Old electronics shops in Melbourne: what's there today (video) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2015, 02:19:32 am
content: Any electronics/radio boffin who was in Melbourne 1960s - 1990s may be interested in this video.A mix of old magazine ads and recent footage (yesterday!) it documents what's there now.A surprising number of original buildings are still there.Most of them are now either restaurants or massage parlours.This video is Part 1, covering about half of the places I know about.Enjoy!PS: Does anyone know the address of the former 'All Electronic Components'? I believe they were in the city but none of my magazines had their ads.PPS: Have now been told it's 118 Lonsdale. Real old timers will remember it was previously occupied by ED&E.

author: johnh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2015, 03:02:21 am
content: All Electronics Components were at 118 Lonsdale St next door to Wesley Uniting Church, now a pizza restaurant.Bought out by Rocby Electronics and then closed down

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2015, 03:36:29 am
content: Thanks john - Rockby also seemed to clean up Rod Irving stuff if I recall. Also some of their kits ended up in Preston Electronic Components (a quirky little shop that still sold valves).

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2015, 05:32:33 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on November 03, 2015, 04:16:42 amIn a similar vein, Bernard's Magic Shop moved out of the city not too long ago. And funny you should mention massage - one thing I'm intending to mention in Part 2 was the number of electronic-related shops that became massage parlours. Eg both McGills newsagency sites, Master Electrics & Warburton Franki. Either that or cafes.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2015, 07:07:04 am
content: Quote from: vk3yedotcom on November 03, 2015, 05:32:33 amLooks like they have gone upmarket!There once was an Electronics shop at the top end of Hay St,in Perth.It was right alongside a Brothel which had a reasonable sized parking area.The Madam used to come over & berate the Manager for letting his "Geek" customers use her parking spaces!

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2015, 07:50:04 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on November 03, 2015, 07:07:04 amWasn't Willis Trading was it? I used to drool over their ads (being pretty much the only WA place that advertised in the 10 year old EA magazines I lived on) and remember being disappointed when they moved to Vic Park then closed down before I had much money to buy stuff. Some compensation came from Worldwide in George St which wasn't far away and open early in the mornings.Reading about electronic shops in other countries there does appear to be some association between their location and those of 'red light' areas. And I'm not just talking Fyshwick, ACT. I suspect it is that they, like pawnbroker shops, are in the less salubrious, low rent quarters of town.Not that I'm sufficiently well travelled to vouch for it myself, but it's certainly been written about:http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/blog/gadgets-on-the-go/akihabara-a-beginners-guide-to-the-ultimate-geek-pilgrimage-20130923-2ua1r.html

author: jhalar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2015, 09:29:45 am
content: Quote from: vk3yedotcom on November 03, 2015, 05:32:33 amThe old Geoff Wood electronics shop I used to go to years ago at Lane Cove in Sydney is now a french cake shop.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2015, 10:06:32 pm
content: What happened to Stewart electronics.. I think they were somewhere in Clayton in the seventies?

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2015, 01:09:43 am
content: Quote from: IconicPCB on November 03, 2015, 10:06:32 pmIs that "the suburb you have when you're not having a suburb"?

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2015, 02:46:38 am
content: i wonder when and if jaycar will be a thing of the past...

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2015, 04:30:11 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on November 04, 2015, 04:01:26 amyeah i know that but i wonder when (or if) they will stop selling components.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2015, 09:18:08 am
content: Quote from: IconicPCB on November 03, 2015, 10:06:32 pmStewarts was run by Stewart Day and was still trading in the '90s. John Day had Daycom nearby for ham radio.Not sure if it became a rod Irving, tecs or rock by before closing.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2015, 09:23:05 pm
content: vk3yedotcom,Thanks for the comment..Bought my first powerMOSFET at Stewarts..had to wait four weeks to get it in.. leading edge technology way back then

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 10:28:02 am
content: The address of 261 Huntingdale Rd, Huntingdale was etched in my memory so I did some searching. It's now Breville, Kambrook or some appliance place. But before that it was Rockby. And Rod Irving before that. Like how car dealers cluster so did electronic/electrical shops with 2 or 3 near each other. I bought a transceiver from Daycom but wasn't around to visit the others. After that cluster fizzled out we had Billy Guyatts, Radio Parts, Dick Smith Power house, and for a short time Douglas Radio in Carnegie.People might like some of the great yarns here:http://www.edaboard.co.uk/what-about-melbourne-t357428.html

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 10:48:11 am
content: Don't forget Ellistronics. He ended up with a few stores, original one in that city area, before he retired.Radio parts started as a small store in that area as well, before he grew into 2 large stores, then 4-5, now 1.There were 2-3 more as well. I have to wait until my "memory request" tickets are serviced.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 06:22:39 pm
content: And now Part 2.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2015, 09:59:09 pm
content: Here's my list where I used to hang out in the 70's and 80's...McGrathsAll Electronic ComponentsJapanese Transistor SuppliesStewart ElectronicsUnited Trade SalesTasman Electronics (in Coburg - they were a hidden gem just off Sydney Road, run by a young Italian family)Ellistronics (the best!)Radio Parts Group (had everything back then)Ham Radio SuppliesAltronicsDick Smith (if I had to)Rod Iriving (if I really had to)Tandy Electronics (last resort)The north part of the central city of Melbourne was full of electronics stores. Now there are none. Jock Ellis has passed away I believe.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2015, 10:58:07 pm
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on November 07, 2015, 09:59:09 pmA great list! Curious about Altronics. My understanding was that the '80s Altronics only had the Perth store (in Northbridge) but there were resellers interstate and in country areas.Did the Melbourne CBD place brand itself Altronics and have most/all of their range? (as opposed to the Tandy reseller model where a country appliance store would have a few hooks and shelves with Archer bits and Realistic amps)From their catalogues and EA ads Rod Irving seemed to have a similar range to Altronics or Jaycar (with more PC stuff as the '90s wore on) but an eye opener has been the low opinion in which they were held (eg your post here and others' elsewhere).

author: wagon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2015, 11:31:36 pm
content: I still remember the excitement of ordering parts for projects and looking in the mailbox everyday for a parcel. I suppose a lot came from parts of Melbourne.Like repair shops, parts shops are few and far between now. All of the repair shops I ever worked in are gone now (except for my own business).

