sci.electronics #9236 (1) Path: pacs!rescon!wells!dsinc!ub!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!wupost! + uunet!world!ksr!jfw@ksr.com From: jfw@ksr.com (John F. Woods) Newsgroups: sci.electronics,rec.radio.amateur.misc [1] My List of Mail Order Electronics Companies Summary: KA7QJY has a new address, Jameco a new phone number Message-ID: <10822@ksr.com> Date: 20 Mar 92 19:06:22 GMT Sender: news@ksr.com Organization: Kendall Square Research Corp. Lines: 569 --MORE--(2%) [ $Revision: 2.8 $; last updated 20 March 1992 ] Here is my list of companies which will sell electronic components in small quantities. Most of these places I have bought from, a couple I haven't. Being a ham radio operator, I am most interested in RF components, and in particular, air variable capacitors, which tend to be scarce (and tend to be used or surplus even if I've otherwise labelled the seller as "NEW"). I apologize in advance for disparaging remarks about what happens when parts suppliers start selling computers, but anyone who has watched Jameco over the years will know just what I mean (though their latest catalog hints at possibly returning to selling parts). Categories are: NEW COMPONENTS Distributors and sellers of new components, or "new and some used" in a couple of cases. SURPLUS ELECTRONICS Usually overstocks, occasionally used equipment. Ideal for stocking the junkbox, usually have dependable stock lines of resistors, capacitors, and some semiconductors, but won't have those LCD modules forever... An invaluable resource, don't shy away from them. SPECIALTY COMPONENTS In particular, crystals and toroidal cores. KITS Ham radio kits, random electronic kits, whatever they have. LITTLE GUYS Separated out because of some twisted sentimentality, I suppose. Intended to honor one or two ham spare-bedroom operations. PUBLICATIONS Two publications which are essentially all want-ads, plus the address for SAMS PHOTOFACTS because everyone always asks about it on sci.electronics. Note on shipping costs: I don't always update these frequently enough, and they're generally for continental US unless otherwise mentioned. NEW COMPONENTS: Ocean State Electronics P.O. Box 1458 Westerly RI 02891 (800)-866-6626 (orders) (401)-596-3080 (401)-596-3590 (FAX) Minimum $5, S&H $4, free catalog. Wide array of RF parts, especially air variables and B&W coils. Radiokit (store is located at:) P.O.Box 973 169 Jeremy Hill Rd. Pelham NH 03076 Pelham NH 03076 (603) 635-2235 No minimum ($3 service charge if under $20), many kits, lots of J. W. Miller chokes & coils, B&W coils, RF switches, Millen variable capacitors, lots of parts in general. Send $1 for the catalog. Circuit Specialists Inc P. O. Box 3047 Scottsdale AZ 85271-3047 (800) 528-1417 No minimum with check or money order, $15 otherwise. $3 S&H. New electronics, good RF assortment, increasing infestation of computers. Mouser Electronics Mouser Electronics Mouser Electronics 11433 Woodside Ave. 2401 Highway 287 North 12 Emery Ave. Santee CA 92071 Mansfield TX 76063 Randolf NJ 07869 Mouser Electronics 370 Tomkins Court Gilroy CA 95020 Catalog Subscriptions: (800) 992-9943 (Continental US only) Sales & Service: (800) 34-MOUSER (800-346-6873) (US, Puerto R., Canada) Very complete catalog of brand-new components (though no air variables). Usually quick service, $20 "minimum" ($5 charge under $20). When ordering, you may want to be sure to ask about availability and shipping locations; they have several warehouses, and frequently orders will get sent from several warehouses (which drives up the shipping costs). Digi-Key 701 Brooks Ave. South P.O.Box 677 Thief River Falls, MN 56701-0677 1-800-DIGI-KEY No minimum, $5 handling under $25, free and very complete catalog, very nice indeed. Prices aren't always the best, but rarely excessive. Weak on RF specialty parts (though they now have the ever-popular NE602N), but they do have blue