@alanwoodcock3284 as would I to keep them in business. But our host here pays with "so cool's". I'd already know what I was going to spend before I went in. Call me crazy.
Great video! I'm a local from this area, and I stopped in to Chester today and they said people have been talking about your video nearly every day since you posted it. They even mentioned that at least two people are flying in from out-of-state to check it out after seeing your video. You've done a great service to a local electronics shop, and I'm sure they're very grateful for it. Thanks Rinoa!!
You may be surprised to know that there was a 'second' Chester Electronics in Largo Florida (Tampa area). It was just about 5 miles from where I lived and shut down about 7 years ago. I was in there one day looking for a hard to find item and they made a call to the Wisconsin store to see if they had my item. I was blown away thinking that there were actually '2' of these stores. The Florida store had the exact same look and feel as the Wisconsin store. So sad they closed it down.
Think of the millions of tons of this stuff that got hauled to the dump over the years! I don't know what 99% of that is, but I think it's very cool that there's people who see the value in preserving old electronic gear for other aficionados. Thanks!
I used to have a shop like this in my city. However it was rarely open, hard to find, and difficult for me to get to. By the time I did get someone to take me there, it had pretty much been picked clean. Owner was retiring and so had not bought any more stock. I bought the two things I knew I would use, and left.
What I wouldn't give to have a store like this in my town.
4 года назад+9
I could spend a few hours looking around that place, nothing quite like that around here if I ever get down that way I'll have to stop and check it out.
It would be awesome to have this store in my town.........oh wait this is my town and I live about a half mile away from Chester's. I have been in there several times.
Reminds me of a big garage sale! I've had boxes of old resistors, led"s switches, etc just sitting around for many years, thinking I'll use them for all kinds of fun DIY projects, but in the game of life, there was never enough time!
Same here, i have also lots of items to do DIY, but in the game of life, there was never enough time meanwhile 40 years of hard-work in the world of Electronics.
Really enjoyed this video. These places are to be cherished for sure. The dedication of the people running them is testament to their interests. Thanks for taking us along.
People who disliked are kids that don't know anything about old electronics and think this store is trash. Btw cool store i would love to buy many stuff for my projects
Wow. Last time I actually saw a stock of vacuum tubes for sale in a store was around 1990. I know there are plenty available online. I used to love watching the tubes in our old TV warm up.
That is an electronics candy store.A store like that should be in every state like the old days when people repaired electronics equipment,i hope it will stay open.
Man that place is like a dream come true. Where else would you find vacuum tubes still on the shelf for sale? I remember places like that when I was a kid unfortunately they are going away or gone these days. I wonder what they are selling with so much vintage merchandise still on the shelf I wonder what they're making money on and how they keep the door open. Thanks for sharing.
Chris , I’ve been wondering for years how they stay in business myself lol. I bought a Pioneer laserdisc player there brand new in 1979 or 80. At the time they did the kind of business a Bestbuy does today.
@@thermionicman6700 my hunch is they own that shopping mall, and have tenants, or they at least own their store front. no way they could stay in business if they were paying market rate rent,
Some of my fondest times as a (nerdy) kid was prowling around the local army surplus electronics store. The owner was a disabled army vet with unlimited stories to tell.
I've been in this store once to have a look around. It was a true time capsule of the electronics industry for sure. This place was quite amazing. I live right down the street from this store actually and I love Kenosha. There is just so much to see and do here. Mars Cheese Castle is another awesome gem in town, as well as the Kenosha lakefront with it's amazing museums and even electric street cars. And all on the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan. And there's tons of shopping, hotels and restaurants as well in town. Kenosha is now a bustling place for sure with a lot to see and do. Definitely a great tourist town for those not from here.
Now that's a real electronics store! I would love to get my hands on some of that stuff.... Reminds me of a small shop near me that recently shut down...
While I did very much enjoy this video, I enjoyed seeing you feeling out and smiling ear to ear even more. 😁 Seeing all of the content of the store brought me back to managing stores for RadioShack. Ah, the memories.
Such a beautiful smile,and wonderful tour, through the best electronics / assorted parts place. The people there must be friendly indeed to let you tour unimpeded. 💝
Wow, you have not showed up on my feed for a long time, yet I see that you have been very active, Good to have you back on my feed, I love your content.
I'm in nerdvana! I was thinking of trying to describe how watching this was making me feel --- but your face at 14:51 expresses it far better than any words I could write. Thank you!
Dang I miss the ol Brick and Morter shops. First place I use to go was the bargain racks. This was like stepping back in time for sure. I remember when 7-11 stores had tube testers just like that one . You tested your radio or Tv tube and hopped they had the one you needed in the little shelf under the tester. LOL That is one AMAZING Store.
@@darinp5612 Good question. I've been in that store many times, but probably not once in the last 10 years. Yet, when she did her run through the aisles, I recognized a lot of the same old stuff that was there when I was last in the store. I have no idea what kind of business they do, but I wouldn't take the drive up there on the off chance that they might actually have what I need. I'm not at all convinced they replenish their stock, rather than just trying to sell what's there. When such stores were common place, this was a fairly typical electronics distributor who carried the usual array of things needed by a tv/radio repair shop. I used to buy parts from their (long closed) Waukegan, IL store. I have no idea how they do enough business to keep the doors open.
