shop.
As an aside, a young guy asked me my favorite 1960s movies. One I told him was "Lawrence of Arabia". A couple days later he said he watched it on his iPad and wasn't impressed.
A widescreen 70mm film with six-track stereo ... on an iPad screen?
eek.
Tom
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TR6BILL said:
Only to a point. The interesting thing about LBC's is the explosion of interest (and therefore parts and solutions etc.etc.) in the last two decades. When I talk to people who, back in the day were scrapping cars for the sake of one or two parts, I realize that this hobby is growing. Obviously whether this hobby continues to grow after this generation remains to be seen but, DIY electronics, stereo, computers... While there will always be a dedicated few who like to solder & replace vacuum tubes, it will not likely ever be more than a few - in other words, there won't be a renaissance like LBC's. This, in part because (I suspect) the original DIY computer/stereo owners were doing it because of the challenge yes, but, because of the fidelity and computing capability not currently available or affordable. Now both those things are available and cheap - but not understandable in the same way (ie. you can't look at the back of an ipad and figure out how it works)
So, yes, LBC's because of their nostalgia, simplicity and accessibility. No to Heathkits because the need has passed.
rlwhitetr3b
Jedi Knight
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If you look at magazines like ‘Nut and Volts’ you will see that the electronic hobbyist seems to be migrating from consumer electronics to robotics and automation.
jsfbond
Jedi Warrior
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My Dad also made something he called an "electronic cat." It was a simple circuit, that charged, and discharged, producing a "mewing" sound (No speaker). Operating off a small battery you could put this into a locked locker at school and wait for someone to hear it. Gone are those days, In today's world I would be dragged out as a "Felis silvestris catus" terrorist.elrey said:
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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If you guys want to see sort of a modern version of Radio Shack enthusiasts, you need to go to Maker Faire
And look and some of the endless Maker Projects
It's sort of a mix of Radio Shack meets Lollapalooza and Burning Man. :laugh:
And look and some of the endless Maker Projects
It's sort of a mix of Radio Shack meets Lollapalooza and Burning Man. :laugh:
OP
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OP
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"Good project for someone with extra time." :laugh:
I remember selling several of these back then. Wanted to buy one, but never got around to it. (Guess I didn't have the extra time...
)
I remember selling several of these back then. Wanted to buy one, but never got around to it. (Guess I didn't have the extra time...
