Parts from the past

[electronjohn]

I was organizing manuals and literature, etc. in my shop when I came across a bunch of Fair Radio catalogs. Which got me to thinking: how many of you were like me...saving paper route money to send in a $5 order to the late, great "Poly-Paks"? I still have one of a 3 for 99 CK722 transistor deal I go from them way back when. Or..did you carefully send off a postcard to get the latest Burstein-Applebee or McGee catalog? Or drool over all the cool stuff you could get from Meshna? Of course, the Allied and Lafayette catalogs made for days and days of careful reading as well. Still have the little transistor stereo amp from Lafayette that I scrimped for months to get!

[sprman55]

Hello i have some Fair Radio catalogs one befor 1961.. I have Lafayette catalog ,1974 and Allied Electronics 1971 catalog and Poly-pac ads to.I have my dads Electronic Ind Sales catalogs (big as a phone book) from 1952.1954,1955,1963,1972. They cover everything you would need in electronics..I got some catalogs from Mallory UTC , Stancor and a few crystal companys to ..I got all this and more from my dads estate when he passed away.Have a few mags to from 1920s to 1970s .. Good to see others have same as i do see ya Angelo

[wa2ise]

"the late, great "Poly-Paks"?"

Oh gawd, that was a source of really crappy parts!

[Lefty]

Originally Posted by electronjohn

I was organizing manuals and literature, etc. in my shop when I came across a bunch of Fair Radio catalogs. Which got me to thinking: how many of you were like me...saving paper route money to send in a $5 order to the late, great "Poly-Paks"? I still have one of a 3 for 99 CK722 transistor deal I go from them way back when. Or..did you carefully send off a postcard to get the latest Burstein-Applebee or McGee catalog? Or drool over all the cool stuff you could get from Meshna? Of course, the Allied and Lafayette catalogs made for days and days of careful reading as well. Still have the little transistor stereo amp from Lafayette that I scrimped for months to get!

Boy do you bring back the memories. Getting each years new catalog in the mail was always a big deal. I learned so much and really it started my interest in electronics that lead to very rewarding work and a good living.

My only complaint in those days were the way they would backorder items on your order. I recall mailing away for all the parts to build a gueger counter but they back-ordered the tube for it seemed like a year. By that time I had lost interest in the project and moved on to others and never did build the dam thing.

Of course in today's world with the internet and all there is all that and more for someone young to research their interest.

Lefty

[electronjohn]

Yeah, Poly-paks parts weren't exactly "mil-spec"...but, on a paper route budget, what else can ya do??