View Full Version : Those were the days..pdf of old hifi ads - lskys etc.
I came acrose this pdf of old hifi ads from the 1970's - lots of hifi kits and so on.
Nostalgic reading for those of us who used to hang out at Laskys and trawl through the ads in hifi mags.
Makes interesting reading (for some of us!) with historic pricing. E.g. Comet were selling a Garrard SP25MkII for £9.95 ,a Garrard 401 for £27.45 and a Goldring GL75 for £28.95
Boots were selling hifi systems.
www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Practical/Wireless/70s/PW-1972-01.pdf
anthonyTD
12-06-2018, 08:00
Still have many of the mags from those days when my Dad bought them new!
I only got to read them once my dad had scrutinised them from cover to cover. :)
Sad in some ways to see how the electronics side of things have changed, and how in those days folk used to be able to at least put things together! :)
A...
walpurgis
12-06-2018, 08:07
I still have magazines, catalogues, year books, manuals and manufacturer's brochures from back then. I really ought to shift them on.
Firebottle
12-06-2018, 08:32
BI-PRE-PAK
There's a name from the past :doh:
Makes me realise how old I am. I did like the experimenters circuits at the time. :)
Who deleted all the ads for cables,equipment supports and mains conditioners/regenerators :scratch:
spendorman
12-06-2018, 10:23
I remember most of the adverts and a lot of the projects. I still have Practical Wireless dating back to about 1964. They were delivered to the house, bought for me by Mum and Dad, they perhaps thought these were better for me that The Eagle etc.
The audio section on the American Radio History site is a very useful resource.
Still have many of the mags from those days when my Dad bought them new!
I only got to read them once my dad had scrutinised them from cover to cover. :)
Sad in some ways to see how the electronics side of things have changed, and how in those days folk used to be able to at least put things together! :)
A...
Why "sad"? Are you referring to the promotion of solid-state over thermionic valve electronics?
I still have magazines, catalogues, year books, manuals and manufacturer's brochures from back then. I really ought to shift them on.
I used to have a couple of metres worth of assorted audio mags: Hi Fi News; Hi Fi News & Record Review; Practical Hi Fi, Popular Hi Fi and Audio, Hi Fi Choice, Hi Fi Answers; Audiophile; Hi Fi Review; Stereo Sound; Stereophile (and a copy or two of The Flat Response :doh:). A few of them have been kept, but with most I tore out the arlicles that were of interest to me and threw out the remainder.
Copies of the manuals and manufacturer's brochures have been placed in The Knowledge for reference.
Nowadays, with an average price of £6, I rarely buy the mags - I'm tired of reading about £5K preamps, £20K powe ramps, £25K speakers and £5K cartridges; let alone £1K cables.
anthonyTD
12-06-2018, 10:48
Hi Barry,
I was refering to how the people who purchased those mags, and thus who were interested in the hobby, could/ would usualy build their own stuff etc, instead of relying soley on manufactures finnished products etc. :)
A...
Why "sad"? Do you referring to the promotion of solid-state over thermionic valve electronics?
reply to Geoff
Do you have any of the 70 to 72 yearbooks? I have the 73 and 74 books but there is something that may or may not be in the early 70 books I need to establish.
Hi Barry,
I was refering to how the people who purchased those mags, and thus who were interested in the hobby, could/ would usualy build their own stuff etc, instead of relying soley on manufactures finnished products etc. :)
A...
Ah - You mean the DIY content of some of the magazines. I started off building my own kit: a couple of Mullard 5-10s, later followed by a Nelson-Jones 10W classA and then a Sugden 12.5W class A amp (I knew someone who knew Jim Sugden and was able to get me the components and PCBs at cost). I also built my first speakers following a Wharfedale design.
The hobby electronics magazines (Practical Wireless, Practical Electronics, Wireless World, Elector and others), would often publish constructional articles by notable audio designers such as John Linsley-Hood and Stan Curtis.
At work (at an electronics research laboratory), I met 'old boys' who had built their first TV and radio tuners.
anthonyTD
12-06-2018, 11:44
Exactly :)
I think the earliest Wireless world I have is dated 1928!
A...
Ah - You mean the DIY content of some of the magazines. I started off building my own kit: a couple of Mullard 5-10s, later followed by a Nelson-Jones 10W classA and then a Sugden 12.5W class A amp (I knew someone who knew Jim Sugden and was able to get me the components and PCBs at cost). I also built my first speakers following a Wharfedale design.