LEDs. Active Electronics 11 Cummings Park Woburn MA 01801 (800)-677-8899 (US) (800)-363-6592 (Canada) $25 minimum, $5 S&H UPS, free catalog. They have 8 stores in the US (Santa Clara CA; Chicago IL; Baltimore MD; Woburn MA; Detroit MI; Mt. Laurel NJ; Long Island NY; Seattle WA) and 9 stores in Canada (Quebec City; Montreal (2); Ottawa; Mississuaga; Winnipeg; Calgary; Edmonton; Vancouver BC). Lots of stuff, oriented more toward supplying last-minute requirements of companies than hobbyists, but perfectly happy to take your money in small doses (stores have no minimum order or shipping&handling). Some items in their catalog are subject to a $25 per ITEM minimum, which is kind of a drag. Newark Electronics Send catalog requests to: Newark Electronics ATTENTION CATALOG DEPARTMENT 4801 N. Ravenswood Ave. Chicago IL 60640-4496 (312) 784-5100 They don't have a single mail address or phone; instead, one is supposed to call the closest of three pages worth of branch offices. I don't feel like typing in the entire list (it's copyrighted, anyway :-), so send email for your "local" distributor, or call their administrative offices at the number above. They have a $25 minimum order; they are a Real Distributor, but accept small orders (over the minimum, of course). Their catalog currently 1248 pages; they are very complete (except, of course, for my favorite scarce item, the air-variable capacitor). Note that the catalog prices tend not to match reality all that often, so order by phone rather than by mail; prices tend to be higher than other places, but they have a lot of things that are hard to find from other outlets. Arrow Electronics, Inc. Catalog requests to: Catalog Division Catalog Division 1860 Smithtown Ave. 25 Hub Drive Ronkonkoma NY 11779 Melville NY 11747-9828 (800) 93-ARROW Minimum $25; catalog cover price is $25 but if you convince them you're with a company they'll probably send one free. They are a Real Distribitor, but also didn't mind my placing a personal order. MCM Electronics 650 Congress Park Drive Centerville OH 45459-4072 (800) 543-4330 Minimum $20 ($25 for charge cards, and they don't take personal checks), handling $1.95 + shipping. Oriented toward repair technicians, really heavy on VCR parts and somewhat overpriced doodads, lots of useful stuff not easily found elsewhere. Fordham Radio Supply 260 Motor Parkway Hauppauge NY 11788-5134 (800)695-4848 Tools for technicians. One or two items are not outrageously overpriced. Jameco 1355 Shoreway Road Belmost CA 94002 (800) 831-4242 (800) 237-6948 (FAX) (415) 592-8097 $30 minimum order (was $50), >$5 shipping & handling. Their most recent catalog may have reversed a long trend of abandoning parts in favor of PC compatibles, or it may not; one can always hope. JDR Microdevices 2233 Branham Lane San Jose CA 95124 Orders: 800-538-5000 Cust. Service: 800-538-5001 No minimum, $5+ shipping. Mostly computers now, but they haven't yet decided to abandon components; indeed, they recently dropped their minimum order requirement entirely. Johnson Shop Products P.O.Box 160113 Cupertino CA 95016 (408)257-8614 (408)996-3240 Catalog $1. No minimum. Shipping charge is based on UPS; very small orders that can be sensibly shipped in a first-class letter, include money for first-class postage. New and some used electronic parts. DC Electronics P. O. Box 3203 Scottsdale AZ 85271-3203 (800) 423-0070 (orders) (602) 945-7736 (stock/price checks) $15 minimum charge order, no minimum for checks, $3 min. shipping&handling. Wide array of ICs, good assortment of electronic components. Dick Smith Electronics USA P.O. Box 468 Greenwood, IN 46142 (317) 888-7265 The American branch of the Australian company. Some parts and kits, mostly new equipment of all stripes (audio, CB, and lots of ham equipment). Prices seemed high last time I checked. EasyTech Inc 2917 Bayview Drive Fremont CA 94538-9932 (800) 582-4044 (orders) (510) 