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2015, 11:51:41 pm
content: Not sure if 1987 can be classed as old but all indicators are that they are still up and running and a handy source on occasions, so I give you Speedy Spares whom I have dealt with in the past, I have no other affiliation with them.http://speedyspares.com/index.html

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 12:36:47 am
content: Quote from: vk3yedotcom on November 07, 2015, 10:58:07 pmYeah,Altronics started out in Stirling Street diagonally opposite the Mail Exchange,as a "Dick Smith" reseller before DSE had their own shop in William Street.The old shop is still there,selling sports equipment------or was,last time I was in that area.You never know in Perth--turn your back,& your life is demolished!!The DSE shop,(which is something else now) was conveniently just around the corner from my old Telecom Aust workplace in Robinson Avenue,(which is now a hotel!}.A more recent workplace is now a housing development-----go figure!

author: SteveLy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 05:51:27 am
content: Cool videos (Parts 1 & 2) and the positive spin at the end of part 2 is good. Stores with walk-in get-what-you-need, let alone being able to talk to someone knowledgeable, ... stores with that level of service are dying. Jaycar Melbourne is all that's left. I hope the niche market is enough to make them stick around for the long haul without becoming a consumer electronics (no parts/components) store like DSE did.Not an electronics store (though it became Jaycar later) but a TV repair shop in the group of the North-West corner shops (where there used to be a Dick Smith's as well) at the intersection of Princes Hwy and Springvale Rd was where I visited frequently in the late 1980s and early 1990s.After I bought one $120 second-hand TV set there, the owner was happy to share tips on how to fix old TVs and I learnt a lot of electronics from him: fairly complicated stuff about colour signals. Actually I learnt most of that by studying the yellowed paper circuit diagrams tucked inside the back panel of old TVs, but the shop owner inspired me enough to have a go. I think he was Chinese, maybe Vietnamese, but as a young whipper-snapper I never had the courage to ask (and I was not all that curious about it anyway). I forgot his name too.I fixed a few kerbside TVs using what I learnt and our financially stretched household had zero-cost colour TVs for many years as a result.Online interaction is very different from walking into a store and finding someone genuinely willing to help you. Online info is great for getting the job done, but it lacks the warm fuzziness of face-to-face interaction.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 08:43:02 am
content: One no one has mentioned, and which I didn't cover because it was out in Richmond(?), was Kitsets Australia from c1972 to 1974.Seemed to be like a shooting star - emerged suddenly, opened several stores in different states, then disappeared.I think they offered modern supermarket-style shopping but Dick Smith's expansion might have trumped them.On one hand the 1974 tariff cut would have helped electronic retail but on the other hand the wages breakout that year would have made paying wages tough.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 08:50:39 am
content: Nice work on the video.Karl (State of Electronics) was looking for old photos of the York Street stores in Sydney (David Reids, Tricky Dicks, Jaycar, Tandy).Would anyone have any old photos?

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 09:32:15 am
content: Quote from: vk3yedotcom on November 03, 2015, 07:50:04 amSorry for the long delayed answer,but yes,itwasWillis Trading.It used to be in Murray Street when the old bloke ran it,just around the corner from General Accessories (Genacs).He had,apart from Electronics parts,quite a few secondhand Amateur Radio transmitters/transceivers---mostly Heathkit single band things.After the young bloke took over,they moved to the Hay Street spot.Do you remember "Genacs"(maybe before your time)---they were probably the first self service parts shop in Perth.They had two "lolly jars" of unmarked NPN & PNP silicon transistors near the checkout ( we called 'em "BC10?s").You could get a handful for a dollar.Waybefore your time,were the Melbourne & Sydney Radio Shops & Surplus stores which used to advertise in the old "Radio & Hobbies" magazine.As a kid,I used to love digging through my big brother's collection of R&H mags & drooling at all the wonderful things that appeared.I wrecked the mags,too ---little turd!They were mostly gone,or "gone legit"as suppliers of new stuff by the mid '60s.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 09:59:36 am
content: Are there any current or ex residents of Adelaide here who recall the disposal electronics store that was popularly known as "Robbie's Radio"? I doubt that any of the places discussed in this thread thus far would even compare to what this place was. Anyone who had once visited Robbie's would know what I am talking about, and trying to adequately describe the place in a forum post would be a waste of time.The only reference I can find on the net to this now defunct landmark is this:http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=92592The link promising "pictures" is dead.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 02:19:30 pm
content: Quote from: GKHolly snapping duck shit !! I remember them, they were near Port Adelaide IIRC - we used to bicycle from Enfield every weekend to paw over all the new goodies.That was in the late 60s. He had an incredible selection of stuff ! I built a lot of stuff from parts I bought there .. ahhhh memoriesI found this -www.ibys.org/shed/the-end-of-robbys-or-deep-handiness-takes-another-blow/

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2015, 09:16:55 am
content: Quote from: digsys on November 08, 2015, 02:19:30 pmYes, Long St., that ran parallel with Port Rd. I only ever visited on one occasion - in my early 20's around about the year 2000. This was when the store was only open for a few hours a day or two per week, due to the old guys age. The warehouse-like building by then was looking rather derelict, both inside and out. I purchased a couple of Bunsen burners, a box full of vintage air-dielectric variable capacitors, a CRO CRT tube and a damaged PYE "Overlander" VHF transceiver for parts. I hadn't yet moved out of home at the time and there was a limit to the amount of stuff I could keep adding to my collection. I've just done a google street-view walk down long street. I can't remember the actual lot number but can't see anything anywhere resembling the original iconic store front as I remember it (those big glass windows that had all that paraphernalia, all Steptoe and Son-like, on display behind them). The place was likely leveled shortly after being sold.

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2015, 09:42:26 am
content: How about Waltham Trading Company at the lower end of Elizabeth St. Heaps of cool disposals stuff.And General Accessories in Sturt St South Melbourne.I think it was Ham Radio Supplies that had a second store in Richmond.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2015, 10:11:56 am
content: Quote from: Circlotron on November 09, 2015, 09:42:26 amWalthams will feature in a future Part 3 (1930s - 1960s). Yes Ham Radio Supplies were in Richmond also (Highett St?).Click on any one of these magazines from the 50s & 60s to see their old ads.http://armag.vk6uu.id.au/index.html

author: SteveLy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2015, 05:06:46 pm
content: @ vk3yedotcom / OPI did not pick up on the fact that you've produced these videos. Very well done! Must have been a lot of work. The narration sounds very familiar - from ABC or SBS docos/current-affair programs perhaps..(??)

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2015, 09:15:30 pm
content: Quote from: SteveLy on November 09, 2015, 05:06:46 pmThanks! Never narrated on broadcast media though.The second last page ofhttp://armag.vk6uu.id.au/1986-april-AR.htmlcontains photos of Truscotts in Croydon. It appears they were also a Dick Smith reseller.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2015, 04:46:28 am
content: Quote from: vk3yedotcom on November 07, 2015, 10:58:07 pmGood videos Peter and good research. First of its kind probably anywhere in the world.Actually I might be wrong. I think it was All Electronic Components in the upper reaches of Lonsdale Street in the early 80's, not Altronics. Altronics today is in Springvale.By the way, before TECs on the same site was the famous Ellistronics. Besides Tattlers Disco in Swanston Street, that was THE place to hang out in the 70's. ST 2N3055's for 69 cents. 55 timers for 20 cents. Where no females could be seen among us jumper-wearing dags. But my then girlfriend (who is now my wife) bought my 21st birthday present there - the kit for ETI's STAC timer. I still have the wife and I still have the STAC timer. There was fantastic service by the electronics guru's in the store who knew about electronics. There was a dark haired bloke, and a fair headed chap who looked like Ralph in Happy Days. The owner was Jock Ellis whom I heard sold up and went to QLD. Sadly, he passed away some years ago.United Trade Sales operated in the 1970's too, not just the 60's. Lionel VK3NM used to work there. They were right opposite McGraths. McGraths is pronounced "Mc Grars", not "Mc Graaths".It is a shame the electronics retail industry has been diminished by a dumbed down society led by dumbed down politicians. It does not have to be that way, but it is. One of my kids lives in Tokyo and he tells me the two great electronics "cities", Akihabara and Nihon Bashi (in Osaka), have devolved into similar to what Dick Smith has. Dick Smith Electronics, once a respected name among electronics enthusiasts, now a laughing stock. The only place where electronics is probably booming is in red China.We need to pull up our socks and reinvent the electronics industries in Australia. For that we need:1. Politicians with vision and a strong sense of the value of electronics IP.2. Big tax breaks for companies developing and manufacturing electronics here (whilst preventing the Chevrons and Apples of this world scamming the tax system).3. A transformed education system that teaches compulsory maths, physics, electronics and embedded programming from an early age.4. No fee degrees for permanent Australian residents in electronics, mechatronics and computer systems engineering courses.5. No GST for electronic test and manufacturing equipment.6. At least one electronics engineer to be awarded Australia Day honours each year.Only by transforming our society will we ever become an electronics powerhouse once again.

