[Hallicrafters] History

[David Hollander]

Antique Electronics Supply has always been in Tempe since they opened. 
It was never in Mesa. It's been many, many years since they let people 
behind the counter. The guy who started it sold it to some non-radio 
people quite a few years ago and things changed drastically. As of the 
last 12 months, they really don't even want to deal with walk-ins and 
the local people. You have to phone in your order in the morning and you 
can pick it up between 3:30 and 4 pm. Sad! They appear more interested 
in selling audio stuff.

It's such a hassle, I rather give my business to someone who is out of 
state.

I grew up in Southern California and my dad and I used to go into Henry 
radio in Anaheim. This was 1964 to 1972. I recall piles of used 
equipment and for some reason what stands out in my mind were stacks of 
used RME converters, the ones that match the RME 45. Walt Henry was 
retired military and all of the guys working behind the counter were 
also retired military. I believe the requiremnts for working there were 
to be required military with no people skills. In the late 60's me and 
my other ham friend all had long hair and the employee were pretty awful 
to us when we came in the store to buy parts or whatever. They always 
had everything you could want if you were going to build a project from 
QST or the handbook.

One last memory from Henry Radio. I used to meet my dad, N6UC who was 
than WB6UDC for lunch every Friday after I started driving. We always 
went to Henry Radio to look around after we ate. One time we went into 
the showroom where the new equipment was displayed. Their was an 
overweight, sloppily dressed really disheveled looking guy playing with 
an very expensive receiver. My dad whispered to me "look, that Marlon 
Brando. I said "yea, sure it is. That guy looks like a homeless person." 
  I went back in the room about 10 minutes later and he was gone. I 
walked over to the receiver he had been playing with and their was a 
sold tag on it. It said sold to Marlon Brando. For those who are newer 
hams, Marlon Brandon now SK had a "6" call and and FO5GJ call for his 
island in French Polynesia. He is still listed in QRZ.

http://www.qrz.com/callsign/FO5GJ

The two other stores that were in Orange County in the mid 1960's were 
Santa Ana Electronics which had some ham equipment and Robinson 
Electronics which closed shortly after I got my license. I don't recall 
anything about those two places.

Coincidentally, HRO in Anaheim, CA is in the same strip shop center that 
Henry Radio was in.

Dave N7RK
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Dave  N7RK          Boatanchors Home Page: http://members.cox.net/n7rk
Phoenix, Arizona         *DXCC Honor Roll*    *WAZ#22 - 75 Meter SSB*

ex-XE2/N7RK, N7RK/ZB2, VK2ERK, ZM0AJN, WB6NRK, WN6IWX

Boatanchor and Antique Radio Collector