Technoids Helper Info - OT sort of but might be of interest....

Hartley · May 10, 2007, 05:12:11 AM

Now I am feeling very OLD...

Over time most of the normal suppliers of electronic gadgets and components have
virtually disappeared from view. aka Radio Shack, Lafayette Electonics, Heathkit and many others.

A lot of us BUS people grew up around electronics and gadget stuff, I don't know anout you but I miss
a lot of that stuff. There are a few web oriented suppliers still out there like Allied Electronics and others
however the choices and selections of neat stuff look limited.

I find that sometimes building up a little circuit to use in some bus conversion application is handy
but unless you either have a source or stockpile of old parts laying around, trying to find the right
part can be a pain.

I found a website of such a place that has learning kits, hobby kits, parts, test equipment and all sorts
of goodies like from the old days. New stuff and old stuff all available for just about anything that you
would want to play with.

Your only limitation now is trying to dig up that knowledge that you grew up with and get the creative
juices flowing again. Building that LCD meter panel from components to monitor your batteries or whatever
could be rewarding because you did that yourself.

Here is the website... http://www.elexp.com/

They have a catalog that is downloadable and some of the most missed and yet amazing stuff is in that
catalog. Have a look, See if you can peak your interest or find a gadget to play with.

DrivingMissLazy · May 10, 2007, 05:30:49 AM

Doc, didn't happen to find a site with vacuum tubes and all the other goodies that go with them did you? This new fangled stuff is way over my head. LOL
Richard

Len Silva · May 10, 2007, 06:38:53 AM

Quote from: DrivingMissLazy on May 10, 2007, 05:30:49 AM
Doc, didn't happen to find a site with vacuum tubes and all the other goodies that go with them did you? This new fangled stuff is way over my head. LOL
Richard

Man, I'm with you. Peak the plate, dip the grid and tune for maximum smoke! I never could grasp how the holes moved and not the electrons.

Len

Dallas · May 10, 2007, 07:22:48 AM

Way cool site Dave! it's much appreciated.

It comes at a time when my childhood toystore is changing and not for the better.

We went to ®adio Shack last weekend to pick up a sattelite finder for our Direct TV......Only to find that the local one has closed, never to be replaced. We went on down to Conway, (about 30 miles), and asked about the sattelite finder and the manager told us that ®S no longer carries them. They also will stop carrying any small parts such as resistors, caps, switches, breadboards, plugs, or anything to do with DIY electronics. They are now focused on cellular, Ipod and similar items.

Len and Richard..... Too bad I didn't know you wanted them, I sold off a couple of hundred NIB vacuum tubes a couple of years ago on eBay.

Dallas

larryc · May 10, 2007, 01:38:42 PM

Yeah but Electronix Express doesn't sell the crystals that you can make a cat-whisker receiver with

Larry

Hartley · May 10, 2007, 01:45:34 PM

Tubes... Ahhhh

Yes a google search turned up a number of places, these one's look interesting

http://www.vacuumtubes.com/
http://www.vacuumtubes.net/
http://www.vacuumtube.com/
http://www.vacuumtubesinc.com/
http://www.thetubestore.com/

To many to list but they probably have anything that you could want, Maybe even a 3CX3000 - Honker of a tube!!!

DrivingMissLazy · May 10, 2007, 01:48:14 PM

I thought you dipped the plate and peaked the grid!
Richard

Quote from: Len Silva on May 10, 2007, 06:38:53 AM
Quote from: DrivingMissLazy on May 10, 2007, 05:30:49 AM
Doc, didn't happen to find a site with vacuum tubes and all the other goodies that go with them did you? This new fangled stuff is way over my head. LOL
Richard

Man, I'm with you. Peak the plate, dip the grid and tune for maximum smoke! I never could grasp how the holes moved and not the electrons.

Len

Hartley · May 10, 2007, 02:20:48 PM

More Fun Stuff...

http://www.oselectronics.com/kit_index.htm

FloridaCliff · May 10, 2007, 02:22:38 PM

Dave,

Thanks for the links.

I looked up an old tube that I mounted on a flat piece of walnut.

It a big one, about a foot tall.

I found it in an old transmitter in the Arctic.

Interesting stuff!

Cliff

Len Silva · May 10, 2007, 02:50:41 PM

Quote from: DrivingMissLazy on May 10, 2007, 01:48:14 PM
I thought you dipped the plate and peaked the grid!
Richard

Quote from: Len Silva on May 10, 2007, 06:38:53 AM
Quote from: DrivingMissLazy on May 10, 2007, 05:30:49 AM
Doc, didn't happen to find a site with vacuum tubes and all the other goodies that go with them did you? This new fangled stuff is way over my head. LOL
Richard

Man, I'm with you. Peak the plate, dip the grid and tune for maximum smoke! I never could grasp how the holes moved and not the electrons.

Len

Damn! Memory is the second thing to go.

Hartley · May 10, 2007, 02:54:59 PM

The sad part way back was that I was trained and schooled on Transistors. I grew up with tubes
and couldn't quite grasp the electron tube theory.

I flunked the Tube Theory portions of my FCC ticket 3 times before I made it through.

The " Hartley Oscillator " You'd figure I would get that one..... Instead I just looked like one.

Hartley · May 10, 2007, 03:05:08 PM

Old Radios anyone?

http://www.radioera.com/rea_radio_museum.htm

Dave....

wrench · May 10, 2007, 03:35:49 PM

The heck with tube,, just try to get a ISO 280 RELAY, SPDT.
wrench

BusCrazyTom · May 10, 2007, 03:53:41 PM

The New Radio Shaft Motto should be "You've Got Questions, We're Totally Clueless". I remember when it was real too, but now mainly only good for cell phones for wetbacks and Baby Wetsalot.

Tom

Hartley · May 10, 2007, 04:13:58 PM

Quote from: wrench on May 10, 2007, 03:35:49 PM
The heck with tube,, just try to get a ISO 280 RELAY, SPDT.
wrench

http://relays.tycoelectronics.com/auto.asp

You asked.....