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2015, 12:16:07 pm
content: Here we go. Ellistronics had a place in the mid 80's at 797 Springvale Rd Mulgrave.http://fairfaxmedia.newspapers.com/search/#query=ellistronicshttps://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.9230346,145.157781,3a,47.9y,284.51h,91.31t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sV9Oi2yClahExdHbmNkjsRg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DV9Oi2yClahExdHbmNkjsRg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D50.17651%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=enEdit -> The Google Maps link won't format properly. You may have to copy and past it.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 02:04:12 am
content: Quote from: Circlotron on November 21, 2015, 12:16:07 pmFor a very short time. Jock Ellis sold out to TECS who is not in Blackburn Road Notting Hill.In the 70's/80's you could buy almost everything in Australia. RS and Farnell were flush with components. Today, RS and Element 14 have stuff-all stock of even basic stuff. Good luck buying connectors, transistors or IC's without having to import them with a big lead time and in the case of Digikey, a whopping shipping fee. Jaycar and Altronics still have some parts but they are limited to just basic hobbyist stuff. Rockby has a much bigger variety and has SMD parts.Rockby is only real electronics store left that I know about...www.rockby.com.au. We should all support Rockby to help them stay in business. Their low prices and service levels are excellent and they ship at a reasonable price to anywhere in Australia.

author: SteveLy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 07:00:16 am
content: I only found out about Rockby a few days ago thanks to theState of Electronicsvideos. I thought I knew about all the players in Melbourne having been into electronics since the late 1980s (and I used to shop at TECS too but not at 797 Springvale Rd). Rockby's sounds like a treasure trove. I must check them out.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2015, 08:38:57 am
content: And now Part 3. The oldest, newest and maybe the best. 1930s - 1960s.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2015, 09:27:38 pm
content: I miss the old style electronics shops, one or two rooms full of real junk that had to be useful to someone, it just had to be the right person to walk through the door. As a boy I remember Mazel Radio, New Cross Radio and Berwick Electronics in Manchester and M&B Radio in Leeds who were a Mecca for test equipment. Then of course there was Edgeware Road and Tottenham Court Road in London, each of which would take a day in the good old days. All gone.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 09:34:49 am
content: Thanks Peter for part 3. A lot of work. Maybe some of the people abroad in the UK and the US should do some similar videos.It is rather disappointing these many great electronics stores have been replaced by kitsch shops selling rubbish and illegal drug paraphernalia, Asian food, and vanity products. I guess the types of shops reflects the mentality of the population.I bought my FRG-7 at Ham Radio Supplies in Elizabeth St in 1976. Still have it in mint condition. VoA, BBC, Radio Australia, RCI, Radio Netherlands and the many other great stations are gone or almost gone now. VoA was a great station in its day. I liked "Jazz Hour" which would beam into Oz with an armchair copy unless the annoying Russians were trying to sabotage it. But even stations like Radio Moscow and Radio Peking blurting out their relentless comedies of communist propaganda is somewhat missed. Many of the signals out there now is of a religious nature, spreading the word.I was a member of the renown Australian Radio DX Club in the late 1970's. This club based in Melbourne had about 500 members with and many from overseas. Bob Padula (arguably the most famous DX'er in the world after New Zealand's very famous Arthur Cushen) was president of the club much of the time then. I remember visiting Bob's place and his receiver not nothing more than a valve Marconi. The noise figure from that radio was negligible compared with solid state radios. A beautifully engineered analogue Marconi. He ran the receiving station in suburban backyard on Melbourne but he had an impressive array of antennas. No one could DX like Bob. The second most prolific DXer in the club was Peter Bunn. I still have all my QSL cards, including an award for the rarest station, Radio Gabon in Franceville, picked up on a dipole in my backyard in 1977.Sadly, like the electronics stores featured in the video, the ARDXC is virtually defunct.http://www.ardxc.info/. I am not sure whether its demise was due to the misguided coup from a Sydney based mob, or just a downgrading of SWL and DXing as a hobby in general. Probably both. In any case, such an empty website is a sad epitaph to a 50 year old club.The good news is Bob still has the passion...http://swaus.blogspot.com.au/

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 11:24:46 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on November 29, 2015, 11:59:55 amElectronics shops replaced by on-line shops? Well if I needed a part, I would just go to my nearest shop and buy them. Places like the old Radio Parts - you could get anything there. Not so today. Most on-line "retailers" like Element 14 and RS stock stuff-all in Australia. Pros and cons on both sides of the coin. At least we have fantastic data available on-line now. Little need for those bulky data books that cost a mint.Sorry Wilfred, but the mentality of the population has changed - very considerably. Show a kid a radio transmitter or SDR and its ho-hum. The wow factor is gone. When I was younger, wow factor was much bigger among the young in general. The magic is gone. In high school, a terrific teacher named Mr Blanc bought his Barlow Wadley XCR-30 to school. That magic radio with a big wow factor changed my life. In those days, people built kits and the magic of electronics came alive. These days, many young people don't even know what an AM radio is, let alone how one works. A couple of years ago, the local Jaycar had radio receiving kits on their shelves. They sold only one in over two years. The mentality of DIY electronics is largely gone. Most of the population today are users, and are simply not interested what is under the hood. Today, how many people want to know how digital TV works? Very few. In fact, no one has ever asked me. 30 years ago, I was asked occasionally by different people how a colour TV worked. It was like magic to them.Some bimbo with a barge-arse but no talent beyond self promotion can make a fortune. I don't think that would have happened in the 70's. Sadly, far more young girls these days want to be a singer or actress when they grow up than want to be an engineer, scientist, technician or computer programmer. In my primary and high school I knew of no one who desired to be an actress or entertainer. All our aspirations were down-to-earth.There are many, many other examples now mentality has changed. Some for the worse, some for the better.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 11:35:39 am
content: Zardos like barge arse.. Zardos like Rolling stones.. Rolling stones like fat bottom girls...

