[Hallicrafters] Re Peter On Lafayette Radio

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Peter, 	
	
I know from prior discussions with you that you are afflicted with the incurable
disease known in the medical field of Psychology, as "Pack Ratitis". If you ever
organize that wealth of information you have stacked up there by the tens of
Kilos, a new museum will be born! What a treasure trove of data you have there
OM, a tremendous resource, indeed. 	
	
While you are enlightening us Pete, before that stranger with the shotgun
blinded me in October 1964, I remember thumbing through a catalog from Meshna in
Malden, MA. I think that was the name and location. They carried a lot of
military surplus gear, if memory serves me correctly. Whatever became of them? 	
	
While we are discussing off topic items, (prepare for the deluge of flames from
Dan 'Hank' Arney who makes it a point to flame me if I am off topic, but seems
to miss the others! But who cares -) Where did the term "Laughing Idiot" come
from that got tagged onto Lafayette anyhow?		
	
Duane W8DBF	

  

-------
From: Peter Markavage <manualman at juno.com>
To: hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters]  and Lafayette info
Date: Friday, February 13, 2004 5:15 PM


Some clarification here. The original Lafayette Radio Electronics (LRE),
a.k.a. Radio-Wire Television, does not exist anymore. In the late 70's
there were approx. 128 fully owned LRE stores. There were thousands of
"associate" Lafayette Radio stores whose only connection to the LRE
parent  was the ability (they had to buy in) to sell Lafayette
merchandise and house-brand Lafayette equipment. They could also sell
anything else they wanted. When bankruptcy proceedings started in late
70's approx. 62 of the 128 stores closed immediately. After court
restructuring, the remaining 66 stores were allowed to continue
operations. The restructuring did not impact the "associate" stores
directly unless the only products they sold were Lafayette house brand
equipment. Some of these stores might still be around today. In the early
80's, further major financial problems forced the closing of 60 more of
the original 128 stores. The remaining 6 were located in the Northeast.
Again, because of financial problems, the remaining six stores were put
up for sale and bought by Ward's in Richmond, VA also in the early 80's.
Rumor has it that the only reason Ward's bought the stores was to test
the metropolitan New York area/Northeast area. Ward's had a strong
presence in the Southern states and was looking to tap into this area.
The stores were all closed several years later (85 I think) and the
original LRE disappeared. Several years later, the first Circuit City
store (owned by Ward's) appeared in the Northeast.

Lafayette Radio exists today but this not the Lafayette Radio
Electronics, a.k.a. Radio-Wire Television, that existed many years ago
where we all went for radio and parts stuff. As a part-time sales
employee (21 years) and a creditor, I did much of the service for many of
the NJ stores from the mid 70's through all the closings, I still have
all the court documents that were sent to me that detailed the court
restructuring during the various periods.

The original LRE products still exists in our hearts, minds, our old
catalogs, and web pages.

Pete, WA2CWA


On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 19:56:13 GMT Jerry Forwood <e.j.forwood at juno.com>
writes:
> 
> Oh by the way, Lafayette Radio is still around,  Their name is now 
> Circuit City.  They too have moved on to selling products that make 
> a profit.  There used to be six stores like HRO in Cincinnati when I 
> first got my Novice Call, KN9AIB.  I used to save up my pennies and 
> beg my dad to let me drive the 75 miles to go "Radio Shopping".  
> Don't go looking for them now, and don't be surprised if the only 
> place you will be able to shop for radios in the future will be on 
> the Internet,
> or eBay.
> 
> 73 de Jerry, KXEJF
> E.J.(Jerry) Forwood
> 

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