Dick Smith?

[keithr]

On 2/09/2010 11:07 PM, Jasen Betts wrote:

On 2010-09-01, keithr<keith@nowhere.com.au> wrote:

I don't really care if farting ashtrays as long as the continue to sell
the stuff that I want. The problem with living outside the city is the
lack of choice if you want something right away. For me even Jaycar is a
45 km drive away and that adds considerably to the cost if you are only
buying a couple of cheap components.

You may find an Altronics dealer is closer.

The nearest Altronics dealer is approximately 3 hours drive away. I
would prefer to deal with them rather than Jaycar, but I can't justify
spending a whole day and 50 litres of petrol just to pick up the odd
chip and a few resistors. So Jaycar it is unless Altronics comes to town.

 

[Grant]

On Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:15:23 +1000, Don McKenzie <5V@2.5A> wrote:

On 1/09/2010 5:48 AM, Grant wrote:

I miss McGraths in Little Lonsdale Back when I lived in Melbourne.

Grant.

If you remember McGraths, then you may remember the surplus electronic gear shop right opposite also.

Opposite, or was there another one further down the street, or both?

And there was another shop around the area with a little mechanical
man banging on the window with a toy hammer, to get one's attention.

Anyone remember the name of the man that ran the surplus shop, and what happened to him?

Can't remember the name, I bought some copper plated carbon rods from
there (I imagine carbon arc lamp electrodes) when I was 16 or so, so
much stuff in those little shops

Grant.

 

[Grant]

On Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:13:58 +1000, keithr <keith@nowhere.com.au> wrote:

On 1/09/2010 5:47 AM, Grant wrote:
On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:57:20 +1000, keithr<keith@nowhere.com.au> wrote:

Mark Harriss wrote:
Ian Macmillan wrote:
Because it was handy, I wandered into Dick Smith today to get some 0.5A
glass fuses. The fellow looked me up and down, and said "We don't sell
fuses
any more".

So what do they sell that would not be better bought at Harvey Norman
etc?
Closure imminent.

All the best
Ian Macmillan




It seems to vary from store to store almost as if they are running an
experiment in natural selection. The main website OTOH offers specials
for components where one component is left in stock at one store only:
CMOS 555 being an example. I'm betting they have a hotshot MBA running
the show who figures the technical stuff just isn't profitable enough.

Other electronics retailers are inching their prices up already, Jaycar
want $3.45 for a LM7555 which I can buy in Australia from Futurlec for
$0.52

A couple of months ago I bought some stuff on sale at our local DSE. I
asked the guy if they were going out of the component/tool business, he
reckoned that such items were not going to be stocked locally any more
but would be available online.

It was official last summer, they're getting out of the component business,
what's left is just clearing the decks, more money selling the toys, no
interest is electronics -- slowly been happening since BigW bought them.

I made the mistake of trying to buy some resistors off them (online), some
values not available, some they cannot supply as advertised (5% remarked as
1%), and it took several attempts to try completing the order, the have
an odd way of telling one to leave them alone. Thanks, but no thanks.

All the decent specials are gone, and they wont order between stores

Just as well that Jaycar have opened up locally.

Jaycar selling a lot of crap too, but it must be expensive to hold stock
of all those components.

Grant.

I don't really care if farting ashtrays as long as the continue to sell
the stuff that I want. The problem with living outside the city is the
lack of choice if you want something right away. For me even Jaycar is a
45 km drive away and that adds considerably to the cost if you are only
buying a couple of cheap components.

I'm in Bendigo, we got a Jaycar agency that has moved to larger premises
at Dick Smith left the technical are -- they're quite busy too. Them there's
a couple TV repair places used to sell some parts, the rest for me is web
order. Pretty good.

I left Melbourne in '93 so no idea what it's like down there now.

Can remember buying Mini Scope Iron plus 3.3V transformer for $12.21 from
McGraths, and, if you said 2N3055s were for a guitar amp they were 15%
tax instead of 27.5% tax Quite odd, if one didn't have a VS number,
one could change tax rate on some items by stating intended use.