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 12:03:25 pm
content: Sorry but I've been looking for an excuse to link this video and opportunity knocks but once....

author: SteveLy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 05:50:12 pm
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on November 30, 2015, 12:03:25 pmSeize the moment!

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 09:40:57 pm
content: Carpe diem...Seize the moment...but do it with class... just like the sarge

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2015, 12:26:51 pm
content: Wrong Barge Arse... I did mean some bimbo named Kim. In any case this is my favourite episode... especially the train crossing scene.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2015, 12:43:13 pm
content: Quote from: wilfred on November 30, 2015, 01:14:01 pmThe way to test is is to see how people behave when they don't have enough food for their own kids. That was one of the root causes for the The French Revolution.The real test is if the Internet died instantly. There would be pandemonium as our society has no backup plan to the Internet. Watch how people start acting when they cannot get money, petrol or food. Maybe a whopping solar flare might be the trigger.A really good example of the such human behaviour is perfectly illustrated in the Twilight Zone episode called The Shelter. It is on the USA Netflix and also here...http://putlocker.is/watch-the-twilight-zone-tvshow-season-3-episode-3-online-free-putlocker.html

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2019, 11:16:39 pm
content: Another 'end of an era'.Truscotts, one of the long-term survivors in retail electronics in Melbourne, is closing.Holding a clearance salehttps://www.facebook.com/marketplace/melbourne/search/?callsite=commerce_mktplace_www_hoisted_pdp&hoisted_item=2085409061761933&query=truscotts%20electronics

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 17, 2019, 12:03:59 am
content: Quote from: vk3yedotcomI'mnotgoing to go ! I'mnotgoing to go ! I'mNOTgoing to go ! ok, fiiine, just going to lookonly!

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2019, 04:56:56 am
content: I went down there about 5 years ago for the first and last time. I took pictures of the parts drawers in case there was something that I might need someday. They had at that time mostly standard parts suited to magazine projects of the 1980's. eg no microcontrollers.As I recall it was a bit or a disorganised junkpile. I was amazed someone could run a business like that. I thought that it was something a hoarder might have.I wouldn't travel far if you do intend to go. But I didn't dig too deep to see what was there. I was afraid of injuring myself.If anyone goes please post about what you found. What are they selling the semiconductors for? I might need a modem chip.Let's hope Rockby stays around a while longer. I still occasionally go there for a thing or two. Or just to trawl through old stuff in the clearance room.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 17, 2019, 05:34:10 am
content: IF I am afterolderparts for repairs, and I work from home / office in Mt Waverley, I do go to Rockby, as it is just down the road. IF I happen to be in Baywswater, then I'd often go to Truscotts .. a similar setup of "older" parts.Admittedly, Rockby has a larger range of useful / consistent stuff, but Truscotts has a very much wider range ofweirdstuff !!Hopeless if you were after several types of ICs for example, as it was pure hit+miss as to which ones they had. Definitely some weird stuff there though :-)

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2019, 04:11:23 am
content: I rang them up and I found out they have to clear the building by mid Sept. And the $1 on Facebook marketplace is a placeholder price. Not being a FB user I didn't know if there was a listing that opens up to people who signon. I asked about the price of TTL chips and was give a vagueabout half priceanswer.Not so inclined to drive over to Croydon just yet.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 18, 2019, 04:34:04 am
content: Absolutely no more info on FB, just what you see. I'll wait as well to see if we get any reports from anyone who has gone to check it out.Wonder if they've done a deal with Rocky (or similar) to pick it all up.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2019, 05:45:46 am
content: Quote from: digsys on July 18, 2019, 04:34:04 amI was wondering the exact same thing today. Nearly rang Rockby to find out. It might pay to wait until the last day and park your car around the back with the boot open. Or maybe not.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2019, 09:24:57 am
content: And if only SHMBO would sit behind the wheel....

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2019, 09:39:11 am
content: Went in today.Lots of stuff. Including lots of variable capacitors, panel meters, trimmer capacitors, RF ICs & transistors, circuit boards etc.Be prepared to work to find stuff - boxes under boxes.Trading for about a month - judging from the sold sign the shop building been sold.They take offers but if you make an outrageous offer be prepared to have to raise it.

author: wasyoungonce
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2019, 10:05:44 pm
content: I had almost forgotten about Rockby, hadn’t been there in years. I has a squiz at their web site.... geez, I can save heaps on parts I use for some systems I repair....making a list now!Just a question.... I assume there legit parts! Like 80C32 CPU?It’s so difficult in electronic backwaters it’s usually either RS/E14 or eBay. Melbourne used to be a design hub with companies like Varian Techtron with Royal soldering.Royal is now cheap junk. I still use the old stuff, have quite a few (many) de-solder resistance solder stations irons and tips. Sad to see it go to the dogs.Sent using iPhone

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 18, 2019, 11:29:51 pm
content: Quote from: wasyoungonceYep, all their stuff is from ex-stock manufacturers, mainly from Melbourne. As you say, there used to be dozens and dozens in SE Melb so many years ago.I used to look after / assist / contract to HUGE assembly places ... long time ago. Actually, Rocky is expanding, stuff from Truscotts? coincidence?Stoopid me, I gave away a few carloads of electronic parts several months ago, I should have donated it to them. Now I have service work back, I have to buy it all again .. oh well.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2019, 02:48:55 am
content: Quote from: digsys on July 18, 2019, 11:29:51 pmNot sure if Rockby is expanding. They might be doing it tough as home brew and the electronics industry is dying in Australia. We have to give them 10/10 for staying around, having a great range of parts and being a terrific company to deal with. We should be buying from them as a preference. For a start, their prices are usually cheaper than elsewhere and they are a real electronics store, not a Dick Smith/Jaycar toy store. If we don't support Rockby, we will be sorry if they have to close one day. Incidentally, I have found some of their prices for relays to be cheaper than anywhere else cheaper than Digikey, Mouser, RS, Element 14, Altronics, Jaycar and anywhere else.FOOTNOTE:I visited Rockby a few weeks ago and the guys mentioned they had not seen a regular named Trevor Patterson for some time, like he had gone off the map. I did some research and found out Trevor had passed away in late 2017. Trevor was a well known electronics techo in Melbourne. I had the pleasure of working with him in the early 2000's at Tennyson Technologies. I believe he hailed from the PMG/Telecom Australia. We became friends for some years afterwards but lost contact in the last few years. Trevor was a brilliant passive RF filter designer - everything from cavities to PCB mounted filters of all types and he ran a business designing, building and selling special RF filters. He wrote a book on RF filter design. I proofread the draft about 10 years ago. It was brilliant. The book was interesting, and very practical. I don't know if he got it published. Maybe someone else knows, because it would be a best seller for anyone interested in RF filter design and manufacture.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2019, 01:53:27 am
content: Anyone been to Truscotts recently? Is it still open or has it shut the doors for good now?

