[R-390] OT

[2002tii]

Tisha wrote:

>Radio Shack transmogrified itself from Allied into a consumer 
>electronics store.

Historically, Radio Shack and Allied Radio were separate but similar 
entities, both started in the early 1920s (Lafayette Radio was a 
third).  Through the 1960s, both had similar retail outlets.  RS 
bought Allied in 1970.  The purchase was followed by a federal 
anti-trust investigation, and RS was required to divest the Allied 
retail operation in 1973.  However, by then there was very little 
left to sell, and as far as I know there were no "Allied Radio" 
stores after the brief "Allied Radio Shack" period.  I believe Tandy 
(RS's parent) retained the Allied industrial electronics catalog 
wholesale operation (Allied Electronics) for some time.  AE is now 
owned by the British company Electrocomponents PLC.

>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.

Funny, at all the RS stores around here, it's the sales guys who are 
making the tin-foil hats. . . .

Best regards,

Don