[R-390] OT

[george stringe]

Actually when one reads the history of RadioShack, there is no mention 
of Allied Radio on Wikipedia or RadioShack sites.  A little further 
searching  finds that Tandy bought Allied Radio and Allied Electronics 
in 1970 but was forced by the federal court to divest itself of Allied 
Radio in 1973.  Allied Electronics was purchased in 1999 by 
Electrocomponents plc.  As a kid in the late 40's and 50's,  I always  
wore out my Allied catalogs.  Living in the Chicago area,  it was a 
treat to go downtown to the Allied store.

Back in the 90's when I traveled the country installing various systems 
on contracts with numerous federal agencies,  it always amazed me how 
much we depended on RadioShack for pieces parts,  that and overnight 
UPS/FedEx.

Cheers

george
wg0s



Tisha Hayes wrote:
> Radio Shack transmogrified itself from Allied into a consumer 
> electronics store. There are still those remnants of their origins in 
> the parts bins and connector assortments way in the dark, back corner 
> of some stores. (do you notice how many Radio Shack stores in malls 
> forgo even carrying those items?)
>
> I still frequent Radio Shack when I am traveling for business and need 
> to find solder or some sort of connector to complete some missed 
> detail during the commissioning phase on a communications site. Buying 
> a $15 device to scavenge off some other component to get the job done 
> saves me from being on-site for two or three more days, waiting on a 
> supplier like Tessco or Talley to ship me the officially designated 
> item. Years ago, most of the store employees were electronic 
> hobbyists, today they are just consumer electronics sales-people, they 
> would be perfectly happy working at the cell phone kiosk down at the 
> other end of the mall. Everything about their approach today is based 
> on how quickly they can sell the latest computer game, gizmo or 
> universal television remote. Maybe you run across a store manager who 
> remembers the good old days and you can have an intelligent 
> conversation with.
>
> It would be great to haul in an R-390A and put it on the counter or a 
> T-195 transmitter on a roll around cart and point out a specific part 
> that you need. Usually when I discuss the blasphemy of cutting a cord 
> off of something I begin to wave my arms back and forth, speak rapidly 
> about tin-foil hats and government mind control rays and the sales guy 
> backs away quickly to hide behind their counter, looking for the 
> quickest exit from the building if I turn violent.
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