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2019, 02:52:42 am
content: Only recent mention I've seen was a message on a Facebook group. Still going a few days ago. Have a couple of weeks apparently.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2019, 06:07:26 am
content: I went down to Rockby today and the parts cabinets from Truscotts were there and have been for a few weeks. I would have bet actual money that would happen.They would probably only be interesting to people looking for spares for servicing older stuff. I would hazard a guess at 50 cabinets. The old metal style popular in australia 30 years ago.If you know the clearance area then it is looking a bit like what Truscotts looked like when I went a few years ago.I did see a few trays of second hand stepper motors from what I would guess was big datacenter lineprinters. $5ea. I'll attach a photo of one of the trays of the bigger ones.And a couple example photos of the parts.Has Truscott's finally shut up shop?

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2019, 07:25:56 am
content: I used to jump a train from Warragul well over thirty (closer to 40) years ago with a few mates and do over most of the suspects in the Melbourne CBD. Those plus the Model Dockyard and Hearns Hobbies (before they lost the plot). Myers Basement and maybe a Movie. Then Home. Good day out for boys from the bush.Geez I am oldNearest Electronics shop of any sort is maybe Wiltronics in Ballarat (not a direction I travel) or 4 hours to Melbourne so sad but it is about mail order or bust for a lot of the country now. Rockby keeps on slogging it out but the rest seem to have largely given up the components and bits business.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2019, 07:55:43 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on October 07, 2019, 06:07:26 amYes

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2019, 12:28:32 pm
content: Whenever we can, we should support Rockby. Use them or lose them. The blokes there told me the electronics scene is very quiet compared to just 10 years ago. A sign of the times. I have found some of their excess component specials to be cheaper than anywhere else, even cheaper than vendors in China.Once Rockby is gone, there is not much else around.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2019, 01:15:25 pm
content: I do like the occasional trip to Rockby to rummage around the clearance room. They are trying to spruce up the main store area which I hope makes it easier to find the good stuff. I once about 2 years ago was given a brief glimpse in the back where there was still heaps of old tubes of through hole chips. So it should be a source of obsolete stuff for a while if they remain the last man standing. But it seems to be impossible for a small local shop To maintain stock of all the vast amount of new SMT components.I hope they survive for some time yet. They can't be complete mugs to have survived thus far. But even being a source for surplus stuff must be getting harder if the surplus comes from businesses closing down.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2019, 07:02:54 pm
content: For those who didn't get the chance to go in, there's what the now closed Truscotts looked like a couple of months back.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2020, 06:01:49 am
content: Was hunting around for another reason and saw this sign at 174 High St Preston. Preston Electronic Components. Shop's gone but signs remain.https://www.google.com/maps/place/174+High+St,+Preston+VIC+3072/@-37.7458903,145.0027308,3a,29y,44.01h,93.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szMspUADQlDErcP-l5QQw-Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x6ad644f665d6ca19:0x31e8a342346aa51a!8m2!3d-37.7457556!4d145.0028535

author: intabits
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2020, 12:56:19 pm
content: I heard the name “McGrath” somewhere the other day, which prompted me to look it up as the name of an old electronics store in the Melbourne CBD, to see if any of its history had been recorded.The first thing that popped up was in this thread of an electronics forum that I was not previously aware of:-https://www.electronicspoint.com/forums/threads/what-about-melbourne.135600I decided to join the forum so that I could revive the 13 year old thread and make my contribution. In the process of researching for my post, I saw there was a similar, more recent thread in the EEVBlog forum:-https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/old-electronics-shops-in-melbourne-what_s-there-today-(video)/msg791971/#msg791971So having spent quite some time writing this rather long post, I decided to maximzse my ROI and post it to both forums, but the older thread is now archived read-only.A lot of this is my hazy recollections from over 50 years ago, so there is much room for error. Where I know there could be mistakes, I've added a question mark.McGraths in Little Lonsdale Street.My first electronics shop. I was introduced to this place at about 10 years of age by an older family friend. It was all new components laid out on tables in hundreds of small, painted, cake baking tins. A feature of this place that sticks with me is the thin balding guy at the first of the four small sales counters. Every time I dealt with him, it all seemed like life was just too much for him. He appeared to hate his job, yet was there for years.(I think it was mentioned that they had used gear, but that would have been United Trade Sales across the street?)United trade SalesI'm pretty sure that this was the place across the street from McGraths? Run by Jock Ellis, an always cheerful pipe smoking Scotsman. I think he then moved to a larger shop in Lonsdale Street on the other side of the same building(s). Later moving out to Clayton as Ellistronics. Possibly he had another place out there, but I only vaguely remember just the one near the corner of Blackburn & Wellington Rds, Later to become "Tecs" for not very long, as I recall.I bought a couple of IBM 1311 disk drives from him when he had the store in Lonsdale street. They were the satellite units, not the master that controlled them, which had more electronics. Luckily, Jock knew who bought the master unit, and put me in touch with them. Through our common interests, Mike and I became very good mates. Sadly he's been gone for quite a while now.Waltham Trading CompanyA large 2 or 3 level shop in Elizabeth Street near Collins St or Flinders Lane in the city. Lots of war surplus electronics, much of it NOS components. I didn't fully appreciate the stuff they had back then, but would like to play with now. I wish there was a place like that still around. They finished up at a large garage in Richmond, in (another!) Elizabeth street, maybe near the corner of Church St?Ham Radio SuppliesAnother large shop in Elizabeth st, like and near Waltham Trading Co - Or am I imagining that?Certainly they later had a small shop in Swanston Street near Little Lonsdale St, plus a hangar at Essendon Airport for storage, where they'd scrapped an IBM 7044 and 1401 (From Melbourne Uni, and by which I'd been mesmerised years earlier as a youngster on open days). One day, I left the airport with my Toyota Crown station wagon absolutely chock full of the guts of those machines. About 7000 SMS circuit boards => *lots* of gold!(I'm pretty sure the 1311's also came from Melbourne Uni)Rockby ElectronicsA friendly family run business, one of the few still operating.I first found them in Haughton road, next to Huntingdale station, then they had a couple of places in Huntingdale road, a small shop in a small shopping strip in Huntingale Rd near Edward st (or was that only Stewart Eectronics?), then a larger place in the main shopping area, and finally the current place in Renver road. (I think there was also another location that now escapes me?)I still go there every month or two. The building is up for sale, though they are staying on, at least for now.But I'm told that they do intend to wind up some time in the next few years.Stewart ElectronicsStarted as a shop in the small Huntingdale Rd strip, then to Stafford St in the industrial area behind the main shopping area.A father & son team. Large Range and high prices. Specialized in keeping customers waiting.Stock went to Rockby when they closed.All Electronic ComponentsIn Lonsdale street, past Russell street, so a bit away from the main CBD electronics precint.Bought the PCBs for my EDUC-8 from them. There was an old bloke there with a bung eye, that he lost in an accident involving caustic soda.There were also the more obscure and specialized, small non-retail local agents for various semiconductor companies. Though you could still by from some of them as a hobbyist.Jamisom Rowe annoyingly designed the Electronics Australia EDUC-8 computer to use a $50 Fairchild bipolar RAM chip, which was far, far, far faster than what was actually needed. I don't remember the name of the place, but I bought a 2102 NMOS RAM chip for $3 from a (NatSemi?) agent somewhere in Collingwood. The 2102 had a different pinout, but did the job just fine.A few years later, I visited a Signetics distributor in Moray St South Melbourne a number of times. I got a couple of 2650 MCUs, plus various TTL stuff as I recall. An American ex-IBM CE who worked there gave me a few pointers in trying to get the 1311 disk drives that I'd bought from United Trade Sales going (did get them seeking, but no read/write of data).Semtronics Queen St NunawadingAnother of the remaining few. I only went there once, as Nunawading is outside of my stomping ground, but as I remember it, a proper old style electronics shop, mostly new parts that have been sitting around for years, but possibly some used stuff was in the small, fairly congested space.Earlier this year, I needed an new EMI filter for a PDP-11/34, and found a perfect match on eBay at a very good price, and was most surprised to see that it was at a shop in Melbourne. One that I'd never heard of, despite it having been there for many years. Went out there right away, and was back home with the new filter within a couple of hours of starting my search.Radio PartsFirst went there when I lived not too far from their North Melbourne head office, but much later frequented the East Malvern store which was only a few minutes walk from home. It had been there for many years, but some bean counter decided to close it, much to my continuing annoyance. They had a good range of components and good prices for "VIP" trade card holders. A couple of the guys there were good fun, when they saw me come in, they'd say "Look, here comes intabits, He must be outa bits!"Bernie's EmporiumThree locations that I know of, only been to each of them once. Lots of used electronics gear, organized as your usual explore for yourself junk warehouse. First I went to was in North Road at the intersection of Koornang & Tucker Rds, then at Oakleigh in a back street (Fulton? or Manton?) of the triangular light industrial area between North Rd & the railway line. He/They then seemed to become a larger, more profit-oriented/professional outfit named Macservice, selling on ebay from a warehouse in South Clayton (Fairbank Rd or Obsborne Ave)Truscotts Bayswater ?Now gone, only vaguely aware of it and never went there. Way out in the eastern burbs, too far away for me.Dick SmithEarly on, the main one I went to was in Bridge Rd Richmond, around the corner from the Yarra Blvd. Much later they were the first occupants of a new large building, conveniently at the end of my street in Dandenong Rd Carnegie. I think they were owned by Woolwoths by this time?, and already sliding towards the gurlger. Initially about 20% of the store was "proper" electronics, but reduced quickly to about 2%, and then they folded. It's now Officeworks.TandyDesperation only, but the one in Glenhuntly Rd Elsternwick was once handy if I needed some wire, a resistor or a connector.Right next to the electronics precinct in the Melbourne CBD was the Elizabeth street motorcycle precinct. Saturday mornings were a festival for motorcyclists back in the heyday of both these areas, with hundreds of bikes parked up and down Elizabeth street. In the 1970's I had a Kawasaki Z1A, and Saturday mornings in those days were an great time in my life where I could indulge two of my main passions. Riding in there with a wonderful girlfriend on a sunny day, was a joyous experience. I do miss those times. (She eventually woke up and moved on to better things)