The hobby electronics magazines (Practical Wireless, Practical Electronics, Wireless World, Elector and others), would often publish constructional articles by notable audio designers such as John Linsley-Hood and Stan Curtis.
At work (at an electronics research laboratory), I met 'old boys' who had built their first TV and radio tuners.
Yes, brings back memories.
And yes, it's interesting to note that "hi-fi" as a hobby was very much based around DIY for many people. Now it's more of a consumer activity.
BTW, that site's archive is a fabulous resource. I've downloaded quite a few copies of Studio Sound and it's interesting to see show the technology and approach to studio techniques has changed over the years.
https://www.americanradiohistory.com/
I used to occasionally buy Studio Sound magazine, for their "no nonsense" reviews of speakers and vinyl replay equipment. Lost interest when it all went digital.
I think the earliest Wireless world I have is dated 1928!
Not long after you were born then:D:eyebrows:
Marco.
anthonyTD
12-06-2018, 12:38
:eek::D
Not long after you were born then:D:eyebrows:
Marco.
P768 I think, KT66 and 88 for two quid ! Lovely post ;-)
Michael loves music
12-06-2018, 16:56
Didn’t some of the adverts have lovely ladies ??
Mike Reed
12-06-2018, 18:19
I was interested in the Lasky's ad., as I worked in the Tottenham Court Rd. branch. Unfortunately, the ad. shown was of the Edgware Rd. branch which was more electronics than hifi. Couldn't see Imhof's there; now that was a real emporium !
My audiophile friend can only sleep on stacks of hifi mag's but he does have lots of back issues.
I was interested in the Lasky's ad., as I worked in the Tottenham Court Rd. branch. Unfortunately, the ad. shown was of the Edgware Rd. branch which was more electronics than hifi. Couldn't see Imhof's there; now that was a real emporium !
My audiophile friend can only sleep on stacks of hifi mag's but he does have lots of back issues.
Blimey, Mike - you might have sold me my first 'serious' loudspeakers circa 1974 - 75, a pair of Wharfedale Dovedale SPs. Can't remember what I paid, but it seemed a lot at the time. Particularly given that I was only earning around £20.00 a week (gross) at the time.
Jon
I can see a sadness in the loss of amateur involvement/personal hobby commitment, but the main feeling is one relating to the extreme sociological changes reflected in those ads., very rudimentary diagrams etc.
Now we have glossy expensive pre-built, and reviews praising everything as a breakthrough at costs of many £ks.
Don't forget the Nelson Jones FM tuner, and Bailey's transmission line speakers.
Exactly :)
I think the earliest Wireless world I have is dated 1928!
A...
I too have a lot of early mags . The earliest being a radio times from 1922. There was very little being broadcast, just evenings. Surprisingly there are a lot of valve and component adverts. Some complete radios where terrace house money
Currently reading an issue of Hi Fidelity from 1979. The ads are great, really hard sell. I bet you didn't know that the Phillip's 'Series 7' turntables were designed 'without compromise.' Why are we not still using them?
And whatever happened to tape decks? I miss tape decks.
Mike Reed
13-06-2018, 06:47
And whatever happened to tape decks? I miss tape decks.
Cassette or reel to reel ? Can't say I miss the former but I still lust after an upmarket Teac R2R or similar, knowing full well that it'd just gather dust and look beautiful.
JON,
Wouldn't have been me, as I worked there in the late sixties as far as I can recall (which isn't much, it being the sixties !) Still have a 60 x hand-held stylus inspection 'scope from there.
Cassette or reel to reel ? Can't say I miss the former but I still lust after an upmarket Teac R2R or similar, knowing full well that it'd just gather dust and look beautiful.
.
No, I mean crappy old compact cassette. Brushed aluminium fascias, loads of lights, loads of buttons, buttons with lights embedded in them (always a sign of top end) and unrealistically long level meters.
Typical that now I can afford one I've no goddamn use for the thing.
Although I have always wanted a really pimped-looking R2R too.
What gives??
.... nothing happens when I click on the adverts :scratch:
walpurgis
13-06-2018, 09:04
What gives??
.... nothing happens when I click on the adverts :scratch:
You are only added to the subscriber list if you've sent your postal order for seventeen shillings and sixpence in :).
A high quality R2R, vertically mounted really does have an impacting image.
You are only added to the subscriber list if you've sent your postal order for seventeen shillings and sixpence in :).
Hurrumph ....
