OLD TV shop still intact - Videokarma.org TV - Video

kx250rider · #1 04-25-2006, 01:20 AM

Just thought I'd share this with everyone, just to offer hope that there ARE still some TV repair shops still in one piece which opened 50-plus years ago.

This shop is in a Los Angeles suburb, and has been there in the same place with same owner-operator since 1946. Just a hole in the wall, and hasn't really been "open to the public" for regular business in 15 years. The proprietor comes in every day, sneaks in the back door and fools with stuff. And WOW does he have STUFF! Basically, nobody's been through the front door in 25 years, according to the others who know this man. TV sets and HiFi consoles began to build up in packrat fashion, and totally filled the store. As time went on, the tech would move his work space to a new place farther to the rear, usually atop a large console TV. By now, he has a back yard that is piled 15 feet high with junk, except for one corner where he works on stuff... Yes; outdoors with an extension cord.

I did shove my way into the main store in the mid 80s, and I saw LOTS of 40s B&W sets, PLENTY of CTC-5ish color sets, tubes, chrome amplifiers, and all the goodies. And out back is mainly 1970s & newer stuff.... Luckily all the good stuff is indoors. But the scary thing is that in the '94 earthquake, I think that there must have been BIGTIME damage in there, because of the way he had all that stuff piled precariously to the ceiling. The front windows were all smashed out in '94, and it was MONTHS before he got them replaced. Presumably due to no access

The man is in his 80s, and is obviously excentric. Don't get me wrong; he's cool but has to be treated "just right" or I think I could annoy him pretty easy. He owns the property where the TV shop is, and a row of other stores. As far as I know, he has no family. He is a bit tricky to deal with, but I try to keep a dialogue with him and I try to stop in at least every few months. And, I happen to pass by there at least every two days and will notice if any drastic changes come. Some day, all that stuff will be free to haul away, I have the feeling!

The photo is a satellite shot of the store, viewed from the rear. Note the main building, and all the stuff piled out back with a satellite dish mounted ontop of tarp-covered shelving. And see the phone pole at the corner of that back area, next to a van? Just below that is where all the round CRTs are laid out!

Charles

Einar72 · #2 04-25-2006, 02:04 AM

Wow, Charles, I can't imagine such luck of finding this place. Guess he's been pretty lucky as well to make it this long! Hope he can keep safe and well for years to come!

Charlie · #3 04-25-2006, 02:40 AM

Damn, that's an impressive satellite photo. They're gettin pretty good with those cameras! Hopefully, something good will come out of that shop with time. Keep workin on that man... he's bound to let you "clean up the place" for him sooner or later... hopefully before the next big quake!

There were quite a few good sets, parts, tubes, and CRT's pulled from the old TV shop here in Port Arthur... thank goodness before the hurricane. Now, there's hardly anything left to the shop... complete walls taken out, the roof gone, and water damage to everything left.

kx250rider · #4 04-25-2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie

Damn, that's an impressive satellite photo. They're gettin pretty good with those cameras!

Yes; it's scary how good those are getting! This one was from Windows Live Local http://local.live.com I think it's WAY better than Google Earth. Only problem is that it is only functional in major cities for now. And the best part is that I haven't gotten any malicious downloads or popups from it, and unlike Google Earth, you don't have to download a program to use it. All web-based!

I hope that some day I get a call, or at least find out ahead when the time comes for a cleanout. I have no space for all that stuff, but undoubtedly will find a few things to keep. I did get a rare 22" Westinghouse color set from the 50s at that shop after he cleaned out a storage garage in the 80s. He just trucked all the TVs to the back of the shop and piled them in the alley free for the taking

When the time comes, I will post about it here so as to try to get as many people to rescue stuff as possible. That land is worth at least $3,000,000.00, and somebody will be in a BIG hurry to clear it and sell it.

Charles

bgadow · #5 04-25-2006, 01:46 PM

For $3million he could sell the place and truck it all to somewhere with down-to-earth real estate prices and just keep on working!

I'm glad you are keeping tabs on this. I have a few places that I have done this with. None were finds like this, but you never know what little things will come of a contact. One gentleman called me back in the fall saying he was getting ready to clean out but I haven't heard from him yet. But, it could be any day.

I was kicking myself last week. There is a shop in a neighboring town that has been there probably since the 60s. I know they were a Quasar dealer in the 70s. Anyway, the real estate had been for sale for a couple years and when I rode by the other day there was a sign in the window saying they had moved. I really should have contacted them prior to this because I'm sure lots of things could have been tossed when they moved out. It might be sour grapes on my part but it really didn't look like the kind of place that would have many finds as it had been converted mostly to selling appliance, sattelite tv and that sort of thing.

peverett · #6 04-25-2006, 09:43 PM

Kay-Halbert, you are in southern California. My father-in law lives in San Clemente, and about 10 years ago, there was a shop in downtown San Clemente with several old TVs on display. There were Predictas and other sets.

The TV shop worked on modern TVs, but these were on display. I do not know if it is still there.