author: mag_therm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2020, 03:40:59 pm
content: Wireless Institute of Australia, Victoria DivisionThat was located right in the city as I recall (?)In about 1968 we got some surplus boards with tin can transistors, from WIA office,that had to be pried off, and they worked well.I was a member from about 1968, I got the full call in 1969 .

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2020, 10:42:31 pm
content: Excellent post by Intabits.He did not mention Tasman Electronics, a husband and wife run business in Coburg, just off Sydney Road near the old Safeway. Great little shop with low component prices that was also very handy considering I lived a short walking distance away between late 1979 and 1981.Jock Ellis ran Ellistronics in Lonsdale Street. I did not know he ran United Trade Sales as well. But alas, I do recall him smoking a pipe - that for the prompt. And his two star employees at Ellistronics in 1977 and 1978 - a skinny dark haired chap and a fair haired balding bloke that looked like Ralph in Happy Days. I heard Jock moved to Queensland, but passed away years ago.

author: Kerlin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2020, 10:43:39 pm
content: There was one that I haven't seen mentioned.It was maybe called Homecrafts ?Maybe located, in Little Lonsdale just around the corner from Swanston street.Was it the place that had a flat DC motor glued on the window spinning a weighted arm?Another memory I have was running into the son of the owner of Ellistronics out the front of the shop.He had showed me a second hand Dino Ferrari he just bought, for I think it was some $30-60K.He me told that it was cheap and would be worth a fortune one day. Think they are worth millions now.

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2020, 06:47:48 am
content: Quote from: intabits on December 22, 2020, 12:56:19 pmGeorge Brown in Sackville St Collingwood?

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2020, 06:55:59 am
content: Quote from: Kerlin on December 22, 2020, 10:43:39 pmThe wizzy thing on the window rings a bell... I vaguely remember a hifi shop like that, but in Elizabeth or Swanston St and with a Nakamichi 1000 Tri Tracer cassette deck in the window. Drool...https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=51721.msg464210#msg464210

author: intabits
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2020, 09:35:19 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on December 22, 2020, 10:42:31 pmThanks!Tasman Electronics rings a bell. Probably from ads in the magazines? I never went there.I'm not at all 100% on Ellistronics & United Trade Sales. I know that Jock had another business name before Ellistronics, and I'm pretty sure that it was UTS.And I'm pretty sure that he had the two Lonsdales CBD stores. So I'm fairly sure the Lt. Lonsdale one was UTS.But I thought the other was also, with Ellistronics only appearing when he moved out of the CBD. But it's all a bit hazy...Quote from: Circlotron on December 23, 2020, 06:47:48 amThat sounds right. Looking at the street, it probably was."Homecrafts" also rings a bell quite loudly, I just can't picture it.

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2020, 12:47:41 pm
content: Quote from: Kerlin on December 22, 2020, 10:43:39 pm

author: intabits
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 01:26:29 am
content: So 307 Elizabeth must have been part this shop on the corner of Little Lonsdale?(Still can't picture it)The shop to its left is 303.

author: Kerlin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 04:58:26 am
content: My recollection is that the corner shop was divided into two smaller shops, one behind the other.Homecrafts was the rear one so the display window and entrance was in little Lonsdale st and was one down from the corner.