Grant.

 

[Don McKenzie]

On 3/09/2010 1:47 PM, Grant wrote:

On Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:15:23 +1000, Don McKenzie<5V@2.5A> wrote:

On 1/09/2010 5:48 AM, Grant wrote:

I miss McGraths in Little Lonsdale Back when I lived in Melbourne.

Grant.

If you remember McGraths, then you may remember the surplus electronic gear shop right opposite also.

Opposite, or was there another one further down the street, or both?

And there was another shop around the area with a little mechanical
man banging on the window with a toy hammer, to get one's attention.


Anyone remember the name of the man that ran the surplus shop, and what happened to him?

Can't remember the name, I bought some copper plated carbon rods from
there (I imagine carbon arc lamp electrodes) when I was 16 or so, so
much stuff in those little shops

Grant.

It was Jock Ellis.
He had a whole heap of Army surplus radio and other similar gear, typical of WWII era, and later.

In later years, he then moved into Lonsale St, and became Ellistronics. Had a big warehouse in Springvale Rd, and even
started up a branch in NZ.

He was a lot older than me, so I dare say he has gone to heaven by now. His shop is now Tecs PCs I believe.

I haven't been in the city for 10+ years, so I have lost track of all of them.

Cheers Don...

=============



--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html

 

[keithr]

On 3/09/2010 2:46 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:

On 3/09/2010 1:47 PM, Grant wrote:
On Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:15:23 +1000, Don McKenzie<5V@2.5A> wrote:

On 1/09/2010 5:48 AM, Grant wrote:

I miss McGraths in Little Lonsdale Back when I lived in Melbourne.

Grant.

If you remember McGraths, then you may remember the surplus
electronic gear shop right opposite also.

Opposite, or was there another one further down the street, or both?

And there was another shop around the area with a little mechanical
man banging on the window with a toy hammer, to get one's attention.


Anyone remember the name of the man that ran the surplus shop, and
what happened to him?

Can't remember the name, I bought some copper plated carbon rods from
there (I imagine carbon arc lamp electrodes) when I was 16 or so, so
much stuff in those little shops

Grant.

It was Jock Ellis.
He had a whole heap of Army surplus radio and other similar gear,
typical of WWII era, and later.

In later years, he then moved into Lonsale St, and became Ellistronics.
Had a big warehouse in Springvale Rd, and even started up a branch in NZ.

He was a lot older than me, so I dare say he has gone to heaven by now.
His shop is now Tecs PCs I believe.

I haven't been in the city for 10+ years, so I have lost track of all of
them.

Cheers Don...

=============

I used to love those surplus shops as a kid, my room was full of bits of
old aeroplanes and WWII army radio gear. The thing that I really wanted
though was a Lancaster bombsight computer. It was a box full of
beautiful little motors, shafts, and gears, but they cost 2 quid and my
parents wouldn't give me the money for one no matter how much I showed
off

 

[Don McKenzie]

On 3/09/2010 3:29 PM, keithr wrote:

I used to love those surplus shops as a kid, my room was full of bits of old aeroplanes and WWII army radio gear. The
thing that I really wanted though was a Lancaster bombsight computer. It was a box full of beautiful little motors,
shafts, and gears, but they cost 2 quid and my parents wouldn't give me the money for one no matter how much I showed
off

Australia ended up with the later variant Lincoln bomber in the RAAF just after WWII. I had a ride in one just before
they scrapped them. So I'll almost bet it was a Lincoln bombsite labeled as a Lancaster. The average Joe didn't know the
difference. Very fancy for their time. My wage was 3 and a half quid in those days, so two quid was a fair chunk of cash
for mum and dad to find.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Lincoln

Cheers Don...