@@darinp5612 the purpose of this is fuelling the retro hype... which is pandemic everywhere.. and just like in this video.. 'wow it is old, wow it is vintage, wow it is sooooo cool' no matter if there is any use of the particular item.. thats it.. and it is really gross to see many people nowadays making profit by buying/reselling these things...
used to spend half my wake time in shops like these during the 80's and early 90's - they all but vanished. none nearly as big as Chester Electronics but still. happy something like it still exists. thanks for uploading!
This reminds me of years ago when I would spend hours at Purdue salvage co. In West Lafayette Indiana. They would salvage and sell all the old lab and other equipment from Purdue university. That was a blast. You would see anything from mainframe computers to old desks and chairs. It was so cool!
WOW!!! This brings back memories of my local store as a young man some 15 to 20 years ago, called Pembleton Electronics in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The original owner (Jim Pembleton) had stories a mile long. My weekly ventures to his store started in a basement, as it was known, to them into a larger industrial building... I so much miss him and the store... Thank you for taking the time to show this...
@@jackamelar1455 One of Jim Pemblton's young employee's purchased all of to take it over due to its potential $$$, Misener Electronics. I forget his first name, "Mike, Mark, Steve?" its been approx 20 years since chatting with Misener. But in the process of taking over, there was ALLOT of blind issues that Jim Pembleton left on the door step of Misener Electronics Inc or LLC. When you buy a business and their inventory, one would never expect to also buy all the hidden or bad business deal as well. I don't quite remember all the exacting details of what Misener said, but, although he tried to put of a good fight to keep it all going, it was just too much politics fighting against him, when old history still wanted their cut or debts paid. for example, some of the inventory that Misener took over, and paid for, Jim never paid for. Basically, double dipped. Please note, I do not know Jim's side of the story, as I only head this side from Misener after Jim past away. So, the factual story is unknown, as this is just one side only. I politely say, I do not believe mush of what Misener said, for all the claims of corruption Jim was involved in, and magically somebody else is not liable for that? I doubt that. But who knows. Why I question the truth of what or most of what Misener stated, vs he is just horrible at running a business, which is possible, (no disrespect to Misener, just stating that is possible) but, Jim Pembleton, being a crooked business man, screwing people over, for 50 years, is also possible, even though I doubt it, for one simple reason. many of the contractors that surplus was purchased from where through auction houses, and gov't contract auctions. and you don't get to rip those people off, it just doesn't work that way. First, you don't get to take you winnings home, until you first pay. that is any auction. Second, there was several contracts that would use Penbletons as a dump site, so that they didn't have to pay to have new/old stock dealt with in recycling, trash dump, HAZ-MAT process ,etc. and Jim would take it, and harvest it, and sell it ,LOL. key word: DONATED. and everybody wins. So, those people LOVED that end of the deal. As per Misener, I do not have anything bad to say about his attempt to keep it up and going, I do wish he was a success, but, it wasn't, for what ever the truth might be. That last I heard from Misener, those many years ago, that he was trying to set up a new location, as he did still have the majority of the inventory / surplus, but, that was a struggle, for the size building needed, vs, inventory size vs lease/rent/mortgage price, that all on its own can be a horrible adventure in trying to secure a store front, and be bonded, and insured utilities, etc.... I can only imagine, one month would cost every bit of $4000, and likely be closer to $12K a month... That is allot of overhead to deal with, unless you just already owned the building. As of now, I have no clue if Misener still has all that surplus, I doubt it.
Great video. I remember places like this in the seventies when I was growing up. Now all those places are gone. I built a lot of electronics from all that junk I bought back then. Mostly for Ham Radio projects.
The financial district of Manhattan once was an area that became known as Radio Row after the end of World War II; several blocks of electronics, radio, and TV stores, and lots of military surplus parts and devices. Those business were all forced out in order to build the World Trade Center. Some of the businesses took a buyout from the city and closed up; others attempted to band together and sue the city and the developers, but eventually lost and were forced to relocate to less desirable areas with less foot traffic and therefore reduced sales. Some years ago, Antique Radio Classifieds magazine ran a series of articles about the area, the history, and the legal fight that left the original shop owners broke and broken.
good 'un , we had an area like that here in Chicago. It was on Michigan Ave., about 1-2 miles, south of the "Loop" (downtown Chicago). You could buy anything electronic there : government surplus radio from WW2, etc. I was in high school then (early to mid 1960s) and bought up everything I could afford. I'd build everything I could, ham radio stuff. I kept it all through the years (now in boxes and crates in my basement). I sure miss those days! Kids today don't have a clue about how much fun (and education) one can get with this kind of "junk." Most wouldn't know which end of a soldering iron to grab! ( I know : "What is a soldering iron?" They would ask.)
@@jeromewysocki8809 , I bet that was one heck of a great electronics bazaar and flea market spot, considering how many electronics manufacturers were based in Illinois and especially the the Chicago area. Chicago transformer, CTS, clarostat, centralab, UTC, I believe they were all based in that area camera also triad and thordarson if I remember correctly. And Valco, who made guitar amplifiers for Gretsch and Sears and Montgomery wards and other retailers as well as their own brands, National and Supro.
