I do miss Radio Shack....

[Ken_NJ]

I would always and only go to the back of the store (like he says in the video) to buy parts from the drawers or peg board walls, resistors, capacitors and other small electronic parts. Miss being able to go there and buy that one single part you need in a pinch. Now you have to buy a 3 pack or 10 pack on Amazon, or another online retailer (and pay S&H) to get what you need.

[Subculture]

Take off those rose tinted spectacles, Ken. The downside was that you usually paid more for those one or two parts than a dozen online even with shipping. Here in the UK Radio Shack items were sold through a brand called Tandy, and were later absorbed by a company called Maplin, who subsequently bit the dust a few years ago, however by that stage the range of components had shrunk hugely- they were mainly selling lower end consumer gadgets, as building your own electronics had become very niche market indeed and occupied a tiny proportion of their sales,

I find the choice and price of parts far improved these days.

[TuptubBuilder]

Does anyone remember the Engineers Min-Notebooks by Forrest Mims? I certainly enjoyed and learned from those projects.

[Ken_NJ]

Take off those rose tinted spectacles, Ken. The downside was that you usually paid more for those one or two parts than a dozen online even with shipping. Here in the UK Radio Shack items were sold through a brand called Tandy, and were later absorbed by a company called Maplin, who subsequently bit the dust a few years ago, however by that stage the range of components had shrunk hugely- they were mainly selling lower end consumer gadgets, as building your own electronics had become very niche market indeed and occupied a tiny proportion of their sales,

I find the choice and price of parts far improved these days.

You are right there. It was a matter of connivence going to RS. I only needed 1-2 components and could get it right away. I didn't even look at that lower end stuff they sold at the end. People got lazy and got away from DIY project kits that they might have sold. Fewer and fewer people did build those kits that RS sold, these days they'd rather buy it off the shelf and use it. Lost are those that wanted DIY. Same applies to our hobby. I buy all my stuff online and it's here in a day or two, or a bit longer. Adjusted my building until it does get here. Hence hobby shops disappearing.

Another novel company that is gone that made interesting kits is Heathkit.

The world changes, but sometimes not for the better, IMO.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

You are right there. It was a matter of connivence going to RS. I only needed 1-2 components and could get it right away. I didn't even look at that lower end stuff they sold at the end. People got lazy and got away from DIY project kits that they might have sold. Fewer and fewer people did build those kits that RS sold, these days they'd rather buy it off the shelf and use it. Lost are those that wanted DIY. Same applies to our hobby. I buy all my stuff online and it's here in a day or two, or a bit longer. Adjusted my building until it does get here. Hence hobby shops disappearing.

Another novel company that is gone that made interesting kits is Heathkit.

The world changes, but sometimes not for the better, IMO.

I remember the Heathkit proportional r/c system kit! Used variable capacitors instead of potentiometers as the servo feed-back mechanism. I miss outfits like Radio Shack and Heathkit.

Today we've bred a bunch of pampered people who are miss-educated, misinformed, unproductive dumb-asses. No sense of accomplishment. No Drive. Know nothings who can't even solder two brass wires together.

Get me off this Planet!

[Albacore 569]

Oh boy. Yes I go to the hooby shop, and they look at me like....oh that old guy 'he's a builder'. At ACE Hardware you still get an Aire of respect..lol. RC off road rabbit cars? **** that pathetic, I build nuclear submarines..lol

[Subculture]

Plenty of kit based projects out there, far better than what was available back in the day too.

Kit based R/C was a product of necessity years ago, electronic products cost a fortune, so a few quid saved on assembly could be the difference between having something or going without. These days you'd be potty trying as it's got so cheap, however still some benefit to be gained by having a crack in some areas with microcontrollers if you want something specialised.

[SubSteve]

Ha, Radio Shack! "You've got questions, we've got acne!"
I do miss them, they were perfect for small buys when time mattered. Now my own 20-year box has grown to a 50-year box and I could open my own mail order component business.
I rented a lake-front house for the family in a small town. I was trying out a new Skip Asay Marlin. The speed controls for the ballast system failed and I replaced it with a servo and microswitches courtesy of RS and the local Ace. I still have the Heathkit VOM I built and all my original Heathkit tools. Good times.

[wlambing]

I recall buying bits & bobs from Bob the Discount Furniture guy when he worked at RS here in Groton, CT. Nice thing, too, was the RS was right next door to Lee's Toy & Hobby. Thankfully, Lee's is still there!

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

I recall buying bits & bobs from Bob the Discount Furniture guy when he worked at RS here in Groton, CT. Nice thing, too, was the RS was right next door to Lee's Toy & Hobby. Thankfully, Lee's is still there!

I remember going there when I worked at the escape-trainer.