I grew up in the 1960s and had a Radio Shack in our neighborhood. In the early 1970s I got my first real decent stereo from there. In looking for what I had back then, I stumbled across an amazing website for Radio Shack catalogs:
https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/
It’s quite a trip to look at these old catalogs that have literally thousands and thousands of products. The 1972 catalog has over 460 pages. The turntable section must have had over 100 models.
Radio Shack was really the main outlet in the US for stereo equipment. Of course, boutique stereo stores thrived, but most people got exposed to quality products there, and graduated, like I did, to products like Magnepan, Carver, Teac, and Thorens.
But for a young kid just discovering hi-fi, the Radio Shack catalogs kept me busy for hours going over specs, fantasizing what it would sound like in my room, and imagine what it would look like all set up.
I worked the summer of 1970 cutting grass and watering lawns for vacationing neighbors. And working in my dad’s business.
I don’t remember exactly what I got or how much it cost, but it was an all-in-one unit with turntable, cassette deck, amp and tuner. Had a pair of Optimus speakers. I went through the catalogs but still not sure exactly what I got.
Those early days were exciting for an electronics nerd. I can’t say what I buy now is quite as exciting as those first acquisitions no matter how great it is.
I need to do some research on how many different mounting options were available for Minimus 7s. I’ve got the articulating wall mounts, standard wall mounts and some cool little stands.
The turntable section must have had over 100 models.
Ten.
The turntable section had ten models.
Ah, so I double checked and it was the 1971 catalog that had 464 pages, not 1972. Also, you’re right, I didn’t count, just reacted to the dizzying array of stuff. But went back and looked and there were 33 turntables. But there were almost another 30 in consoles and all-in-one systems.
Thanks for sharing. My buddies and I would spend hours looking at their catalogs, along with Laffeyette, and a few others. Have a good weekend. ☮️
Those catalogs were like electronics porn 😁 for a kid like me.
I miss Incredible Universe and the Radio Shack dot com store. Those were fun.
In Syracuse, NY we had a store called Gordon Electronics. Bought my first real stereo there, a Technics SA-200, and two Genesis Model 1+ speakers. I still have them.
Of course I have 3 Sansui’s, 4 Carver MXR 130’s, a McIntosh 1900, well I could go on for quite a while. Six pairs of Genesis speakers.
I worked part time at Radio Shack, and they had good equipment. Both receivers and speakers.
Yeah, most of the equipment wasn’t bad at all.
I have a realistic STA-2080 for my garage setup. It does well
That’s a fantastic resource! I always love leafing through old catalogs, especially the headphone related ones and radio shack did indeed have the realistic brand
OP, you and I have much in common. Thanks for your post!
I’ve somewhat been recreating my first stereo which included a Radio Shack integrated amp from approximately 1970. The Garrard turntable and Utah 12" triaxial drivers came from the Lafayette Catalog.
The"Speaker Design Booklet " came from Radio Shack. I built the largest pair of boxes I could lay out on a 4’ X 8’ sheet of plywood, my father’s charity hitting it’s limit at one sheet.
Didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but to me and my buds though they were great!
That’s the thing. It’s just fun to tinker and learn about how stuff works. Not sure kids do that anymore.
Those Science Fair electronics kits were amazingly great. My favorite was the shortwave radio.
Pre Internet I had a stack of jc Whitney, Campmore (spelling) and radio shack catalogs plus b&h photo, Delta, adorama… I did love a thick informative catalog.
That’s an hour of my life I won’t get back…
Anyone else thumb through them to see how much your parents paid for those christmas presents 40 years ago?
LoL that’s hysterical. I did look at the prices for stuff and it’s hard to relate to it now.