[Milsurplus] Surplus stores, then and now

[John Lawson]

  Arizona Surplus and Salvage in mid-west Phoenix....  right near that 
gawdawful "5 Points" intersection... ;}

  From my pre-teen years thru college - ended when I got drafted - that 
place was pretty much the sole sink for whatever disposable income I could 
grub up.

   The owner was a very shrewd, rather smallish guy with a pronounced east 
Texas or Oklahoma accent, and who loved the persona of the gruff irascible 
business man - when in fact he always took a great deal of time with me, 
and (I realize now) gave me many great deals - and more than a litte free 
stuff.

(Me standing respectfully at the counter for about ten minutes, waiting 
for His Lordship's Attention)

  "Ummmm... uh....  sir...?"

  "Whut th' Hail y'all want naow, boy?? Cantcha see Ahm drinkin mah cawfee 
here?!?!?"

  (Panic / terror) "um....       [gulp]  uh -  howmuchisthisthingsir?"

  "Thass wun o' them-thar Roll-ar In-ductors, boy! We sell a lotta 
them-thar thangs! Why y'all want *that* fer?"

  "um...   I...        antennatunersir.....  "

"Awww, Hail - jus take it!  Gwan, take it y'heer? Do sumpn nice with it!"

   And so on. At 14, I actually was priveledged to have an "account" there, 
along with a few other regular customers. It was kept on the wall in 
pencil next to Al's desk, and I could take some piece of gear, make a 
small 'down payment', and then every week I'd bring in $5 or $10 and he'd 
cross off the old balance and write the new one underneath, until it read 
"0". My first Teletype (Model 14 gummed strip-printer) came to me via that 
route. That was also when I got hooked forever on buying selling Surplus 
gear (which I have also done professionally - a story for another time).

   Since Phoenix was one of the hubs of early computer manufacture 
(Honeywell, GE and Motorola - along with a host of smaller firms - and 
both ASU and the U of A being respected engineering schools (I went to 
ASU) the climate was very good for rather esoteric Stuff. At that time 
(1965) I had a little Eico scope that was given to me by a local TV repair 
guy. Even back then I was a complete gear-slut, and at Arizona Surplus 
there appeared two rather old Tektronix scopes - (519s? Been too many 
years). I wanted one of them in the worst way!  but I was sure they were 
hundreds of dollars - might as well have been a million to an 
ninth-grader.  I had about $50 that I had earned from fixing neighborhood 
radios and phonos, and mowing the occasional lawn, so I turned up the 
'courage' knob and timidly asked Al "how much for this oscilloscope, 
sir?'.

   "Forty bucks!"

   Wow! I was stunned! A 'real' scope, with probes still on it...  a real 
Tektronix scope!!  I peeled off two twenties and took it quickly out to my 
friend's car, lest Al change his mind. When I came back, the other one was 
sitting by the door.

  "At's forty fer both of 'em! Git it outta heer!" he told me without 
looking up from his newspaper. I couldn't believe it! One to use; and one 
for Parts!

   After profuse thanks, I got them home. Both worked!

  Then, the Life-Changing Event: My older friend (who had a Car) later on 
asked me if I ever wanted to sell one of the scopes - and if I did, he'd 
give me $75 for one. Of course I said "yes!" and completed my first (of 
many many many thousands) used gear sale.


   That place had whole early mainframe surplus - racks and racks of mostly 
Honeywell Stuff - lots of MilGear, lots of junk, the requisite "permission 
only" back yard....  I think I *still* have things that I bouht there so 
many years ago....  of course they're gone now - just many memories!

   Thanks for the Nostalgia Trip guys!

Cheers

John