@@goodun2974 Yep. End of and era there. Back in 1988 the Marines shipped me out of Japan to California. It was still hopping here with electronics and computer stores. I cant tell you how many times I took my Apple IIE to one of those "junk stores" to have something replaced. Usually the power supply or something. Nowadays I would have to throw that out and get a new one. LOL. The young kids dont know what they missed. Those bastards walk around praying to their smart phones.
@@jeromewysocki8809 And you know what Jerome, to add insult to injury, all the electronics and police scanner magazines have disappeared from the store shelves. Some of them like popular electronics tried to go digital but I dont see them anymore. maybe they were too early in that game. All the great electronics magazines I grew up with are gone. Even a lot of the early computer magazines are no more. We have to thank the housing financial crisis and the recession or whatever the hell that was back then. It was a hell of a reset. It was good in a way because a lot of the competing stores closed. But that left us with a more expensive economy and now we have to pay an arm and a leg for rent and goods.
I remember driving 2 hours with my Grandpa to go to Chesters just for some for some old Radio tubes. I left with a big box of DC motors through $8 for 25 of them. I have been using them for may different projects over the years.
I remember hanging out at places like this in college, great to see them still around. But these are really nerdy venues to a large majority of people. And yet here I am watching 🤓
Wow, this is really a great store ! Wish this was in my area here on Long Island NY. Now that I have been getting into working with older computers and video games from the late 70's and 80's, this would be perfect. Thanks for the tour! Much appreciated.
Right in front of the tubes. Cool place! So much NOS electronics. Might need to put in an order for some stuff. I like building vacuum tube compressors. Those resistors and wirewound pots look very useful.
Rinoa, You are awesome. Showcasing all the technology I grew up with. You seriously know vintage tech. Especially the old cable configurations. Sincerely, KC3NTS
well thank you! im tempted to use that old modem cable for the umbilacle to my rocket engine test stand when i end up computerizing my engine. it has like 30 connectors and its cool
I didn't know this was so close to me! I'm like about 20 miles south in IL. Also - those weren't floppy controllers. Those were combined floppy and either MFM or ESDI hard drive controllers. The one to the left was probably a cache card - likely a caching hard drive controller. I sent a link to this video to a group of friends I have in the classic computer scene to see if they noticed anything they're looking for. (This means you're unlikely to get a Model-M if you go back later. Sorry. XD ) Thanks for making this video!
Blind rabbit, knowledgeable electronics nerds know that when it comes to capacitors, Cornell-Dubelier aka CDE, Mallory, Sprague and Aerovox were as good as it gets!
You are SO lucky! There are no such surplus stores in my area to my knowledge. Reminded me of my first real job at Radio Shack. We even had one of the tube testers you showed.
What a lovely store, I'm thrilled! The shelves are filled with tubes, and that tube tester must be heaven. America has many interesting stores where you can find what you need. It's great that old components can find a new purpose there, it's good for the environment and reduces unnecessary waste. I'm curious to see what new uses these glass enclosures will find.
Hah, Nixdorf Computer AG. That's from Paderborn, Germany. 10 Miles from where I live. Heinz Nixdorf was one of Germany's computer pioneers. A department of the university is called after him and there also is the Heinz-Nixdorf Museumsforum, which is said to be the biggest computer museum in the world. That's so cool to see an old Nixdorf circuit randomly lying around in an electronics store in the US.
reminds me of being a kid and walking into the parts store with my dad so he could get parts for TV's and VCR's... Belts, schematics, parts, everything was available in boxes and bags. I'd find a little motor or speaker that I liked and he might let me buy it and learn to hook it up.
I have GOT to make a trip to Kenosha! We do have a shop here in Grand Rapids, MI that does carry a lot of old electronics, but it is about a tenth the size of Chester Electronics, if that! Thanks for posting this. It's nice to see that here is a place like this not that far away!
As a kid, I remember being in this and their previous location with my dad who knew Chet. Chet (short for Chester) was friends with my dad's and they would talk for hours. We always knew when Chet was in the store because he smoked a cigar that unmistakably lingered in the air. While my dad talked with him for what seemed like hours to me as a kid, I would walk around in total amazement and look at everything. My dad would test tubes at that very tube tester from our RCA Color TV. My older brother would purchase parts for yet another electronics project of his that he probably got from those SAM's books. As far as we knew it was the only place to purchase all that project wire and reel-to-reel recording tape for our brand-new tape recorder! Oh, the memories!!! Thank you for this. If you can't find it, go to Chester Electronics.
What a place. The phrase 'kid in a candy shop' probably best described that smile! I'll freely admit I don't understand much about electronics, but I would still love a look around a place like that. As someone from the UK who grew up with a ZX Spectrum or two (or three...) I have a thing for older technology.
I honestly think he has even more stuff like this. Well maybe not so much the cables and such but he has a massive amount of equipment waiting to be restored.
I have fond memories of electronics parts supply stores like this one and I was hoping to see some vintage transistors but as it was, a very entertaining video!
