Re: History of bulk electronic components suppliers

[Eeyore]

I know the hams complain that no one is interested any more. And there's
little interest in 8 bit computer systems - they'd rather play with their
wii or hunt porn on the net!

And then they wonder why they can't get decent jobs.

I got the impression some while back that writing macros for Office was what
some ppl thought programming is.

When I explain I'm an electronics design engineer, most ppl go blank. Quite a
few have asked if that means I solder things !

Graham

 

[Homer J Simpson]

And then they wonder why they can't get decent jobs.

I got the impression some while back that writing macros for Office was
what
some ppl thought programming is.

Writing macros for Office is at least a skill. It can be quite a
sophisticated one. I once wrote a largish chunk of VBA for MS Access that
successfully did a task that others had tried to program in PL/SQL and in
Perl and failed. Finished, it could be easily explained to anybody with
basic office skills in a few minutes.

When I explain I'm an electronics design engineer, most ppl go blank.
Quite a
few have asked if that means I solder things !

But in the UK an engineer fixes the washing machine, no?

 

[Eeyore]

Writing macros for Office is at least a skill. It can be quite a
sophisticated one. I once wrote a largish chunk of VBA for MS Access that
successfully did a task that others had tried to program in PL/SQL and in
Perl and failed. Finished, it could be easily explained to anybody with
basic office skills in a few minutes.


But in the UK an engineer fixes the washing machine, no?

Dumbing down the job is accompanied by inflating the job title.

It's amazing how many spotty 19 y.o. 'sales executives' there are these days.

Graham

 

[Paul Burke]

How often do you get asked "what do you repair, then?"

 

[Mark Aitchison]

This thread belongs on sci.electronics.design and I wasn't the one who
'drifted' it.

Hmmm, I wasn't sure it was a design question, but I suppose the needs of
designers were a factor in why those companies selling surplus or
cheap/bulk components evaporated, along with some regular electronics
parts mail-order places I remember in the UK, while some shot up in size
(like Arrow).

I understand now what happened to PolyPaks, but still suspect there must
have been a trend to explain why the others (Bi-Pak and Bi-Pre-Pak for
example) didn't evolve into bulk suppliers on good components, as they
were obviously set up with stock and delivery systems, and a good
customer base.

The UK companies I recall from the 1970's that sold quality components
were many (of which only Maplin seems to have any decent following now,
as I see it from a distance - correct me if I'm wrong. Remember Trampus
Electronics, Bi-Pak, Chromasonic Electronics, Z & I Aero Services or
Electrovalue? It looks like Watford Electronics lasted until very
recently, and some others have some references on the Internet that may
or may not still be valid. Some changed their name, what they sell, and
where they are... probably some interesting stories in there, but none
as interesting as the Clive Sinclair saga, I guess.

There is a great book by Trace Kidder (Soul of a New Machine) which
covers an important transition time in computers... there should be a
similar book on the electronics industry. Maybe there is (let me know).

Mark A.

 

[Eeyore]

How often do you get asked "what do you repair, then?"

I prefer to forget about that !

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

The UK companies I recall from the 1970's that sold quality components
were many (of which only Maplin seems to have any decent following now,
as I see it from a distance - correct me if I'm wrong. Remember Trampus
Electronics, Bi-Pak, Chromasonic Electronics, Z & I Aero Services or
Electrovalue? It looks like Watford Electronics lasted until very
recently, and some others have some references on the Internet that may
or may not still be valid.

Electrovalue's gone too (2005).

I hadn't heard about Watford though. It was only on the 7th it has to be said.

Graham

 

[kell]

Where does the /720 bit come from then ?

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which is a standardized test used
here in the U.S.A. for college admissions, has two parts: math and
verbal. On either part, 800 is the highest score. I expressed the
scores as 800/720, in other words 800 math, 720 verbal.

 

[Fred Bloggs]

I got an 800 on my math SAT (but only 720 on the verbal) but that was
before they dumbed it down. Taking multiple-choice tests like this is
a peculiar talent.

Aren't those just dumb multiple choice tests of mundane high school
level subject matter. There was a time when high school was partitioned
into "tracks" like A, B, C, and only the A track was preparing for
college studies. Some high schools went so far as to call themselves
"preparatory" schools, meaning the whole school was A track. The SAT was
originally intended to quantify the level of preparedness of the
candidate so that the college admissions office could assess the
likelihood of success for the student in their program. All that has
been thrown out the window these days. Now it is much more important to
make a determination of gender, socioeconomic status, race,and sexual
orientation, these are the preeminent considerations for modern higher
education where the Bachelor/Bachelorette degree has been reduced to
something less than a certificate. I hope you're happy about how much
damned damage you have done!!!