--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

USB Isolator 1000VDC For Protecting Your PC OR Laptop
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/usb-iso-low-full-speed-usb-isolator.html

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html

 

[keithr]

On 3/09/2010 5:37 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:

On 3/09/2010 3:29 PM, keithr wrote:

I used to love those surplus shops as a kid, my room was full of bits
of old aeroplanes and WWII army radio gear. The
thing that I really wanted though was a Lancaster bombsight computer.
It was a box full of beautiful little motors,
shafts, and gears, but they cost 2 quid and my parents wouldn't give
me the money for one no matter how much I showed
off

Australia ended up with the later variant Lincoln bomber in the RAAF
just after WWII. I had a ride in one just before they scrapped them. So
I'll almost bet it was a Lincoln bombsite labeled as a Lancaster. The
average Joe didn't know the difference. Very fancy for their time. My
wage was 3 and a half quid in those days, so two quid was a fair chunk
of cash for mum and dad to find.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Lincoln

Cheers Don...

No this was in the UK, they scrapped several thousand Lancs after the
war. There was a street in London, Tottenham Court Road that was lined
with surplus shops. The best was Henrys it was just an empty shop with
tea chests of stuff scattered around, you just fossicked through and
took your finds to Mr Henry who made up a price on the spot (subject to
some bargaining). You never knew what you'd find. Last time I saw the
place it was a HiFi shop, no where near as interesting.

I saw one of the two last flying Lancs at a museum in Canada a few years
ago, they fired it up while we were there and flew it off to the
beautiful sound of 4 Merlins. If you ever visit Toronto, go down to
Hamilton on the way to Niagara you won't regret it.

 

[Mick DaDik]

You Beat me to it Old Fella....

I thought I was the only bugger left alive that remebered him and his
little shop..

My favourite was the 2n5088 a direct replacement transistor to the BC108
but in a TO92 case instead of the metal can.. about 1/10 the price.

I really miss the old Jock Ellis shop.. Used to catch the train in just
the browse around there.. If I couldnt get what I wanted I would then
have to go to McGraths to pay a lot more for what I needed.

RaRa 5x

=

It was Jock Ellis.
He had a whole heap of Army surplus radio and other similar gear,
typical of WWII era, and later.

In later years, he then moved into Lonsale St, and became Ellistronics.
Had a big warehouse in Springvale Rd, and even started up a branch in NZ.

He was a lot older than me, so I dare say he has gone to heaven by now.
His shop is now Tecs PCs I believe.

I haven't been in the city for 10+ years, so I have lost track of all of
them.

Cheers Don...

=============

 

[Don McKenzie]

On 3/09/2010 7:42 PM, keithr wrote:

No this was in the UK, they scrapped several thousand Lancs after the war. There was a street in London, Tottenham Court
Road that was lined with surplus shops. The best was Henrys it was just an empty shop with tea chests of stuff scattered
around, you just fossicked through and took your finds to Mr Henry who made up a price on the spot (subject to some
bargaining). You never knew what you'd find. Last time I saw the place it was a HiFi shop, no where near as interesting.

I saw one of the two last flying Lancs at a museum in Canada a few years ago, they fired it up while we were there and
flew it off to the beautiful sound of 4 Merlins. If you ever visit Toronto, go down to Hamilton on the way to Niagara
you won't regret it.

I was in Tronto (local pronunciation ) a couple of years back, didn't realize that had a running Lanc near there. A
site to behold I'm sure. Long time since I heard 4 Merlins running at once. For me, perhaps 1956-57 I would think.

Cheers Don...

=============================




--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

USB Isolator 1000VDC For Protecting Your PC OR Laptop
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/usb-iso-low-full-speed-usb-isolator.html

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html

 

[Don McKenzie]

On 4/09/2010 9:53 AM, Mick DaDik wrote:

You Beat me to it Old Fella....

I thought I was the only bugger left alive that remebered him and his little shop..

My favourite was the 2n5088 a direct replacement transistor to the BC108 but in a TO92 case instead of the metal can..
about 1/10 the price.