Thanks for showing this place. I became overwhelmed by it. This place has that part you need for say restoring an old piece of equipment, just hope they can find where it is 😮
The old man's electronic shop, where there is a little bit of everything. IN East Lansing we have a place called Fulton Electronics, same idea but smaller and no surplus equipment. For surplus equipment, we have the University Surplus Center where every manner of equipment can be seen from some pretty nice labs and research. Once picked up a $45 box with 28 Stereo Headset retro looking, 12-6 port audio switches and a ton of 1/4 stereo patch cables. Loved the slow walk through the store. Keep broadcasting!!
So cool ... at 12:53 on the left Turner Microphones for CB & Ham Radio ... these are more than 40 years old! That stuff brings back childhood memories. This is really like a museum where you can buy things. Here in Munich, Germany we used to have such a store downtown "Nadler Elektronik" until just a few years ago, it looked just like that ... I was always surprised they would survive for so long. I am glad we still have one electronic store outside of Munich where I can buy modern electronic components from ultra tiny SMD parts to RF components and also more common electronic parts and devices with their main focus on industry customers and sure almost all of their sales go out via postal delivery but they still have an old fashioned sales area. It is so nice when you have an idea for a circuit and you can just drive there, buy the parts and get it up and running the same day!
bsa 1970 … If I had to guess, they buy and sell large quantities of surplus stock at close out prices and this is the oddball stuff that doesn't go in bulk. IOW, the store is a novelty but the real money to support the store is elsewhere... and perhaps sold outside this country.
OMG! This IS sooo cool! As an early teen, I spent many Saturday afternoons at Radio Shack when you could actually by parts. Of course I had the free Battery of the Month Club card. Now I must find this store online. But it won't smell the same. Also, I was smiling largely for fifteen minutes before you turned the camera on yourself. Did I mention "This IS SOOO COOL!"
I love going to this place. I have gone there for record player belts, cartridges, needles, blank audio cassettes, and replacement capacitors for a Reel to Reel tape recorder. The owner knows his shit, too. None of that Radio Shack and Best Buy salesman bullshit. Walk in, look around without being bothered and when you have a question, it will be answered.
I would walk into a place like this and probably never come out again.
I would buy things i dont really need😊
@alanwoodcock3284 as would I to keep them in business. But our host here pays with "so cool's". I'd already know what I was going to spend before I went in. Call me crazy.
All junk get rid of it
What a delightful shop!
Awesome seeing you here.
Great video! I'm a local from this area, and I stopped in to Chester today and they said people have been talking about your video nearly every day since you posted it. They even mentioned that at least two people are flying in from out-of-state to check it out after seeing your video. You've done a great service to a local electronics shop, and I'm sure they're very grateful for it. Thanks Rinoa!!
that fills my with happiness tbh
If I had the money and time I would be flying driving there from Canada.
How about dinner tonight dear ❤❤❤❤
I’m in New Jersey sweetheart 😂😂😂❤❤😅😅
Trump casino 🎰 😂😂❤❤❤
They don't have enough shops like this anymore. Cool stuff.
epo houston
it's like a museum where you can buy the exhibits
yep, they should charge tickets at the entrance, it wouldn't be fair to enter such a place and see all that and buy/pay nothing.
You may be surprised to know that there was a 'second' Chester Electronics in Largo Florida (Tampa area). It was just about 5 miles from where I lived and shut down about 7 years ago. I was in there one day looking for a hard to find item and they made a call to the Wisconsin store to see if they had my item. I was blown away thinking that there were actually '2' of these stores. The Florida store had the exact same look and feel as the Wisconsin store. So sad they closed it down.
See kids... this is what it looked like before the internet. :-) That was a great tour. Thank you. Greetings from Arizona.
WAY, WAY better, I can't articulate this sufficiently, but the modern generation barely know they're even born!
I feel old!
...yet we can thank the internet for this video.
It's like a walk-in eBay!
And the prices are cheap like when ebay was actually good
Think of the millions of tons of this stuff that got hauled to the dump over the years! I don't know what 99% of that is, but I think it's very cool that there's people who see the value in preserving old electronic gear for other aficionados. Thanks!
I love stores like this. Sadly many of them struggle to survive.
true
I used to have a shop like this in my city. However it was rarely open, hard to find, and difficult for me to get to.
By the time I did get someone to take me there, it had pretty much been picked clean.
Owner was retiring and so had not bought any more stock.
I bought the two things I knew I would use, and left.
It reminds me of the Frys Electronics components section. I miss those days.
What I wouldn't give to have a store like this in my town.
I could spend a few hours looking around that place, nothing quite like that around here if I ever get down that way I'll have to stop and check it out.
It would be awesome to have this store in my town.........oh wait this is my town and I live about a half mile away from Chester's. I have been in there several times.
@@millerrmann you are so lucky. i hope there is a store like that in my town.
@@millerrmann Me too. About four miles for me and I do go there about once a month. :)
They have tubes,a rare thing in europe
They should have a donation jar for 'cool'.
"No, I didn't buy any equipment, but I paid for $5 of cool. "
Thanks for the smile. 😊
Shes got a pretty smile I would love to have a techy girlfriend her
@Another Dick haha she seems pretty female to me :-)
Reminds me of a big garage sale! I've had boxes of old resistors, led"s switches, etc just sitting around for many years, thinking I'll use them for all kinds of fun DIY projects, but in the game of life, there was never enough time!