770-2345 (customer Service) Apparently a brand new company, "dedicated to serving the Electronic Enthusiast/User." $10 minimum, UPS shipping is 5% of order (>= $3). International Components Corporation 1803 NW Lincoln Way Toledo OR 97391-1014 (800)325-0101 (US & Canada) (503) 336-4400 (FAX) Cabinets&Enclosures; Capacitors; Diodes; ICs; Potentiometers; Resistors; Sockets; Transistors; Books. No minimum order, $2 handling under $25. Kelvin Electronics 7 Fairchild Ave. Plainview NY 11803 (800) 645-9212 (516) 349-7620 (516) 349-7830 (FAX) Minimum order $20; S&H 5% of order ($5 minimum, extra for large stuff, overnight, export (like to Hawaii :-), and etchant; based on UPS charges). Lots of electronic parts & tools, some robotics supplies, model rockets. H & R Company (Herbach and Rademan) 18 Canal Street, P.O.Box 122 Bristol PA 19007-0122 (800) 848-8001 (Orders) (215) 788-5583 (215) 788-9577 (FAX) Minimum order $25 ($5 processing charge under $25), shipping $4.75 under $30; Most items are new overstocks, much regularly stocked stuff as well. Tools, electrical supplies, motors, mechanical components, robotic components. SURPLUS ELECTRONICS: All Electronics Corp. P. O. Box 567 Van Nuys CA 91408-0567 (800) 826-5432 $10 minimum, $3.50 S&H. New and surplus electronics. Alltronics 2300 Zanker Road San Jose CA 95131 (408) 943-9773 (408) 943-9776 FAX Surplus electronics. $12 minimum, shipping per UPS. American Science and Surplus (formerly JerryCo) 601 Linden Place Evanston IL 60202 (708) 475-8440 Surplus. *The* surplus place. Lots and lots of surplus. WWII gun cameras, velcro, laser disk chassis, 6 volt VW wipers motors, LEDs, rubber brains, you name it, they've had it. Catalogs are a really good time. $12.50 minimum order (which includes the $4 shipping charge). BCD Electro P. O. Box 450207 Garland TX 75045-0207 (214) 343-1770 $1 for 1-year subscription to catalogs, no minimum, $0.95 for under $30, $2.90 shipping (extra for Alaska & Hawaii). Surplus electronics, pretty random looking assortment. Fair Radio Sales P. O. Box 1105 1016 E Eureka St. Lima OH 45802 (419) 227-6573 Surplus electronics. Heavy on parts for old Collins gear. Hosfelt Electronics 2700 Sunset Blvd. Steubenville OH 43952 (800) 524-6464 No minimum, $3.75 S&H. Surplus electronics. HSC Electronic Supply (Halted Specialties Co.) 3500 Ryder Street Santa Clara, CA 95051 (800) 4-HALTED Orders only (408) 732-1573 inside California and outside US Surplus (new) electronics; new and used test equipment. Minimum order $10 ($2 handling charge under $20), plus UPS shipping cost. Has three stores, of which 3500 Ryder Street is one. Marlin P. Jones & Assoc. P.O. Box 12685 Lake Park FL 33403-0685 (407) 848-8236 No minimum ($1 fee for under $10), shipping per UPS. Surplus electronics. R&D Electronics 1224 Prospect Ave. Cleveland OH 44115 orders: (800) 642-1123 (tues - fri 9am-4pm sat. 9am-3pm EST) info: (216) 621-1121 $10 minimum. Surplus electronics. "Also known to stock many components, but this is not discussed in the catalog. Local store, a cleveland institution, is called Electronic Surplus, Inc., and has been there since '48. Third generation now runs it." -- wb8foz Surplus Sales of Nebraska 1315 Jones Street Omaha, Nebraska 68102 (402) 346-4750 (402) 346-2939 (FAX) New and surplus radio electronics. Wide selection: air variables. Catalog $3 (free with order, refundable with $25 catalog purchase). Tucker Surplus Store 1717 Reserve St. Garland TX 75042 (800) 527-4642 extension 135 Surplus electronic gear; oscilloscopes and signal generators from the days when dinosaurs with vacuum tubes roamed the earth (some solid state gear, but all well used). Prices seem relatively high, and you'll be shocked to learn how much it costs to ship a 75 pound oscilloscope by motor freight... [Steve Brown, N8HFI: In defense of Tucker, the have a broad selection, repair facilities, and they certify the used equipment to meet the