Remember when

Old tube/battery testers from 1942 and 1934. Been sitting in my grandparents basement for many decades. My grandfather ran a small radio/audio equipment repair shop from the 1930's until his death in 1966. These were devices he used in his daily work.

One is being sold to a collector and one to a electronic museum. Glad these things will see the light of day again.

 

Playing Oregon Trail on the teletype at school. Mostly dying of dysentery. Good times...

 

I remember going to 7-11 to test and get new tubes, back when 7-11 closed at 11pm.

 

Thats too cool .Don't see stuff like that anymore.

 

Ah complete with frequency notations likely from the old days!! Still runs good no? Radio Shack offered damn good quality in those days.

 

The 1st picture is a Radiotechnic Laboratory 120 that was just that. It's a rare "counter top" version that was meant as a self service machine. It tested both tubes and batteries.

Indeed. Frankly they should have been pulled from that old basement years ago.

 

This is a long story so feel free to skip it. On my 19th bday, my dad said we were going to throw some fishing rods in my truck (Toyota) and go fishing along the river (Mississippi). He had me stop at a liquor store and bought 2 cases of Busch and a carton of cigarettes. So we proceed to bury my truck frame deep in a mud hole 15 miles from any houses. I said "what the hell are we gonna do?". He said, "we have 2 cases of beer and a carton of cigarettes, who gives a shit." A few minutes later, a couple of old dudes in an ancient, rusted, yellow Toyota come along and pulled us out. Moral to the story, there is none. Just a memory I will always have. Miss that bastard.

Carry on!

 

know what you mean.

 

I don't own a tube tester yet I have three tube radios here, that Hallicrafters alone has 20 tubes. There is one single place where I still can go and test tubes in my area. San Mateo Electronics. They still have and maintain a massive floor console tube tester that has to be about 7' long. I think they keep it going mostly for the audiophools and guitar amp crowd, but lucky for me!

 

My high school poor boys hippie van (1968), wall to wall mattress (with large pillows), large speaker boxes behind the seats(an old 2pc console with 6 speakers), 8 track player hanging under the dash, 3 speed on the column, and a job to pay for it all. Had the engine between the front seats, so 3 peeps could sit up front, one with a warm seat over the engine. Oh the memories. 2nd pic is 1973 graduation with my father in front of my van, sure miss the old bastard. See the love bug damage in the paint? Went straight to a big party after this.

 

And that '71 or '72 Ford sedan photobomb-was that Dad's?

 

Yes it was, can't remember the year of it though. I watched my daughter graduate at the same place years later.

And for those that complain about the love bugs down south, back around 1967 to 1970 the love bugs were 10 times worse. I worked at a large car wash for 2.5yrs, and you had to wonder how some peeps could see to drive there. Had to run them through 5-6 times, they would turn the side of a house black.

 

Hell yeah. Had to represent even on fishing trips. Bonus "Remember When" for the beer bottle. Knowing my family, I'm guessing that was a Hamm's or something.

 

Awesome picture.

 

I still have mine, caught a few Fish with it.

 

You know, all the shit we could gather up would amaze many people in this disposable world.

 

...^^^... I had the el-cheapo Western Auto single speed that weighted a ton and was difficult to pump up hills ... but I got strong pumping it.

My 2 buddies had the cool Black Schwinn with the big spring up front and front and rear lights ... and my other buddy had a 3 speed English Racer with a light generator on it that worked off the spinning tire.

 

My first beer was Coors in a bottle before they homogenized it, had to keep it cold 24/7, around 1967, but only 3 sips. But it was my first beer to beer.

 

I had a cheap 20 incher from somewhere, don't remember, but I paid for it mowing lawns, $35 if I remember right, so 35 yards to mow. Banana seat, high rise bars, chrome fenders, I waxed the damn thing with car wax. Those were the days riding with friends. Anyone remember the TV show "Then came Bronson" ? We would ride pretending to be him.