Hehe, you have tons of stuff at home and then you have to walk in such a store to buy a litte knob ... ;-) I know this. Greetings from Bremen, Germany
Same here, i have also lots of items to do DIY, but in the game of life, there was never enough time meanwhile 40 years of hard-work in the world of Electronics.
Really enjoyed this video. These places are to be cherished for sure. The dedication of the people running them is testament to their interests. Thanks for taking us along.
People who disliked are kids that don't know anything about old electronics and think this store is trash. Btw cool store i would love to buy many stuff for my projects
Wow. Last time I actually saw a stock of vacuum tubes for sale in a store was around 1990. I know there are plenty available online. I used to love watching the tubes in our old TV warm up.
Posing with vacuum tubes, that's totally something I would do.
That is an electronics candy store.A store like that should be in every state like the old days when people repaired electronics equipment,i hope it will stay open.
I can see myself spending a whole day at this store
I can see myself spending my whole life savings at this store! :-D
Thanks for showing.
*So long !*
I'm living in Brazil ! ! !
Man that place is like a dream come true. Where else would you find vacuum tubes still on the shelf for sale? I remember places like that when I was a kid unfortunately they are going away or gone these days. I wonder what they are selling with so much vintage merchandise still on the shelf I wonder what they're making money on and how they keep the door open. Thanks for sharing.
Chris , I’ve been wondering for years how they stay in business myself lol. I bought a Pioneer laserdisc player there brand new in 1979 or 80. At the time they did the kind of business a Bestbuy does today.
@@thermionicman6700 my hunch is they own that shopping mall, and have tenants, or they at least own their store front. no way they could stay in business if they were paying market rate rent,
Some of my fondest times as a (nerdy) kid was prowling around the local army surplus electronics store. The owner was a disabled army vet with unlimited stories to tell.
I've been in this store once to have a look around. It was a true time capsule of the electronics industry for sure. This place was quite amazing. I live right down the street from this store actually and I love Kenosha. There is just so much to see and do here. Mars Cheese Castle is another awesome gem in town, as well as the Kenosha lakefront with it's amazing museums and even electric street cars. And all on the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan. And there's tons of shopping, hotels and restaurants as well in town. Kenosha is now a bustling place for sure with a lot to see and do. Definitely a great tourist town for those not from here.
Now that's a real electronics store!
I would love to get my hands on some of that stuff....
Reminds me of a small shop near me that recently shut down...
While I did very much enjoy this video, I enjoyed seeing you feeling out and smiling ear to ear even more. 😁 Seeing all of the content of the store brought me back to managing stores for RadioShack. Ah, the memories.
Reminds me of Arlington Electronics, the old one on Lee Hwy. Monthly visits as a teen. Thanks for the tour. 👍
It's crazy to think all these oddball parts were sold at enough volume to be put in retail packaging like this back in the day
Such a beautiful smile,and wonderful tour, through the best electronics / assorted parts place. The people there must be friendly indeed to let you tour unimpeded. 💝
+1 for Chester's!! My local shop for.. well my whole life! Glad someone brought some attention to the great store and employees!
That my home town haven't been thare in years
Wow, you have not showed up on my feed for a long time, yet I see that you have been very active, Good to have you back on my feed, I love your content.
Cool place. Thanks for bringing us along.
14:57 Such a pretty smile. grin.
Such a cutie, and the store is awesome also. Thanks for sharing...
I'm in nerdvana! I was thinking of trying to describe how watching this was making me feel --- but your face at 14:51 expresses it far better than any words I could write. Thank you!
Dang I miss the ol Brick and Morter shops. First place I use to go was the bargain racks. This was like stepping back in time for sure. I remember when 7-11 stores had tube testers just like that one . You tested your radio or Tv tube and hopped they had the one you needed in the little shelf under the tester. LOL That is one AMAZING Store.
The entrance is a time portal ... incredible this place exists in 2019
old technology garage sale junk in a warehouse... and the purpose of this is?
Hi from Romania,It's amazing shop,i love old electronics .It's a very big shop and very interesting,thank you.
@@darinp5612 Good question. I've been in that store many times, but probably not once in the last 10 years. Yet, when she did her run through the aisles, I recognized a lot of the same old stuff that was there when I was last in the store. I have no idea what kind of business they do, but I wouldn't take the drive up there on the off chance that they might actually have what I need. I'm not at all convinced they replenish their stock, rather than just trying to sell what's there. When such stores were common place, this was a fairly typical electronics distributor who carried the usual array of things needed by a tv/radio repair shop. I used to buy parts from their (long closed) Waukegan, IL store. I have no idea how they do enough business to keep the doors open.
@@darinp5612 the purpose of this is fuelling the retro hype... which is pandemic everywhere.. and just like in this video.. 'wow it is old, wow it is vintage, wow it is sooooo cool' no matter if there is any use of the particular item.. thats it.. and it is really gross to see many people nowadays making profit by buying/reselling these things...
@@laszlovona People buy what they want , if there is a market there is a source .. if it makes sense or not
used to spend half my wake time in shops like these during the 80's and early 90's - they all but vanished. none nearly as big as Chester Electronics but still. happy something like it still exists. thanks for uploading!