original specification and warranty it for 90 days. Not every source does this:] Davilyn Corp. 13406 Saticoy St. North Hollywood, CA 91605-3475 1-800-235-6222 (Ex. CA) 1-818-787-3334 (CA) 1-818-787-4732 (FAX) Surplus electronic gear. [has much better prices [than Tucker], but sells used equipment as-is. -N8HFI] SPECIALTY COMPONENTS: JAN Crystals 2341 Crystal Drive P.O. Box 06017 Fort Myers FL 33906-6017 (800) JAN-XTAL (Monday through Thursday) They make crystals. Minimum order is $10, which might be one crystal, or might be two. Crystek Corporation 2351/2371 Crystal Drive P.O. Box 06135 Fort Myers FL 33906-6135 (800) 237-3061 (M-F) They make crystals too. They were the cheapest last time I ordered, but I don't have an up-to-date price list. It took about 4 weeks, and they had said it would take 6. ICM (International Crystal Manufacturing Co., Inc.) 701 W. Sheridan PO Box 26330 Oklahoma City OK 73126-0330 (800) 426-9825 More crystals. They were more expensive, but they have lots of pre-made crystals for various rigs, so they would probably be faster. Amidon Associates 2216 East Gladwick Street Dominiguez Hills, CA 90220 (213) 763-5770 (213) 763-2250 (FAX) Toroid cores and related things. Very fast service. Now takes MC/Visa and phone orders. Palomar Engineers Box 455 Escondido CA 92033 (619) 747-3343 Toroid cores and shielding beads. K2AW's Silicon Alley 175 Friends Lane Westbury NY 11590 516-334-7024 Free catalog, $10 minimum order. Semiconductors, in particular high-voltage diodes. Small Parts, Inc. [ New address and phone, 23 Dec 91 ] 13980 NW 58th Court P.O. Box 4650 Miami Lakes, FL 33014-0650 (305) 557-8222 Order department (305) 557-7955 Customer Service (ask for Mirta) (305) 558-1255 Catalog (ask for Elizabeth) (305) 557-8004 Custom-made Parts (ask for Ziggy) (305) 557-8005 Non-standard Sizes of catalog parts (ask for Eric) (800) 423-9009 Toll free FAX line $12 minimum. Mechanical parts, metal stock, Teflon(R) sheets, tools, wire-size drill bits (as in #61 size for PC board holes). KITS: (The terse "Note:" descriptions are from the ARRL Kit List courteously supplied by Ed Hare and Mike Gruber at the ARRL.) 624 Kits 171 Springlake Drive Spartanburg SC 29302 QRP kits (including some designs from W1FB's books) and some parts. A&A Engineering 2521 W. LaPalma, Unit K Anaheim CA 92801 (714) 952-2114 Kits, some components, some books. S&H $4.50, catalog is free with SASE (2 oz postage). Antique Electronic Supply 6221 S. Maple Ave. Tempe, AZ 85283 (602) 820-5411 Note: Broadcast receiver kits Circuit Board Specialists P. O. Box 951 Pueblo CO 81002 (303) 542-4525 As the name implies, they specialize in circuit boards; they have circuit boards for a variety of QST articles and ARRL Handbook construction articles. They also have partial kits for most of their boards. The catalog is free, but I had to request it a couple of times. C.M. Howes Communications Eydon, Daventry, Northants NN11 6PT England Phone: +44 327 60178 Note: QRP, transmitters, receivers, misc. Communications Concepts Inc. 121 Brown Street Dayton, Ohio 45402 (513) 220-9677 Note: kits for Motorola Applications Notes Dick Smith Electronics P.O. Box 468 Greenwood, IN 46142 (317) 888-7265 Note: General kits Down East Microwave Box 2310, RR#1 Troy, ME 04987 (207) 948-3741 Note: Microwave preamps Hamtronics, Inc. 65 Moul Road Hilton, NY 14468-9535 (716) 392-9430 Note: Amateur, general interest Lake Electronics 7 Middleton Close Nuthall Nottingham NG16 1BX England Note: Amateur Mercury Systems 15 Lakeside Dr. Marlton, NJ 08053 1-609-596-3304 Note: the ARRL Kit list didn't say what they carry; I don't (yet) know either. Penntek Electronics 14 Peace Dr. Lewistown, PA 17044 (717) 248-2507 Note: The Neophyte Receiver, QST Ramsey Electronics 793 Canning Parkway Victor NY 14564 (716) 924-4560 Amateur radio and hobby kits. The ham kits are all pretty simple and pretty inexpensive, and you get about what