I really miss the old Jock Ellis shop.. Used to catch the train in just the browse around there.. If I couldnt get what
I wanted I would then have to go to McGraths to pay a lot more for what I needed.

a few remember him Mick,
I think if you google "Jock Ellis" and McGraths, mainly in the aus.electronics group, there are a few mentions of them.

I remember building my first analogue multi-meter out of surplus parts scrounged from Jock. If I recall, I had to go to
McGraths to get the 1% resistors. But Jock had some great gear in those days.

Cheers Don...



--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

USB Isolator 1000VDC For Protecting Your PC OR Laptop
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/usb-iso-low-full-speed-usb-isolator.html

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html

 

[Clifford Heath]

Mick DaDik wrote:

I thought I was the only bugger left alive that remebered him and his
little shop..
Used to catch the train in just the browse around there..

Same!

I used to spend hours at a time in there as a teenager.
Probably still have some of the parts I bought too.

Clifford Heath.

 

[James]

"Grant" <omg@grrr.id.au> wrote in message
news:h1s086tlfcekmpmo5hu56all5g3ter5ed6@4ax.com...

On Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:13:58 +1000, keithr <keith@nowhere.com.au> wrote:

On 1/09/2010 5:47 AM, Grant wrote:
On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:57:20 +1000, keithr<keith@nowhere.com.au> wrote:

Mark Harriss wrote:
Ian Macmillan wrote:
Because it was handy, I wandered into Dick Smith today to get some
0.5A
glass fuses. The fellow looked me up and down, and said "We don't
sell
fuses
any more".

So what do they sell that would not be better bought at Harvey Norman
etc?
Closure imminent.

All the best
Ian Macmillan




It seems to vary from store to store almost as if they are running an
experiment in natural selection. The main website OTOH offers specials
for components where one component is left in stock at one store only:
CMOS 555 being an example. I'm betting they have a hotshot MBA running
the show who figures the technical stuff just isn't profitable enough.

Other electronics retailers are inching their prices up already,
Jaycar
want $3.45 for a LM7555 which I can buy in Australia from Futurlec for
$0.52

A couple of months ago I bought some stuff on sale at our local DSE. I
asked the guy if they were going out of the component/tool business, he
reckoned that such items were not going to be stocked locally any more
but would be available online.

It was official last summer, they're getting out of the component
business,
what's left is just clearing the decks, more money selling the toys, no
interest is electronics -- slowly been happening since BigW bought them.

I made the mistake of trying to buy some resistors off them (online),
some
values not available, some they cannot supply as advertised (5% remarked
as
1%), and it took several attempts to try completing the order, the have
an odd way of telling one to leave them alone. Thanks, but no thanks.

All the decent specials are gone, and they wont order between stores

Just as well that Jaycar have opened up locally.

Jaycar selling a lot of crap too, but it must be expensive to hold stock
of all those components.

Grant.

I don't really care if farting ashtrays as long as the continue to sell
the stuff that I want. The problem with living outside the city is the
lack of choice if you want something right away. For me even Jaycar is a
45 km drive away and that adds considerably to the cost if you are only
buying a couple of cheap components.

I'm in Bendigo, we got a Jaycar agency that has moved to larger premises
at Dick Smith left the technical are -- they're quite busy too. Them
there's
a couple TV repair places used to sell some parts, the rest for me is web
order. Pretty good.

I left Melbourne in '93 so no idea what it's like down there now.

Can remember buying Mini Scope Iron plus 3.3V transformer for $12.21 from
McGraths, and, if you said 2N3055s were for a guitar amp they were 15%
tax instead of 27.5% tax Quite odd, if one didn't have a VS number,
one could change tax rate on some items by stating intended use.

Grant.