I could spend the rest of my life wandering around that place.
This reminds me of years ago when I would spend hours at Purdue salvage co. In West Lafayette Indiana. They would salvage and sell all the old lab and other equipment from Purdue university. That was a blast. You would see anything from mainframe computers to old desks and chairs. It was so cool!
thanks for sharing places like this with all of us
no problem
WOW!!! This brings back memories of my local store as a young man some 15 to 20 years ago, called Pembleton Electronics in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The original owner (Jim Pembleton) had stories a mile long. My weekly ventures to his store started in a basement, as it was known, to them into a larger industrial building... I so much miss him and the store... Thank you for taking the time to show this...
I was at Pembleton once. Anybody know whatever happened to all that stuff?
@@jackamelar1455 One of Jim Pemblton's young employee's purchased all of to take it over due to its potential $$$, Misener Electronics. I forget his first name, "Mike, Mark, Steve?" its been approx 20 years since chatting with Misener. But in the process of taking over, there was ALLOT of blind issues that Jim Pembleton left on the door step of Misener Electronics Inc or LLC. When you buy a business and their inventory, one would never expect to also buy all the hidden or bad business deal as well. I don't quite remember all the exacting details of what Misener said, but, although he tried to put of a good fight to keep it all going, it was just too much politics fighting against him, when old history still wanted their cut or debts paid. for example, some of the inventory that Misener took over, and paid for, Jim never paid for. Basically, double dipped. Please note, I do not know Jim's side of the story, as I only head this side from Misener after Jim past away. So, the factual story is unknown, as this is just one side only. I politely say, I do not believe mush of what Misener said, for all the claims of corruption Jim was involved in, and magically somebody else is not liable for that? I doubt that. But who knows. Why I question the truth of what or most of what Misener stated, vs he is just horrible at running a business, which is possible, (no disrespect to Misener, just stating that is possible) but, Jim Pembleton, being a crooked business man, screwing people over, for 50 years, is also possible, even though I doubt it, for one simple reason. many of the contractors that surplus was purchased from where through auction houses, and gov't contract auctions. and you don't get to rip those people off, it just doesn't work that way. First, you don't get to take you winnings home, until you first pay. that is any auction. Second, there was several contracts that would use Penbletons as a dump site, so that they didn't have to pay to have new/old stock dealt with in recycling, trash dump, HAZ-MAT process ,etc. and Jim would take it, and harvest it, and sell it ,LOL. key word: DONATED. and everybody wins. So, those people LOVED that end of the deal.
As per Misener, I do not have anything bad to say about his attempt to keep it up and going, I do wish he was a success, but, it wasn't, for what ever the truth might be. That last I heard from Misener, those many years ago, that he was trying to set up a new location, as he did still have the majority of the inventory / surplus, but, that was a struggle, for the size building needed, vs, inventory size vs lease/rent/mortgage price, that all on its own can be a horrible adventure in trying to secure a store front, and be bonded, and insured utilities, etc.... I can only imagine, one month would cost every bit of $4000, and likely be closer to $12K a month... That is allot of overhead to deal with, unless you just already owned the building. As of now, I have no clue if Misener still has all that surplus, I doubt it.
Great video. I remember places like this in the seventies when I was growing up. Now all those places are gone. I built a lot of electronics from all that junk I bought back then. Mostly for Ham Radio projects.
The financial district of Manhattan once was an area that became known as Radio Row after the end of World War II; several blocks of electronics, radio, and TV stores, and lots of military surplus parts and devices. Those business were all forced out in order to build the World Trade Center. Some of the businesses took a buyout from the city and closed up; others attempted to band together and sue the city and the developers, but eventually lost and were forced to relocate to less desirable areas with less foot traffic and therefore reduced sales. Some years ago, Antique Radio Classifieds magazine ran a series of articles about the area, the history, and the legal fight that left the original shop owners broke and broken.
good 'un , we had an area like that here in Chicago. It was on Michigan Ave., about 1-2 miles, south of the "Loop" (downtown Chicago). You could buy anything electronic there : government surplus radio from WW2, etc. I was in high school then (early to mid 1960s) and bought up everything I could afford. I'd build everything I could, ham radio stuff. I kept it all through the years (now in boxes and crates in my basement). I sure miss those days! Kids today don't have a clue about how much fun (and education) one can get with this kind of "junk." Most wouldn't know which end of a soldering iron to grab! ( I know : "What is a soldering iron?" They would ask.)
@@jeromewysocki8809 , I bet that was one heck of a great electronics bazaar and flea market spot, considering how many electronics manufacturers were based in Illinois and especially the the Chicago area. Chicago transformer, CTS, clarostat, centralab, UTC, I believe they were all based in that area camera also triad and thordarson if I remember correctly. And Valco, who made guitar amplifiers for Gretsch and Sears and Montgomery wards and other retailers as well as their own brands, National and Supro.
@@goodun2974 Yep. End of and era there. Back in 1988 the Marines shipped me out of Japan to California. It was still hopping here with electronics and computer stores. I cant tell you how many times I took my Apple IIE to one of those "junk stores" to have something replaced. Usually the power supply or something. Nowadays I would have to throw that out and get a new one. LOL. The young kids dont know what they missed. Those bastards walk around praying to their smart phones.
