Peter Cook
Interesting that I recently bought Ethernet power adaptors from Maplin and they were as cheap as I could find online. And they were Netgear reduced to match a cheaper brand….
Unlike buying online, if it goes wrong, I can drive to the shop.
Mike Jordan
True about Maplins being in the high street in case of return and staff usually friendly and knowledgeable.
Also of course Maplins do still exist and no longer can one easily shop around to Tandy or all the little shops in Lisle Street or Edgware Road or Tottenham Court Road who kept all the "goodies" we all needed!
Hugh Sheppard
I’m old enough to remember the "goodies" in Lisle Street, usually standing at the pavement edge.
Alasdair Lawrance
‘Henrys Radio’ was in the Edgware Road I remember being 11 or 12 perhaps and having a holiday in a caravan somewhere on the east coast and catching the train (allowed out alone!) and thinking Henrys was Aladdin’s cave.
That’s where the rot set in…
Bernie Newnham
I bought my first pair of power amps from Henry’s – a chassis and heatsink setup that I mounted in a veneered wooden box I built. Unfortunately they had a bit of a problem of some kind of power runaway. After a few hours the power transistors on the heatsink got hotter and hotter till they cooked themselves. Back to Henry’s for new ones that did the same. Third time lucky. At least I could park my Triumph Herald outside on Edgware Road.
Dave Plowman
I’ve still got a pair of those in a home made box with home made pre-amp. Worked last time I tried it. All PNP transistors (positive ground) which gives away its age.
John Howell
At one time Henry’s were at 303, 309, 354, and 356 Edgware Road, as were Smiths who would bend you a chassis to the nearest 1/16 inch (while you wait if they weren’t busy).
Here’s some more names: Lasky’s, Z & I Aero Services, Service Trading, Gee Radio, Stern-Clyne, and on Shepherds Bush Green: Lyons Radio – the same fellow selling the R1155 receivers and mine detectors ended up selling Saris.
Alasdair Lawrance
Those numbers would indicate that Henry’s was on both sides of the road. My uncle built a kit radio (3 valve TRF from memory) from Henry’s which had a live chassis. How do you think I know this?
Paul Kay
[Henry’s were] also in Harrow Road.
Dave Mundy
…plus M&B Radio near Leeds Central Station (in which one of the Manchester OB lads had a share), Marshall’s in Cricklewood Broadway, Electrovalue in Englefield Green, and R&TV Acton Vale (remember their car radio kit – still got one!). Happy days!
Brian Curtis
Wasn’t there a shop called "Trad" (or something like that) which sold off lost of "redundant" BBC and other broadcast gear – run by John? I remember a trip there to buy a pair of Gates Turntables, with Gray Research arms and a NAB cart machine for the hospital radio station I volunteered for.