you pay for. Their new VHF transceiver kits (144, 220, 440) look pretty interesting. {See also RadioKit, Oak Hills Research} LITTLE GUYS: Oak Hills Research 20879 Madison St. Big Rapids, MI 49307 Send $1 for a flyer. Some parts, QST article kits, transceiver kits, QRP stuff in general (they inherited the stock from Small Parts Center when they closed). KA7QJY Components Danny Stevig Box 3893 # new address Logan UT 84321 (801) 753 5961 Send a business-size SASE for a current list of parts. RF parts, including vernier drives and air variables. $2.75 shipping, no minimum. Fast service, lots of satisfied customers. R&R Associates 3106 Glendon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90034 (213) 474-1315 (res) [ Richard Rathburn, KB6NQ ] "I mainly sell pc boards from QST, Radio Electronics, etc., and a few of in-house design. I also sell IC's, etc." Send a SASE every now and then for his most recent flyer. He also has boards for some Motorola Application Notes. MANUALS: Eico Electronic Instruments Co., Inc. 363 Merrick Rd Lynbrook NY 11563 Note: No current kits, EICO manuals and schematics only PUBLICATIONS: NUTS & VOLTS MAGAZINE 430 Princeland Court Corona CA 91719-9938 1-800-783-4624 (subscriptions) 1-714-371-3052 (subscribe by FAX) All advertisements magazine (though they've just publishing small projects). Issues are $2.00 (at least, that's the price on the cover), subscriptions are (third class mail, USA:) $12/1 year, $21/2 years, $60/life, (first class mail USA) $20/1 year, (Canada/Mexico) US$22, (other foreign, air mail) US$55. A subscription also entitles you to one free classified ad of 40 words. Ham Trader Yellow Sheets PO Box 15142 Seattle WA 98115 "SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S.: 24 Issues(1 yr) $16.50 50 Issues(2 yrs + 2 issues) $32. 75(3 Yrs + 3) $48. CANADA & MEXICO: 24/$20. 50/$39. 75/$58. FOREIGN: $38 a year sent Airmail. Published 2 ISSUES A MONTH sent 1st Class Mail... NO LONG WAIT FOR AD CIRCULATE! NOTE: A $4/4 issue MINI-SUBSCRIPTION may be ordered by potential subscribers, or WITH AN AD to qualify for the Special Subscriber Ad Rates given below:" Non-subscriber ads $1/{word,number,group} per insertion; subscribers: businesses or other for-profit sales $0.75 per word; ads involving items solely from or for your own use $0.35 a word; hamfest ads $0.35. Ads and ads with subscriptions should be sent to POB 10253 Sarasota FL 34278 during the winter; spring through fall they go to POBox 2057, Glen Ellyn IL 60138. Howard W. Sams & Company P.O. Box 7092 Indianapolis, IN 26207-7092 (800)-428-SAMS Publishers of SAMS PHOTOFACTS and many other electronics books. There is an Annual Index of SAMS PHOTOFACTS whose cost I have forgotten. In-print Photofacts run between $14.95 to $39.95 (for computer Photofacts); they will photocopy out-of-print Photofacts for $11.95 + $2.50S&H for one page, plus $.55 per page thereafter. RF Design Magazine P O Box 1077 Skokie IL 60076-9931 (312) 762-2193 A magazine for professional RF designers. Subscriptions are $38 per year in the US, $48 in Mexico and Canada, $51 elsewhere, unless you appear to be a "qualified subscriber" (i.e. are in serious danger of convincing your company to buy a $12,000 spectum analyzer based on an ad) in which case it's free. Heavy on theory, and even the advertisement articles are educational. Elektor Electronics USA Caller Box 876 Peterborough NH 03458-0876 A translation of the European (Danish?) Elektuur magazine. Lots and lots of construction articles each issue, a few of them even interesting. Subscriptions are currently $28/year. NOTES: This file, and many others, are available for anonymous ftp from ftp.cs.buffalo.edu. It is also available from another anonymous ftp site, toxicwaste.mit.edu:/pub/archive/sci.electronics/Mail_Order_Companies. (Contact warlord@athena.mit.edu to offer things to the latter) End of article 9236 (of 9279)--what next? [npq]