@@jeromewysocki8809 And you know what Jerome, to add insult to injury, all the electronics and police scanner magazines have disappeared from the store shelves. Some of them like popular electronics tried to go digital but I dont see them anymore. maybe they were too early in that game. All the great electronics magazines I grew up with are gone. Even a lot of the early computer magazines are no more. We have to thank the housing financial crisis and the recession or whatever the hell that was back then. It was a hell of a reset. It was good in a way because a lot of the competing stores closed. But that left us with a more expensive economy and now we have to pay an arm and a leg for rent and goods.
I can smell this place.
My thoughts exactly as I recall visiting old surplus electronics stores in the 70's and 80's.
Is that you Creepy Joe?
A wonderful nostalgic aroma.
Kind of a like a shoe store but not...lol
Yeah musty hahaha
I remember driving 2 hours with my Grandpa to go to Chesters just for some for some old Radio tubes. I left with a big box of DC motors through $8 for 25 of them. I have been using them for may different projects over the years.
Amazing, it's like going back to the 80's ! Cool video, love your enthusiasm :)
Your beautiful smile provides nice interludes with the magnificent variety of vintage goods. Thanks for the tour of yesteryear.
I remember hanging out at places like this in college, great to see them still around. But these are really nerdy venues to a large majority of people. And yet here I am watching 🤓
Makes me miss weird stuff warehouse . love these kinds of videos
Wow, this is really a great store ! Wish this was in my area here on Long Island NY. Now that I have been getting into working with older computers and video games from the late 70's and 80's, this would be perfect. Thanks for the tour! Much appreciated.
Thanks for taking me along.
Great store thanks for showing us around :-)
timestamp 14:52 like a kid in a candy store , what a great smile
Exactly how i had felt too... ha ha. :)
Fall in love!
Right in front of the tubes. Cool place! So much NOS electronics. Might need to put in an order for some stuff. I like building vacuum tube compressors. Those resistors and wirewound pots look very useful.
The smile definitely says it all!
Amazing. Thank you for the walk through.
Rinoa,
You are awesome. Showcasing all the technology I grew up with.
You seriously know vintage tech. Especially the old cable configurations.
Sincerely,
KC3NTS
well thank you! im tempted to use that old modem cable for the umbilacle to my rocket engine test stand when i end up computerizing my engine.
it has like 30 connectors and its cool
I didn't know this was so close to me! I'm like about 20 miles south in IL. Also - those weren't floppy controllers. Those were combined floppy and either MFM or ESDI hard drive controllers. The one to the left was probably a cache card - likely a caching hard drive controller. I sent a link to this video to a group of friends I have in the classic computer scene to see if they noticed anything they're looking for. (This means you're unlikely to get a Model-M if you go back later. Sorry. XD ) Thanks for making this video!
well you can find model Ms in almost any dumpster, ive thrown away a few lol
You must be young, since they had a store about 20 miles south on Washington, in Waukegan.
Indoor Ham-feast!! Love it
Also If you Don't know Cornell Dubilier, you haven't been around long enough, ;)
Blind rabbit, knowledgeable electronics nerds know that when it comes to capacitors, Cornell-Dubelier aka CDE, Mallory, Sprague and Aerovox were as good as it gets!
I absoluteley love this store ❤ thank you for sharing
Thanks a lot for sharing this shop tour !
been going there for years love the old stock.
Ohhh that looks like a lot of fun!
You are SO lucky! There are no such surplus stores in my area to my knowledge. Reminded me of my first real job at Radio Shack. We even had one of the tube testers you showed.
How wonderful! - a real gem! greets, Levi from Finland - (and a very cute filmmaker:)
There is no UPC on those LEDs so they are pre-1975
Someone found their happy place. : ) peace
I could spend hours in that time capsule. I love the stuff in there 😍
Thank you for sharing.
What a lovely store, I'm thrilled! The shelves are filled with tubes, and that tube tester must be heaven. America has many interesting stores where you can find what you need. It's great that old components can find a new purpose there, it's good for the environment and reduces unnecessary waste. I'm curious to see what new uses these glass enclosures will find.
Awww that smile happy in heaven
Place looks pretty cool, I’d have to check it out if I was in the area
I can't believe it's still open! Dad was a ham operator and electrical engineer and I was in that shop more than I cared for!
You are totally excited with this visit haha, that’s funny. Thank you for sharing it. I am forwarding to a good electronic engineer friend :)
These places are gold!
I wish that Chester Electronics had a website.
Going to Weird Stuff Warehouse was one of my favorite things about visiting family in Silicon Valley. Thanks for sharing this.
Nice shop, thx for the tour. Greetings from the Netherlands 😁
Hah, Nixdorf Computer AG. That's from Paderborn, Germany. 10 Miles from where I live. Heinz Nixdorf was one of Germany's computer pioneers. A department of the university is called after him and there also is the Heinz-Nixdorf Museumsforum, which is said to be the biggest computer museum in the world. That's so cool to see an old Nixdorf circuit randomly lying around in an electronics store in the US.
had many stores like this growing up as a kid
reminds me of being a kid and walking into the parts store with my dad so he could get parts for TV's and VCR's... Belts, schematics, parts, everything was available in boxes and bags. I'd find a little motor or speaker that I liked and he might let me buy it and learn to hook it up.