The Jaycar outlet in Bendigo is probably a better example than an actual
Jaycar store though. Since opening Peter has always been keen to supply what
people wanted, and that wasn't, and I assume still isn't, limited to Jaycar
products. The other key to their success is that they had a clue, unlike the
mobile phone sales people at DSE. Peter and his son (Brett?) always showed
interest in local bussiness and hobbyists, sharing their knowledge, and
listening to others as well, and in developing those relationships got great
word of mouth exposure.
I notice also that one of the guys that previously worked at DSE is working
for him now. His name escapes my memory now, but like the others, he has a
clue as well. I'm sure they are well aware that electronics knowledge is the
key to catering to the needs of their customers.

James

 

[Grant]

On Sun, 5 Sep 2010 10:44:33 +1000, "James" <spamtrap@horneautomation.com.au> wrote:

....

The Jaycar outlet in Bendigo is probably a better example than an actual
Jaycar store though. Since opening Peter has always been keen to supply what
people wanted, and that wasn't, and I assume still isn't, limited to Jaycar
products. The other key to their success is that they had a clue, unlike the
mobile phone sales people at DSE. Peter and his son (Brett?) always showed
interest in local bussiness and hobbyists, sharing their knowledge, and
listening to others as well, and in developing those relationships got great
word of mouth exposure.

I think Peter's retired, haven't seen him in the store since it crossed
the road Brett's there occasionally, and the 'regular' crew are mostly
okay.

I notice also that one of the guys that previously worked at DSE is working
for him now. His name escapes my memory now, but like the others, he has a
clue as well. I'm sure they are well aware that electronics knowledge is the
key to catering to the needs of their customers.

Dunno, I don't go there often, know the store well enough to go the
corner where the parts are, and to ask when I can't see them (usually 'cos
I walked right passed them).

Dick Smith I last went to because they had a sale of quality blank CDs
really cheap, plus curiosity. Hard to find sale item, one had to ask,
I guess that was the idea, some people rather pick something more
expensive than ask where sale items were hidden?

Grant.

 

[kreed]

On Sep 5, 10:44 am, "James" <spamt...@horneautomation.com.au> wrote:

"Grant" <o...@grrr.id.au> wrote in message

news:h1s086tlfcekmpmo5hu56all5g3ter5ed6@4ax.com...



On Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:13:58 +1000, keithr <ke...@nowhere.com.au> wrote:

On 1/09/2010 5:47 AM, Grant wrote:
On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:57:20 +1000, keithr<ke...@nowhere.com.au>  wrote:

Mark Harriss wrote:
Ian Macmillan wrote:
Because it was handy, I wandered into Dick Smith today  to get some
0.5A
glass fuses. The fellow looked me up and down, and said "We don't
sell
fuses
any more".

So what do they sell that would not be better bought at Harvey Norman
etc?
Closure imminent.

All the best
Ian Macmillan

It seems to vary from store to store almost as if they are running an
experiment in natural selection. The main website OTOH offers specials
for components where one component is left in stock at one store only:
CMOS 555 being an example. I'm betting they have a hotshot MBA running
the show who figures the technical stuff just isn't profitable enough.

Other electronics retailers are inching their prices up already,
Jaycar
want $3.45 for a LM7555 which I can buy in Australia from Futurlec for
$0.52

A couple of months ago I bought some stuff on sale at our local DSE. I
asked the guy if they were going out of the component/tool business, he
reckoned that such items were not going to be stocked locally any more
but would be available online.

It was official last summer, they're getting out of the component
business,
what's left is just clearing the decks, more money selling the toys, no
interest is electronics -- slowly been happening since BigW bought them.

I made the mistake of trying to buy some resistors off them (online),
some
values not available, some they cannot supply as advertised (5% remarked
as
1%), and it took several attempts to try completing the order, the have
an odd way of telling one to leave them alone.  Thanks, but no thanks.

All the decent specials are gone, and they wont order between stores

Just as well that Jaycar have opened up locally.

Jaycar selling a lot of crap too, but it must be expensive to hold stock
of all those components.

Grant.