I've collected three coupons off of the cereal packet instead - will that do?
walpurgis
13-06-2018, 09:52
Hurrumph ....
I've collected three coupons off of the cereal packet instead - will that do?
You'll probably need a few hundred Greenshield stamps too. :)
anthonyTD
13-06-2018, 12:51
:)
Just takes me back to where I was, when I pick up an old mag from the 60's 70's etc, reading through them, and seeing some of the stuff I actualy owned later on, just so much nostalgia, and of course some very good articles, and things to build etc.
I too have a lot of early mags . The earliest being a radio times from 1922. There was very little being broadcast, just evenings. Surprisingly there are a lot of valve and component adverts. Some complete radios where terrace house money
You'll probably need a few hundred Greenshield stamps too. :)
When I was a kid I thought Greenshield stamps were dead posh .... like having a telly with ITV - or drinking PLJ :lol:
You used to get free glasses with your petrol anorl. Always smoked glass for some reason. With the dimples in the bottom.
walpurgis
13-06-2018, 17:05
When I was a kid I thought Greenshield stamps were dead posh .... like having a telly with ITV - or drinking PLJ :lol:
Like driving a Rover or Wolseley. None of yer Ford rubbish! :D
spendorman
13-06-2018, 17:11
Like driving a Rover or Wolseley. None of yer Ford rubbish! :D
Just after the war, Dad bought a brand new Wolseley 6/80, I remember it, Reg No. YMD 81, it rusted a bit.
high.spirits
14-06-2018, 07:43
Thanks for posting.
Brings back loads of memories. Used to visit Tottenham Court Road and Lyle Street in London to purchase components or ex military radios for home build stuff. So many different speaker drivers to choose from 😊
Also built Heathkit radios and test gear such as a grid dip oscillator. The transition from valves to transistors was quite a revelation.
Mike Reed
14-06-2018, 11:27
.. Used to visit Tottenham Court Road
Also built Heathkit radios and test gear such as a grid dip oscillator. The transition from valves to transistors was quite a revelation.
I've a memory that places Heathkit more or less opposite Lasky's on Tott. Ct. Rd. I built their 12" speaker kit in the mid sixties which I bought from there.
bbbiker800
17-06-2018, 13:25
I used to have a couple of metres worth of assorted audio mags: Hi Fi News; Hi Fi News & Record Review; Practical Hi Fi, Popular Hi Fi and Audio, Hi Fi Choice, Hi Fi Answers; Audiophile; Hi Fi Review; Stereo Sound; Stereophile (and a copy or two of The Flat Response :doh:). A few of them have been kept, but with most I tore out the arlicles that were of interest to me and threw out the remainder.
Copies of the manuals and manufacturer's brochures have been placed in The Knowledge for reference.
Nowadays, with an average price of £6, I rarely buy the mags - I'm tired of reading about £5K preamps, £20K powe ramps, £25K speakers and £5K cartridges; let alone £1K cables.
That resonates a lot with me. Its really irritating to find that over 50% (say) of the average mag is addressing this stuff when a tiny % of the hifi crowd can afford it plus probably can't appreciate it.
Most of us spend massively less and are looking for best value/improvements per buck. Rant over
i used to visit Tott Ct Rd every saturday when i was a student in London - as well as Laskys there were numerous other smaller hifi/electronics shops on TCR to nose around in. In those days according to the salemen it was all about the watts, knobs and slider controls (equalisers), VU meters and lights. There were huge RtR tape recorders, mega size japanese amps and receivers. Lots of big brands, - Wharfedale, Rotel, Tannoy, Celestion, Leak, Garrard, BSR, Thorens, JBL, Yamaha, Pioneer, Trio/Kenwood, Akai and then the cheaper "Audiotronics" stuff. Speakers came in teak or white (!) and there were devices to allow the salesmen to instantly switch between different sets of speakers. Everything was solid state. The atmosphere was kinda like Currys/PC World is today - racks of kit all blaring away at the same time at high volume. Life was simple...... beer was 28p a pint - shit beer mind you before the revival of real ale.
Fiannly managed to save up for my Rotel 611 amp (complete with slide controls) and Pioneer PL12D T/T and Sennheiser HD414 headphones which i bought from a hifi shep in Wembley and hauled them back by tube to my digs in Woodford because it saved me about £3 in total compared to TCR. I couldn't afford any speakers (my friends had Ditton Counties I think. Few years later picked up a pair of s/h Ditton 44s which I sold to a man in eastern Europe a couple of years ago. Hey ho...
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