This takes me back so far that my hair is growing back-thanks!
Used to be a place like this in Colorado Springs ....
Was fun to go inside and just see the STUFF they salvaged.
American Science and Surplus is truly worth your time to go check out.
More or less kiddie stuff there. Chester Electronics is for the big boys, and girls too!
he's the Master perfect coment
I suppose John Titor has rummaged through this store a "time" or two...
I have GOT to make a trip to Kenosha! We do have a shop here in Grand Rapids, MI that does carry a lot of old electronics, but it is about a tenth the size of Chester Electronics, if that! Thanks for posting this. It's nice to see that here is a place like this not that far away!
Nice video. Quite immersive. Thanks for the tour. I feel like we hanged out for a few minutes.
that smile at 15:08, that is how i would feel as well being in that place of awesomeness!
I could get lost in this place all day....and come home with a trunk full of things to tinker with.
As a kid, I remember being in this and their previous location with my dad who knew Chet. Chet (short for Chester) was friends with my dad's and they would talk for hours. We always knew when Chet was in the store because he smoked a cigar that unmistakably lingered in the air. While my dad talked with him for what seemed like hours to me as a kid, I would walk around in total amazement and look at everything. My dad would test tubes at that very tube tester from our RCA Color TV. My older brother would purchase parts for yet another electronics project of his that he probably got from those SAM's books. As far as we knew it was the only place to purchase all that project wire and reel-to-reel recording tape for our brand-new tape recorder! Oh, the memories!!! Thank you for this. If you can't find it, go to Chester Electronics.
What a place. The phrase 'kid in a candy shop' probably best described that smile! I'll freely admit I don't understand much about electronics, but I would still love a look around a place like that. As someone from the UK who grew up with a ZX Spectrum or two (or three...) I have a thing for older technology.
It’s like 1991. I love this place. How does this place still exist?
Mr. Carlson should do a video there.
Paul is amazing, isn't he! :)
I honestly think he has even more stuff like this. Well maybe not so much the cables and such but he has a massive amount of equipment waiting to be restored.
I have fond memories of electronics parts supply stores like this one and I was hoping to see some vintage transistors but as it was, a very entertaining video!
Very fun and interesting video,so glad i ran across this!
My kind of place sure miss them
Someone needs to tell "shango066" about this place
shit no doubt...those tubes...
Thanks for showing this place. I became overwhelmed by it. This place has that part you need for say restoring an old piece of equipment, just hope they can find where it is 😮
Nice video. Definitely, a Time Warp ride thru electronics history. Wish I had a store in my area that carried a tenth of their inventory.
Well, it's a kind of new definition of 'heaven' word :)
i would blow so much money in there! love all the new in box tubes!
I've blown so much money in there.
The old man's electronic shop, where there is a little bit of everything. IN East Lansing we have a place called Fulton Electronics, same idea but smaller and no surplus equipment. For surplus equipment, we have the University Surplus Center where every manner of equipment can be seen from some pretty nice labs and research. Once picked up a $45 box with 28 Stereo Headset retro looking, 12-6 port audio switches and a ton of 1/4 stereo patch cables. Loved the slow walk through the store. Keep broadcasting!!
So cool ... at 12:53 on the left Turner Microphones for CB & Ham Radio ... these are more than 40 years old! That stuff brings back childhood memories. This is really like a museum where you can buy things.
Here in Munich, Germany we used to have such a store downtown "Nadler Elektronik" until just a few years ago, it looked just like that ... I was always surprised they would survive for so long.
I am glad we still have one electronic store outside of Munich where I can buy modern electronic components from ultra tiny SMD parts to RF components and also more common electronic parts and devices with their main focus on industry customers and sure almost all of their sales go out via postal delivery but they still have an old fashioned sales area.
It is so nice when you have an idea for a circuit and you can just drive there, buy the parts and get it up and running the same day!
New Old Stock... Organized/grouped used inventory
(Subdued nerdgasm)
Awesome store, reminds me of the 80s and 70s, I really don't know how they keep the doors open with what they sale.
bsa 1970 … If I had to guess, they buy and sell large quantities of surplus stock at close out prices and this is the oddball stuff that doesn't go in bulk. IOW, the store is a novelty but the real money to support the store is elsewhere... and perhaps sold outside this country.
OMG! This IS sooo cool! As an early teen, I spent many Saturday afternoons at Radio Shack when you could actually by parts. Of course I had the free Battery of the Month Club card. Now I must find this store online. But it won't smell the same.
Also, I was smiling largely for fifteen minutes before you turned the camera on yourself. Did I mention "This IS SOOO COOL!"
I love going to this place. I have gone there for record player belts, cartridges, needles, blank audio cassettes, and replacement capacitors for a Reel to Reel tape recorder. The owner knows his shit, too. None of that Radio Shack and Best Buy salesman bullshit. Walk in, look around without being bothered and when you have a question, it will be answered.