Vintage Radio Shack Catalogs online

I stumbled across this today, and thought I'd post the link for anyone who might be interested, such as those into antique radios, electronics, etc.:

http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catal ... ctory.html

There are about 60 catalogs on the site, starting with 1939 -- http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalogs/1939/


JDS

Too bad that they don't stock some, er, MOST, of the stuff that's there---Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:Too bad that they don't stock some, er, MOST, of the stuff that's there---Ron Rich

Remember when Radio Shack was RADIO Shack and not "Cell-phones-R-Us"?

Yep--I remember when it was either the owner of, or owned by, "Allied Electronics" (chicken or egg?)--them thar was the good old days--
It's name in the last 20 or so years is now "Rat Shack", as far as I'm concerned--
Being from San Francisco, you must remember 1444 Market Street--You could get ANYTHING there--then Rat Shack moved in next door for awhile ( may still be in that area?) Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:Being from San Francisco, you must remember 1444 Market Street--You could get ANYTHING there--then Rat Shack moved in next door for awhile ( may still be in that area?) Ron Rich

The closest one they have to that location is 938 Market Street. I've been there a few times. It's a tiny, narrow store with most of the floor space devoted to cellphones.

I'm not sure if I was ever in the old location. I lived in So. St. Paul, Minnesota for the first 24 years of my life, and then in the DC area for the next five. I moved to San Francisco 25 years ago. (I'm part of the ten percent of my neighborhood who was actually born in the United States--and speaks English as a primary language--so I guess I could say I'm a "native.")

DS

1444 Market street was Zack Electronics--One large floor piled high with all types of "electronic parts" and a counter with about 10-12 "salesmen" ( who all KNEW electronics) behind it, that were always ready and very willing to help me--even as a kid, who knew nothing ! Then there was the "downstairs division, where they sold consumer grade TV's and stereos-- Zack had three or four stores--one in Sacto, Palo Alto, Santa Rosa and--maybe more. About 1981-2, Zack purchased the building that the company I had just quit, sold. I was employed there when that process started, and assigned to show him the building. It was at 1360 Howard(10th). He moved his SF store there, and soon past away. The "kids" promptly sold the chain to a group of DR's, who ran it totally out of business within a year---P.S. I along with both of my parents, was born in SF, and although I was taught English, I have also learned Chinglish, vely well----- Ron Rich

When I sold stereo equipment in the 1970's I could actually answer the question from a customer: "Do you perhaps know the Capture Ratio of this stereo receiver?"

Try that TODAY!

What was the old Rat Shack advertising slogan--O'yep--"You have questions, we have (BS in most cases) answers".
Need more be said ? Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:What was the old Rat Shack advertising slogan--O'yep--"You have questions, we have (BS in most cases) answers".
Need more be said ? Ron Rich

When that slogan first came out, back around 2000 I think, I tried it out a few times at various stores.
Legitimate questions, mind you...
Not surprisingly, I got the "deer in the headlights" look from the employees.
So much for credibility.

Motto: Don't advertize something you cannot back up, or your reputation will founder and you'll look like a fool.

Yep, Radio Shack...what a joke.

I can remember back in the day when I used to buy all my blank reels, 8-tracks and cassette tapes there, not to mention the caps, transistors, resistors, diodes etc.

I only use them now because they have T-Mobile, and I go there when I need to get a new cell phone or whatever. They still have a few cables and connections. Other than that, they're worthless.

As far as I know, we still have Elliotts Electronics in Tucson. They are like the old-school Radio Shack back in the day. Every part that you can imagine, and still sells phono needles and some cartridges, and have a tube tester. As a side, they also sell some old, used vintage scopes and testing equipment, Fluke meters, and have all kinds of connections and wiring for 21st century audio/video home and commercial installations.

I'm on two weeks vacation starting today, so I may run into town to see what they've been up to. They recognize me when I walk in there, and they are very friendly. Evidently, there is still a demand here in Tucson. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

Unfortunately, that's called "progress." I burns me that I have to jump through burning hoops to find someone to work on my record players and jukebox. Don't even consider going to the Shack for anything.

Guy's,
I have to somewhat pull my head outta my arse on this subject, as I have recently run into a good "Radio Shack" store. The reason it's good is, although signage says "Radio Shack", once inside and there is an immediate difference--Stock is present on the shelves--from floor to ceiling--Yes--there is the "cell phone" area, but there are isles and isles of all types of the"old school/Radio Shack" type stock--MOST of it in non-RS "packing", some of which is housed in cardboard "shelf boxes". I asked why this store stocked so much more then any other RS I have seen in years, and was answered with a laugh, and the guy saying--WE OWN this store, and RS has very little to do with what we stock. They are one of the very few franchise stores left in the chain--
I went in there "desperate" for a resistor, and the guy says , well let's check stock--if by some chance It's not here, we can always make it from others---( and he knew how to do it without my help--but they had enough of them in stock for my needs).
Ron Rich

At one time I got catalogs from both Allied Radio and Radio Shack Then they merged in the mid 1970s.

I found on that site where Radio Shack sold Collaro, Dual, Miracord, Garrard, and Glaser-Steers changers. I seem to remember that Allied Radio sold only Garrard and the Knight Kit changer (made by Admiral).

But the Radio Shack catalog never mentioned the odd size or size intermix capability of the Dual 1006.