I don't really care if farting ashtrays as long as the continue to sell
the stuff that I want. The problem with living outside the city is the
lack of choice if you want something right away. For me even Jaycar is a
45 km drive away and that adds considerably to the cost if you are only
buying a couple of cheap components.

I'm in Bendigo,  we got a Jaycar agency that has moved to larger premises
at Dick Smith left the technical are -- they're quite busy too.  Them
there's
a couple TV repair places used to sell some parts, the rest for me is web
order.  Pretty good.

I left Melbourne in '93 so no idea what it's like down there now.

Can remember buying Mini Scope Iron plus 3.3V transformer for $12.21 from
McGraths, and, if you said 2N3055s were for a guitar amp they were 15%
tax instead of 27.5% tax  Quite odd, if one didn't have a VS number,
one could change tax rate on some items by stating intended use.

Grant.

The Jaycar outlet in Bendigo is probably a better example than an actual
Jaycar store though. Since opening Peter has always been keen to supply what
people wanted, and that wasn't, and I assume still isn't, limited to Jaycar
products. The other key to their success is that they had a clue, unlike the
mobile phone sales people at DSE. Peter and his son (Brett?) always showed
interest in local bussiness and hobbyists, sharing their knowledge, and
listening to others as well, and in developing those relationships got great
word of mouth exposure.
I notice also that one of the guys that previously worked at DSE is working
for him now. His name escapes my memory now, but like the others, he has a
clue as well. I'm sure they are well aware that electronics knowledge is the
key to catering to the needs of their customers.

James

I can also recommend the Jaycar store at the sunshine coast QLD too.

Very large, well stocked, wide range modern store the guy at the
counter seemed to know his stuff,
and it was an enjoyable experience shopping there.

 

[David L. Jones]

Mark Harriss <billy@blartco.co.uk> wrote in
news:qq6dnUtlWvTvZ-HRnZ2dnUVZ8qudnZ2d@westnet.com.au:

David L. Jones wrote:

Couldn't agree more.
Nothing new here at all, people have been making the exact same post
for more than decade now, get over it.
Dick Smith as a component supplier died a long time ago in a galaxy
far, far away.

Dave.


So what's your take then Dave, on the big picture, i.e. the future of
electronics in Australia?.

You might be hearing my take on this soon in a documentary on the
Australian electronics industry:

http://www.eevblog.com/2010/07/23/canon-5d-mark-ii-hd-video-documentary-
behind-the-scenes/

http://www.karlvonmoller.com/blog/2010/07/25/state-of-electronics-the-
beginning/

Although my comments were somewhat limited to the questions posed.

There are many notable people involved in this project, including Tricky
Dick himself.

Trailer coming soon.
I will provide details once it's done.

Dave.
www.eevblog.com

 

[terryc]

On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:50:59 +1000, Mark Harriss wrote:

David L. Jones wrote:




So what's your take then Dave, on the big picture, i.e. the future of
electronics in Australia?.

It will be what it has been for the last few decades; small run and
custom jobs, but continuing to shrink as manufacturers face increases
competition from overseas.

Is there any company in Australia designing or building
telecommunications gear now?
Is all our defence requirements slavishly sourced from the USA military
complex?

 

[Mark Harriss]

terryc wrote:

On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:50:59 +1000, Mark Harriss wrote:

David L. Jones wrote:


So what's your take then Dave, on the big picture, i.e. the future of
electronics in Australia?.

It will be what it has been for the last few decades; small run and
custom jobs, but continuing to shrink as manufacturers face increases
competition from overseas.

Is there any company in Australia designing or building
telecommunications gear now?
Is all our defence requirements slavishly sourced from the USA military
complex?

I heard of a guy making cryptography gear. I think the Gov't response
was to ban him from selling to certain countries and buy American
equipment several magnitudes larger and less portable with built in back
doors.

Most defense electronics I worked on in the late nineties was a mix of
English, American, Australian and a tiny bit of Japanese.