{"id":15755,"date":"2015-11-23T09:59:11","date_gmt":"2015-11-23T13:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=15755"},"modified":"2015-11-23T09:59:11","modified_gmt":"2015-11-23T13:59:11","slug":"guest-post-trip-down-shortwave-memory-lane-via-vintage-radioshack-catalogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/11\/guest-post-trip-down-shortwave-memory-lane-via-vintage-radioshack-catalogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest post: Trip Down Shortwave Memory Lane via Vintage RadioShack Catalogs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RadioShack-Catalog\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario\u00a0Filippi (N2HUN)<\/strong>, for the\u00a0following guest post:<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Trip Down Shortwave Memory Lane via Vintage RS Catalogs<\/h2>\n

-Mario Filippi (N2HUN)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Attached is a wonderful website containing archived Radio Shack catalogs and sales flyers<\/a> going back to 1939, surely of interest to SWLs, hams, and other electronics hobbyists. Most of us have fond memories growing up and visiting our local Radio Shack when it was the place to go for ham, shortwave, and scanner radios. My hometown Radio Shack was located on North Avenue in New Rochelle, NY and I purchased an electric guitar (could not afford a Fender) from them in the late 60’s which had three pickups and included a case for $29.95!<\/p>\n

Radio Shack Catalogs<\/a><\/p>\n

You see, back then Radio Shack had a much more diversified line of products, including musical instruments, power tools and even scientific stuff like microscopes and slide rules. These archived catalogs are a treasure trove of information not only from a historical perspective, but for anyone who is interested or who is contemplating purchasing vintage equipment such as shortwave radios, because you can look up the original sales info in the RS catalog which contains the original price, photo, description, and accessories available at that time.<\/p>\n

For example, last year I purchased a “tech special” Realistic TRC-450 AM\/SSB CB radio on Ebay that needed LED repair, so I looked up the original sales ad and got the price, photo (this helps to see original condition), and product description. Below is a picture of my restored Realistic which originally sold in 1980 for $269.95!<\/p>\n

\"RadioShack-TRC-450\"<\/a>

The classic Realistic TRC-450 AM\/SSB CB radio. (Photo: Mario Filippi)<\/p><\/div>\n

Nowadays most people don’t realize how expensive electronics were a few decades ago. A comparable new AM\/SSB CB radio sells for about half that price nowadays!<\/p>\n

Lastly, as one progresses chronologically through the catalogs, you can see technology (and even fashion) trends – the large 8 track tape decks of the 60’s and 70’s progressed to smaller cassette players of the 80’s and 90’s, then DVD\/CD players made their entrance, ultimately giving way to higher tech forms of entertainment such as satellite radio and Internet-based entertainment. Well I hope you enjoy this totally entertaining and informative website and I thank the individual who took the time and effort to preserve for perpetuity these priceless annual time capsules for everyone to enjoy.<\/p>\n

\n

Mario, many thanks for this trip down memory lane!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

As you state, these catalogs are actually an excellent reference source when trying to determine pricing and features of RS radios found on the used market.<\/em><\/p>\n

I think they’re also so much fun to flip through as they’re chock-full of nostalgic value. When I was a kid, I could care less about toy store catalogs–the RadioShack catalog was my toy store! <\/em><\/p>\n