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 11:10:11 am
content: Quote from: johnh on November 03, 2015, 03:02:21 am

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 12:12:11 pm
content: The was also Ham Radio Supplies in Elizabeth Street. I bought an FRG-7 there in 1977. I still proudly have the machine, 43 years old - the radio that is.The guy who said George Brown might have been involved in Hi-Fi gear, might have been thinking of George Hawthorn Electronics - a well known audio shop in the 70's. George Hawthorn himself sold his business, but the business name remained. George then joined IBM as an engineer. He was a colleague of mine in the 80's. He was very smart, and one heck of a nice chap too. George passed away a few years ago.Other audio shops: Brash's ("Right on, Mr B"), that big store I cannot recall the name of that used to advertise in the Green Guide selling Blaupunkt "Cherman Excellence" rubbish, Tivoli HiFi, Klapp Electronics, and of course Northern Electronics, just to name a few. Klapp and Tivoli are still around and they have maintained their excellent reputation.Tandy Electronics was pretty big, but I did not like paying $2 for a beautiful presentation pack of a couple of one watt resistors (today's equivalent of $10 each). But to their credit, every Tandy product came with a schematic diagram. I lived about 2 km from a Tandy, but would drive to the city 12 km away to Ellistronics, even if it was uneconomical to do so. There was just something nice about visiting Ellistronics.Northern Electronics quoted a neighbour of mine to fix a fault on his TV after a "free" diagnosis and quote. The quote was a huge $250 (back in 1979, which is equivalent to around $2500 today) to replace the mains transformer on a valve TV. The neighbour saw me for a second opinion, because be could not afford the repair cost. But the fault was just the mains power on/off switch - an obvious fault to anyone who knew anything about electronics. The switch was spungy and it was inoperable (open circuit all the time). One minute to suspect it, five minutes to debug it. Nothing wrong with the transformer. I fixed it for free and my neighbour was absolutely delighted, giving me a bottle of good quality Ouzo in appreciation (he was Greek).Unfortunately ripping off customers was rife in the TV repair business. Remember Miller Radio in Melbourne caught red-handed on A Current Affair committing fraud? They immediately went out of business after the show was aired. I knew a bloke in 1977 who charged a customer $350 (around $3500 in today's money) for a re-gunned 26 inch picture tube; but the fault was just a simple 5W resistor that had gone open. He replaced the resistor and cleaned the front and back of the old picture tube and wrote some dummy letters and numbers on the back of the tube with a white marker to make it look like the tube had just been replaced, just in case.

author: Kerlin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2020, 03:41:55 am
content: I would definable say that most TV repair shops were reputable and all customers were stingy, they thought everything should cost $2, and listened too much to the rubbish that was propagated by the media. Don't the public have a big reputation for always doing that anyway?I never worked full time in TV repair as I could get better paid jobs, it was just an interest.I did however complete four years of TV and video repair courses at RMIT and met many technicians who attended the courses.I also worked part time, after work, in in the workshops of three TV repair shops as well as at home.I have a BOCP and TVOPs, worked as a Senior Technician at Channel 7 and and have trained in installed and repaired digital TV stations.When I hire technicians anyone who applies that is qualified in and has done TV repair gets the job.The very best of repair technicians for sure.Fixing all kinds of items with often no circuit, RF, SMPS, digital anything you name they can fix it and have it ready in a fraction of a day.

author: I wanted a rude username
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2020, 05:25:00 am
content: Quote from: Kerlin on December 22, 2020, 10:43:39 pmThere was a radio parts store right there, on Little Lonsdale Street, in one of the little 19th century buildings opposite the church just west of Swanston Street. It was noticeable from Swanston owing to the entire frontage being painted yellow. Closed down some time in the early 2000s I think, and it's quite possible the entire building was torn down, as there are two 2000s era buildings in that strip.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2020, 08:17:33 am
content: Quote from: Kerlin on December 27, 2020, 03:41:55 amI worked both for PMG/Telecom Aust, then for Ch7, & I have mixed feelings about TV service companies.At one point, in an early flirtation with "outsourcing", TVW7 decided to send all the failed "second level" picture monitors, & domestic TVs out to TV Service companies, with the aim of giving the station techs extra time for more important stuff.Amongst these were several big, heavy 27" Sony sets.The CRTs had low emission, so we supplied a regunned tube along with the first set, requesting that the chosen company change the tubes over, adjust & converge the TV, & return it, along with the removed tube.We further specified that they do nothing to the removed tube, as it needed to be suitable for regunning.After about a week & a half, we got them back, the tube flopping round in its unsealed box, with the end of the neck smashed off, & the TV with gross colour purity issues, & almost no work having been done on the convergence.We ended up burning more time fixing their stuff-up than we took to do the job ourselves, which we proved by promptly doing the job properly on the other one.We came out of it OK, though, as we found another company, which,although a bit slow, did a competent job, for a very much reduced number of jobs.Even they had their moments, though, ----on one occasion, we did a bit of "first in maintenance" on one TV, determined pretty much what area the problem was in, attached a note outlining what we had done, & dropped it in to them, feeling virtuous because we had "helped them out".Alas for our efforts, when we got it back, we could see where our note had been torn off, & a fault docket tied on, where under "reported fault" it said "doesn't work!"On the other hand, I always found it annoying when a TV Network would find some self satisfied twat "Engineer" who would, in between talking a lot of crap, "set a trap" to prove TV service companies were ripoff merchants.On one occasion, one of these tweaked an internal control in a new set, & sent it off to the company concerned.The TV servicemen, tested it, saw an apparent fault, found the misadjusted control, which led them further down the rabbithole.I know that if I found a misadjusted control, I would assume it had been so tweaked as a "bodge" to compensate for a real fault, which was evidently intermittent.This what the guys did, then after spending hours,looking for an intermittent fault, reset the control, left the thing on test for hours, & with misgivings, returned it, saying "if it played up, bring it back!"Of course, "Bighead" then quoted the time they spent as being evidence that they were crooks!Why a TV Network, with "in house" technical expertise "coming out of their ears", wouldn't check with a passing Tech or EE before engaging a "showboat" is beyond me!

author: MIS42N
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2020, 09:32:46 am
content: Brought back bits of old memories (can't remember it all). I bought stuff at Waltham trading - one was a 1000W light bulb, the bulb was at least a 30cm sphere and it was BRIGHT. About the only use was playing pranks - wire it up in someone's room so it is a meter or so inside the door and watch the reaction when they come home and turn the light on.I built an oscilloscope, I think it was an Radio TV and Hobbies design, bought a Cathode Ray tube from Waltham's war surplus. No idea where it went, moved too many times.I also designed a 50W amplifier using 6CA7s running with an ultralinear transformer and a regulated 400V power supply. The regulation was using a 2N3055 which I bought from Mullard somewhere in Melbourne along with the valves. I have a vague thought they were in Carlton. The 2N3055 sat on a heat sink standing on insulators, the base was fed by a 150-0-150 30mA transformer usually used in preamps but I used it single ended to get 400V. The collector was fed somewhere between 430V and 460V depending on the volume. OH&S would have a fit, it was lethal. There was a 75V zener from collector to base to protect the transistor. This must have been prior to 1966 because I remember the 2N3055 cost £1/5/-, a small fortune. Surprisingly it all worked as intended and delivered a very clean sound (into a speaker enclosure with 2 15inch Fane woofers and I can't remember what handled the high frequencies). It was a huge thing and I sold it in 1968 when I moved to Wollongong.I also bought and built a couple of kits from Radio Spares in Lonsdale St. (after returning to Melbourne in 1970).My electronics has been on the backburner since the late 70's, about the time kids turned up. Just getting back into it building microprocessor based 'things'. Electronics Australia published a sidereal clock I built, little more than a GPS module, a PIC16F628A and an 8 segment display. Didn't get any interest so it now displays UTC time in the kitchen because I've not gotten around to putting in the time zone correction. I never did find out for definite if a GPS unit outputs a 1ppS then the NMEA data of the time of the 1ppS, or if the NMEA data is for the next pulse. I assume the former. There isn't a talking clock any more to check against.Another early haunt was Encel Electronics in Bridge Rd Richmond. Bought JH turntable, Grace tone arm. It had a Garrott cartridge which I bought from Brian Garrot (I believe unfortunately he died not long after) Still got them but nowhere to set up. I was going to buy a replacement stylus, quoted about 5 times what I paid for the cartridge so it sits unused.