 

[Fred Bloggs]

Aren't those just dumb multiple choice tests of mundane high school
level subject matter. There was a time when high school was partitioned
into "tracks" like A, B, C, and only the A track was preparing for
college studies. Some high schools went so far as to call themselves
"preparatory" schools, meaning the whole school was A track. The SAT was
originally intended to quantify the level of preparedness of the
candidate so that the college admissions office could assess the
likelihood of success for the student in their program. All that has
been thrown out the window these days. Now it is much more important to
make a determination of gender, socioeconomic status, race,and sexual
orientation, these are the preeminent considerations for modern higher
education where the Bachelor/Bachelorette degree has been reduced to
something less than a certificate. I hope you're happy about how much
damned damage you have done!!!

Actually they should start calling those things Batchlore degrees in
recognition of the mass production aspect...Masters sounds way too much
like a male/slave owner type of thing, maybe should call those EOY
degrees for Extra One Year, and PhD, hmmmm....

 

[Michael Black]

This thread belongs on sci.electronics.design and I wasn't the one who
'drifted' it.

Of course you did, bozo.

It was only sci.electronics.components until you replied. There
were about two replies to the actual question, and then "Salmon
Egg" replied with his post about chemistry, and you replied to
that off-topic post, and tossed in sci.electronics.design:

Subject: Re: History of bulk electronic components suppliers
From: Salmon Egg <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.components
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 10:57:35 -0800

From: "Homer J Simpson" <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.components,sci.electronics.design
Subject: Re: History of bulk electronic components suppliers
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:43:37 GMT

Note that the people in .design never even saw the original question
because your crossposting reply wasnt about "hey, this is a neat thread,
let's see what people can add" it was about making some off-topic reply
that will do nothing but mess up the newsgroups.

Michael

 

[John Fields]

When I explain I'm an electronics design engineer, most ppl go blank.

 

[John Larkin]

The trouble is that nowhere I can think of is reading books presented as
worthwhile 'entertainment' any more.

Graham

Drop in on any good bookstore, during normal hours or for an author's
reading. You'll find lots of people who enjoy reading. On cable TV
here, we have a book channel that spends most of its time discussion,
well, books. The Sunday paper has a separate book review section.
Amazon is one of the few boom-days dot.com survivors.

This town is jammed with bookstores, from big chains like Borders and
Barnes&Noble to obscure antiquarian and specialty shops. Stacey's is
the high-end scientific and professional store, on Market Street. The
one just down the hill from us, across from the public library, has
book readings and nighttime jazz sessions.

Powell's in Seattle is a pilgrimage. I always allow an extra day when
I'm up there, just to hang out in the main store, a full city block,
or the science/engineering annex around the corner. Last time, I was
looking for the Patrick O'Brian books and couldn't fine them in
Fiction. That bummed me out - how the hell could they skip those? -
when somebody lead me to a room full of seafaring books.

Opamp Bookstore in LA is pretty good. Silicon Valley is mostly
disappointing, as bookstores go. I did go into a used technical book
store in Cambridge (MA) just a few blocks from MIT, and asked about
RadLab books. They'd never heard of them.

John

 

[John Larkin]

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which is a standardized test used
here in the U.S.A. for college admissions, has two parts: math and
verbal. On either part, 800 is the highest score. I expressed the
scores as 800/720, in other words 800 math, 720 verbal.

My post, about a dozen up in the stack, stated the two scores
separately. Shape up, Eeyore!

John

 

[John Larkin]

And then they wonder why they can't get decent jobs.

I got the impression some while back that writing macros for Office was what
some ppl thought programming is.

When I explain I'm an electronics design engineer, most ppl go blank. Quite a
few have asked if that means I solder things !

Around here, geekdom has acquired status.

John

 

[Eeyore]

Around here, geekdom has acquired status.

LOL. The girls here seem much more impressed if I say I'm a sound engineer.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

Drop in on any good bookstore, during normal hours or for an author's
reading. You'll find lots of people who enjoy reading. On cable TV
here, we have a book channel that spends most of its time discussion,
well, books. The Sunday paper has a separate book review section.
Amazon is one of the few boom-days dot.com survivors.

But these are for ppl who already enjoy reading. Maybe in the above I should
have used the word promoted. Do you ever see a TV programme presenting reading a
novel in a positive light ?

Graham

 

[John Fields]

LOL. The girls here seem much more impressed if I say I'm a sound engineer.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

I understand now what happened to PolyPaks, but still suspect there must
have been a trend to explain why the others (Bi-Pak and Bi-Pre-Pak for
example) didn't evolve into bulk suppliers on good components, as they
were obviously set up with stock and delivery systems, and a good customer
base.

Radio Shack still sells their limited range but they are less 'enthusiastic'
than they once were about it. Of course I still can't figure out why anyone
would buy the high end stuff they really want to sell from them, but maybe
if they are the only game in town?

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Of course you did, bozo.

Wrong again putz. I wasn't the one who drifted it onto anti drug and
terrorism discussions at which point it belonged more on
sci.electronics.design with the rest of the weird crap, however I seem to be
the only one who tried to keep it just there. I note you are still cross
posting it on sci.electronics.components.