Indeed, when I open the online catalog\u00a0copies at Radio Shack Catalogs<\/a>, I can almost smell the ink on the pages! Am I the only one?<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario\u00a0Filippi (N2HUN), for the\u00a0following guest post: Trip Down Shortwave Memory Lane via Vintage RS Catalogs -Mario Filippi (N2HUN) Attached is a wonderful website containing archived Radio Shack catalogs and sales flyers going back to 1939, surely of interest to SWLs, hams, and other electronics hobbyists. Most of us have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8,3194,3,305,288,26,43],"tags":[4342,4311,380,4430,4431],"class_list":["post-15755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-guest-posts","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-radio-history","category-radios","category-shortwave-radio","tag-guest-posts","tag-mario-filippi-n2hun","tag-radioshack","tag-radioshack-catalogs","tag-realistic-trc-450"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-467","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":51464,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/schulman-auctions-posts-new-lots-of-radio-gear-for-january-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":15755,"position":0},"title":"Schulman Auctions posts new lots of radio gear for January 2022","author":"Thomas","date":"January 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor, Mario Filippi, who writes: There is a lot of gear for auction from Schulman Auctions. There are several shortwave radios and other vintage gear, even crystal radios. Eye candy for radio buffs. 73's, Mario, N2HUN Thank you for the tip, Mario! Click here to check out\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Schulman-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Schulman-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Schulman-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Schulman-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Schulman-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33183,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/sony-crf-330k-fetching-top-dollar-on-ebay\/","url_meta":{"origin":15755,"position":1},"title":"Sony CRF-330K fetching top dollar on eBay","author":"Thomas","date":"July 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario\u00a0Filippi (N2HUN), who writes: Saw this Sony receiver at a current high price on eBay: Interesting that it has a cassette recorder, although back in those days cassettes were popular and other radios had 'em installed to record your favorite shows or to just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SONY-CRF-330K-Cassette.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":27332,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/guest-post-old-school-infrared-wireless-headphones\/","url_meta":{"origin":15755,"position":2},"title":"Guest Post: Old School Infrared Wireless Headphones","author":"Thomas","date":"July 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who shares the following guest post: Old School (Infrared) Wireless Headphones by\u00a0Mario Filippi (N2HUN) Have you ever mindlessly walked away from your TV with headphones\/ear buds still tethered, causing all sorts of havoc? Been there, done that hi hi! Let\u2019s face it;\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Sony-cordless-headphones-e1501068828925.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Sony-cordless-headphones-e1501068828925.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Sony-cordless-headphones-e1501068828925.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Sony-cordless-headphones-e1501068828925.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19265,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/guest-post-communications-service-monitors-a-radio-hobbyists-perspective\/","url_meta":{"origin":15755,"position":3},"title":"Guest Post: Communications Service Monitors \u2013 A Radio Hobbyist\u2019s Perspective","author":"Thomas","date":"June 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN) for the following guest post: Communications Service Monitors \u2013 A Radio Hobbyist\u2019s Perspective Mario Filippi, N2HUN (All photos courtesy of author) Over the past few decades I lusted after a communications service monitor for my radio hobby but prices were always\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"SX-99-Dial-Nar","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/SX-99-Dial-Nar.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/SX-99-Dial-Nar.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/SX-99-Dial-Nar.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/SX-99-Dial-Nar.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15129,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/10\/listening-to-international-radio-via-free-to-air-satellite\/","url_meta":{"origin":15755,"position":4},"title":"Listening to international radio via Free-To-Air Satellite","author":"Thomas","date":"October 11, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), for the following guest post: International Radio Broadcasts via Satellite by\u00a0Mario Filippi I find your SWLing Post blog a constant fountain of information on the world of shortwave listening. Having been a shortwave listener since the early 1960\u2019s, I\u2019ve depended mainly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dish-001","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Dish-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Dish-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Dish-001.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47172,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/new-lot-of-radio-gear-at-schulman-auctions\/","url_meta":{"origin":15755,"position":5},"title":"New lot of radio gear at Schulman Auctions","author":"Thomas","date":"January 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi, who writes: Schulman Auctions scheduled another on-line auction, lots of ham gear and accessories. A few shortwave radios in this auction. Thanks for the tip, Mario! Looks like the online auction starts in two days (from time of posting). Lots of great\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screen-Shot-2021-01-05-at-07.35.44.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screen-Shot-2021-01-05-at-07.35.44.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screen-Shot-2021-01-05-at-07.35.44.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screen-Shot-2021-01-05-at-07.35.44.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15755"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15755\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}