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2020, 11:33:04 am
content: To satisfy old 'Adelaidians' here, (I used to live in Adelaide), there was an ancient shop towards Port Adelaide, thatwas called 'Robby's'. He was an old man who had a 'Steptoe & Sons' version of an ancient electronics store! Therewere downstairs & upstairs areas that went way back, in definitely cluttered fire-hazard areas, full of every ancientbit of valve equipment & parts you could imagine, including military. He would pull apart or de-solder countless partstoo, to make massive stocks of knobs, pots, terminals, valve bases etc etc etc. If you needed it, he had it!!!He also had a MASSIVE collection of old valves/tubes hidden away. Later on, his son took over, but did not have thesame interest. Has been closed up for years now, but would love to have been in a position to make an offer!!I had so much stuff that I had collected from him, including someveryrare tubes & components...Now, these places are as rare as 'Rocking-Horse Shit', or vanished all together !!!

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 27, 2020, 12:31:54 pm
content: Quote from: GlennSpriggooooooo That's pretty much exactly my story .. even just came back from Adelaide today !! I surely must have seen you there. We'd ride down there on our bikes all the way from Prospect on many occasions. Also collected heaps of awesome stuff. Late 60s for me

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2020, 12:55:44 pm
content: Quote from: digsys on December 27, 2020, 12:31:54 pmIt was a great place for any enthusiast in the know!!I'm glad someone else remembers!!!!...Could tell a million story's... Must look you up...

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2020, 02:15:07 pm
content: For Christmas SWMBO bought me a DVD which has all the copies of "Radio & Hobbies/Radio, Television & Hobbies" magazine from April 1939 to March 1965 on it.I went on a search through it to find the first & second radios I ever built, wanting to try building them again, to find out whether they were as crap as I remember, or was it because I didn't know much at the time & stuffed things up?This, of course necessitated scrolling through multiple pages, & coming across ads for shops whose stock I had salivated over many years before.Shop names & component brands I had forgotten came swirling back.When I read some articles, I could remember most of the text before I read it.-------thus, the brain wastes memory space!

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2020, 10:15:11 pm
content: I got one of those DVDs some years ago now too. I know what you mean about the text sticking in your unconscious mind. I didn’t start buying EA until Feb 71 though. Must’ve studied every single word on every page back in those pre Internet days. First radio I built was “Little Jim”, a two valve regenerative job (man, they used that word “job” a lot in the early mags) using a twin triode and headphones. Couldn’t get anything out of it at all. I used a big trimmer cap instead of a proper tuning cap so that wouldn’t have helped...Those R,TV&H mags on DVD, one shortcoming of them is they don’t have the actual text embedded in the scanned PDFs like many old mags available online do. Dunno how it is done but I’d like to be able to convert them somehow so that they could be searchable using Recoll or similar.

author: johnh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2020, 03:27:42 am
content: Quote from: Circlotron on December 26, 2020, 11:10:11 amIt's now an brand new multi story office block

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2020, 09:58:25 pm
content: When I was a kid I used to hop the bus or PATH train to go to the area of lower Manhattan that housed what was then still a fading warren of electronics shops along Canal Street. many of them were , I was told already gone. But there was something special about the remaining unique shops, crammed to the roof with exotic surplus, also new electronics components including exotic new chips could be bought right there, when you had decided what you needed, you just wrote down what you wanted on a little list with the little short pencil they gave you, and they would fetch it for you. There were still a lot of those stores. So many many were in the basements or on the second floors of buildings, entered by going up stairs.I still remember how amazing the displays of all the parts looked, many of them were blinking or doing whatever it was they did.. (they would build little demos for them) This was during the heyday ofUS electronics manufacturing.I'm really glad that I got to see it. I also met lots of interesting people in those stores. I made some great friends. Its funny how many of them I kept meeting again and again in various settings.I guess the world just isn't as big as we think it is!

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2020, 06:09:47 am
content: Quote from: Kerlin on December 27, 2020, 03:41:55 amI agree that the best technical people are often those who were TV repairmen - prior to the 2000's perhaps where everything was component level debug.I did some technical training in TV's and video recorders at RMIT too because I wanted to increase my skills in practical electronics and to make money on the side fixing TV's and VCRs. The RMIT course was excellent and I learnt heaps. I also have an engineering degree. Like you I found there was little money in fixing TVs and VCRs for tight arsed ignorant consumers. However I made a packet buying heaps of faulty colour TVs at a low cost outright, fixing them and selling them for a big profit. In fact, I was making more money per week in my spare time doing this, than as a full time IBM engineer. But I gave the TV business away partly because it was to difficult to have two jobs and I did not want to give the IBM career the axe. Besides, under Hawke/Keating socialism, the taxation was punitive to those who wanted to earn good money... I was in the 50% income tax bracket. I did though help a mate start an electronics repair shop in the 90's. Every Thursday night I would debug the difficult ones and I was paid in pizza and beer (non-taxable at the time). It was good technical experience and a lot of fun.You might remember Rod Humphris, Ken Gent. Mr Molnar and Des Bird. I knew a technician from Channel 7 who went on to run a TV service shop in South Melbourne, but I think he did it full time, so it was probably not you.IMO, the best design engineers are those who have been experienced technicians. They understand debug, accessibility, serviceability and failure modes. All too often I see equipment designed by mechanical engineers and/or electronics engineers or/or embedded programmers where the last thing on their mind is the debug technician, because they do not understand or appreciate the issues involved in maintenance because they have never done it before. Having electronics manufacturing experience is also a big plus for DFM and DFT.

author: Kerlin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2020, 10:55:18 pm
content: Yep I am a student of Rod Humphris and others. I even go back to Rex Wales, was a piece of the furniture there for over 20 years and yet another 20 years at Nth Syd college.There was also a group of others that ran engineering courses but none them had practical experience and were no where near as motivating as those guys above.I didnt see any future in TV repair except for the great practical experience and did similar to you.I had a daytime job in Government telecoms that paid better and we had a very easy life. But later when I moved into own business realised that I had wasted 20 years there.I worked in designing embedded software and hardware for telecommunications devices in Asia for years. I eventually realized the software ability came from TV repair, as you need to follow a documentable logical process (similar to software) to fix such a complex discrete device and be able to back track through the process to find an error (debugging).Like many in Melbourne this all and much more came out of those old disposals shops.I am on 2 meters and HF maybe catch you there some time? I think you can do PMs on this board.Also rod is active at HRSA so am going along there to run into him.

author: intabits
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2021, 09:19:33 pm
content: While looking for something else, I stumbled across some ads for McGraths, Homecrafts, Ham Radio Supplies, Waltham Trading Co., plus others, some of which I don't remember by name, though I must have visited them at some time.