Very interesting Nigel. There's an index to the magazines listed by volume and number, which I guess means a volume is 12 publications. Over the years they covered everything.
Volume 1 Number 3 is June /Aug 1982. I always wanted that one, but had an amplifier already. Not bad for £50 for a mosFET amp! High standard of design. Very Rotel really.
I always nabbed old RS catalogs off the electricians too. Full of actual application circuits. That and Elektor and Wireless World on occasion.
I was sorry to see Maplin go. I think they stopped playing to the core hobbyists. The stores people were always very knowledgeable, and could get you RS components for a 10% premium too. Which was useful for amateurs.
After all, Richer Sounds continue to do alright with the shrunken HiFi market. They adapted a bit.
Volume 1 Number 3 is June /Aug 1982. I always wanted that one, but had an amplifier already. Not bad for £50 for a mosFET amp! High standard of design. Very Rotel really.
I always nabbed old RS catalogs off the electricians too. Full of actual application circuits. That and Elektor and Wireless World on occasion.
I was sorry to see Maplin go. I think they stopped playing to the core hobbyists. The stores people were always very knowledgeable, and could get you RS components for a 10% premium too. Which was useful for amateurs.
After all, Richer Sounds continue to do alright with the shrunken HiFi market. They adapted a bit.
Attachments
I built the Maplin 75 watt lateral mosfet amp and their 225WRMS disco amplifier in around 1980.
I used the disco amp on the road for years trouble free.
RS catalogues are a bit more sane these days as you just go online.
I remember when it was half a dozen catalogues which weighed a ton.
I used to have a Maplin just down the road, handy for bits I was short of at short notice.
I asked them how many people came in to buy electronic components and it wasnt many.
I often went into the shop and was the only customer in there with 3 staff so the writing was on the wall then.
There components, compared to RS were expensive.
I remember the early days of Maplin where you posted off an order form with stock codes and quantity on them.
Then swear when the order came back with parts out of stock.
These days I tend to buy from RS or CPC as they are cheapest.
Some things are cheaper on ebay but dont always match the quality of RS. I bought a LCD panel off Rs for £5, same one on ebay was £1.50
Ali Express are sometimes ok too, £10 for a2d converter from RS and $1.50 at Ali Express and they even work !
I used the disco amp on the road for years trouble free.
RS catalogues are a bit more sane these days as you just go online.
I remember when it was half a dozen catalogues which weighed a ton.
I used to have a Maplin just down the road, handy for bits I was short of at short notice.
I asked them how many people came in to buy electronic components and it wasnt many.
I often went into the shop and was the only customer in there with 3 staff so the writing was on the wall then.
There components, compared to RS were expensive.
I remember the early days of Maplin where you posted off an order form with stock codes and quantity on them.
Then swear when the order came back with parts out of stock.
These days I tend to buy from RS or CPC as they are cheapest.
Some things are cheaper on ebay but dont always match the quality of RS. I bought a LCD panel off Rs for £5, same one on ebay was £1.50
Ali Express are sometimes ok too, £10 for a2d converter from RS and $1.50 at Ali Express and they even work !
I have a few Maplin Electronics magazines out in the garage, along with several boxes full of Practical Wireless, Practical Electronics, Everyday Electronics and Radio Constructor magazines.
I've got issue No.1 of Practical Electronics - what's the chance of it being a collector's item? 🤔
I don't want to part with my collection, but I really could do with reclaiming some shelf space!
I've got issue No.1 of Practical Electronics - what's the chance of it being a collector's item? 🤔
I don't want to part with my collection, but I really could do with reclaiming some shelf space!
Attachments
I remember when it was Radiospares, and about 20 pages long...
Anyone lese remember "Electroniques" catalogue? It had all sorts of great radio parts, They were bought out by STC I think.
"Electroniques" does not come up in my search - defaults to "Electronics".
Do you mean "Radiotechnique"? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotechnique
Do you mean "Radiotechnique"? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotechnique
I remember ringing up RS in the 1980's with lists of part numbers and quantities from their catalogue.
Well before the internet.
Then getting refused parts coz my boss hadn't paid the last bill !
Maplin could be frustrating. I would order all the parts for an amp and they would arrive with some parts missing as out of stock.
So sat there with a part built amplifier.
The good old days.