[Milsurplus] Electronic/Military surplus stores

[Mike Durff]

I lived in Memphis,TN for the first 50+ years of my life. We had our version of "radio row" surplus stores on Union avenue in the 1950-60's. Methodist Hospital bought the block of property for  parking and expansion in the 1960's and they all disappeared overnight. There was Lazarov Bros scrap metals on North Thomas street, but they were a typical scrap yard with everything stored out in the weather. If you did find any survivors they were in bad condition.
Memphis had one of 7 active major Defense depots in the country. You could gain access to their surplus property auctions if you had a scrap dealer's license. Luckily, a friend of mine had a license, and I went as his representative. By the late 1970's everything was pretty "dried up" . I saw a couple of Collins rigs come thru there, but mostly it was mechanical stuff. I could see carcasses of WW2 model radios out in their scrap pile, and asked about it. Their response was that all that stuff was too old and was immediately scrapped... as in crushed. 
Memphis also had it's share of commercial electronics stores. W & W distributing on Madison was the dealer for Collins and many other lines of radios. Their parts counter was staffed by friendly hams. Bluff City electronics and Carlton-Bates catered to the industrial customers. Bluff City did have a walk-in parts counter.  Lavender Electronics and Warren radio catered to the radio & TV shops. They are long gone now. With Bluff City and Carlton Bates being the survivors.
When I moved to the Portland Maine area a few years ago, I expected to find more electronics businesses. We do have HR Distributors which is reminiscent of the old parts houses  from days past. Of course, there are many hamfests in the New England area. But as we all age and die off, I expect a precipitous drop in parts and attendance in the coming years. 
Durff, K4TQF
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