Fair Radio Sales in Lima, Ohio

[@wb7ond]

Its like wandering thru Property Disposal on a military base.... Lots of neat older test equipment from back in my calibration lab days... I remember the Fair Radio Sales ads in the back of magazine in my youth. Great video thanks...

[@WG7D]

Thanks for watching!

[@papachuck6007]

Years ago there was an electronic scrap store in Thunder Bay owned and operated by a guy named Tony and we visited regularly. One time they were clearing it out and we learned that Tony had died and his son or nephew was cleaning it out and shutting it down. A couple years later we found the store open again and Tony was back a the counter, he informed us that he was very much alive! Our next visit Tony was deceased again and there was another relative clearing out the place. True story.

[@WG7D]

Wow! Crazy story!...maybe a marketing tactic?

[@WECB640]

Thank you for documenting this place. If only those walls could talk, the tales they'd tell would be epic. 73 OM

[@WG7D]

Thank you . Rather a historic business I would say.

[@sanjithnair3266]

One of the great Video for who loves radios 🎉 Thank you and 73

[@WG7D]

Glad you enjoyed it. 73 WG7D

[@courierdog1941]

I have ben dealing with Fair Radio since 1961 and even drove down with a friend while we were both still in High School. Many treasured memories.

[@d2sfavs]

i bought some fly back transformers from these guys like 30 years ago.great people lots of neat stuff.thanks for the video.sad its closing but thank you for many years of service

[@WG7D]

Thanks for watching...It is sad on the closing. WG7D

[@papachuck6007]

That is so amazing, I hate seeing these places dissapear

[@WG7D]

Me as well! Thanks for watching! WG7D

[@AB1Vampire]

Thank you for posting this video. Made several purchases from FRS over the years. Impromptu interaction with some history talk was priceless. Still, the end of Fair Radio Sales me sad. n2eye

[@WG7D]

Thanks for watching...it is sad to see it close. WG7D

[@atmylab]

Thank you for creating this fine video; I wish I would’ve had the opportunity to visit the store, looks amazing; I did place some online orders from them recently, they are wonderful to work with.

[@theoldbigmoose]

My first scope came from Fair Radio Sales, as did the huge stepper motors driving my Bridgeport. Two more great places are Glenn's Surplus in Shelby OH, and JDM surplus in Crestline OH. JDM used to be called CTR.

[@flyer617]

It's a real shame Phil is closing down. He has been an incredible resource for radios, parts and equipment for my entire life. His operation will be missed. I am hoping he is able to start a new operation which is much more manageable in size. There's nothing else like this place anywhere.

[@byterock]

I am the generation that just missed that 'surplus' experience. I was just old enough to remember driving by shops like this but never went into one. ;)

[@WG7D]

They were so fun...like a museum that every thing is for sale. Thanks for watching WG7D

[@kevinmccool3719]

I think Mr. Carlsons Lab should buy it out.

[@WG7D]

Good idea!

[@MHDBisonFan]

I was thinking the very same thing.

[@timsloan5662]

Thanks for the video. Would be great if someone bought it and kept it open. Imagine being a young kid getting into amateur radio and spending hours exploring that place.

[@MHDBisonFan]

Never been there and I'm no youngster but I could still spend countless hours in there. Sad it's going away.

[@va3ngc]

I didn't realize that this was on the way too and from Dayton and I could have stopped in. I will have to try and check it out before it closes, if I can.

[@MrElectrowhiz]

I remember the old catalogs. The descriptions were made on a typewriter and the heading for each of the items were made with Dymo vinyl tape. Looks as if each item was then laid out on a page and then photographed.

[@Śiśna3633]

I never thought this store would on KZbin. I have been to this place in the 90s. Nothing is forever.

[@WG7D]

Very true. Thanks for watching,WG7D

[@cvannette]

I remember going to Fair Radio in my High School days, back in the 70s.

[@Marcospu1mas]

fantastico WG7D, saude a voce e esposa.

[@WG7D]

Thanks so much!

[@Zzznorch]

I used to order a lot when I was a kid back in them late 70’s and 80’s. Still have a lot of old military equipment I bought from them.

[@WG7D]

That's cool....part of history now....sad to see. Thanks for watching! WG7D

[@-Mark_F]

I had ordered a few items from them in my high school days back in the 70s. It’s a shame to see it go. I never knew how large that facility is! IMHO, I think that they should make some arrangement with museums or the Smithsonian to preserve at least some of it for posterity.

[@RouterReports]

More boat anchors than the US Navy ! Seriously though, the prop department at a Hollywood movie studio should buy this place.

[@WG7D]

Good idea!

[@jhonsiders6077]

I have to go up there I saw some military antennas for vehicles!

[@mikemcdonald5147]

what a cool amazing place, I wish I had one like this close by. I would spend so much money there and so many hours.

[@WG7D]

YEP...Me too. 2200 mile drive for me. thanks for watching! WG7D

[@MHDBisonFan]

Me too

[@jhonsiders6077]

This place was the source of so many transmitters parts and other bits that put so many pirates on the air back in the days before EBay ! Getting tubes was always hard but these people had them all ! The legendary Allen Wiener mentioned them many times in his biography.

[@courierdog1941]

It all be a sad day when Fair Radio sales closes it doors!

[@WG7D]

Yes, it will be. Such an institution! Thanks for Watching. WG7D

[@ProspectorsGhost]

Great Video. Thanks for producing it and sharing it. But three things. [1] Unfortunately such wonderful places like this have to close down and fall by the wayside. [2] But alas, the newer and younger hams would rather buy factory made ham equipment rather than do like the old hams did back in the old days of yesteryear of early ham radio and take surplus and/or used equipment then repair experiment with, and/or modify it to operational and usable ham radio equipment. [3] Also as you so stated they will auction off all that stuff and it will only end up at ham fests across the nation to be resold with jacked up high prices intended to gouge both the public as well as the Amateur Radio Hams who still want to find older and/or surplus radio equipment and parts in order to do like the old hams did back in the old days of yesteryear in early ham radio and take surplus and/or used equipment then repair, experiment with, and/or modify it to operational mode and usable ham radio equipment. I grew up in those earlier days of ham radio (back during the 1950’sand 1960’s but was never a licensed ham myself as bad as I have always wanted to be), and I still love those old ham radios and still envy all those old Licensed Ham Radio operators like yourself and others of which lived in the old days of yesteryear and in the early days of ham radio. Even though most of them are "Silent Keys" now. Back then, ham radio equipment could be bought for both reasonable and affordable small prices. Now-A-Days, the prices for both new and used Ham Radio equipment has sky-rocketed into out of this world of basically non-affordable prices which most newer and younger hams can no longer afford, especially the new beginning hams just trying to get started into ham Radio. Yes even now at the age of 74, I'm still trying once again to get my Beginning Technicians license in Ham Radio. Well, Why not. I've already (years ago), had a CB license back when they were still required (KAPD9331). Now as of this year, I've got a GMRS license (WSBP616), and yet there is nobody with GMRS radio's (or even a GMRS repeater), to be able to talk to in my rural farm area of Southern Idaho. But however, there are Ham Radio operators as well as Ham Repeaters and a Ham Radio Club in my area. Once again, Thank You for a great video pertaining to old surpus radio equipment. May God Bless both you and your "XYL". 73's to both of you.

[@WG7D]

Thank you. Very good points..thanks for watching...WG7D

[@ivanmollo8495]

Gracias por el video, CE1GWX, 73.

[@WG7D]

Gracias, 73,WG7D

[@Subgunman]

I was here a little over 20 years ago with a friend after the Lima Hamfest. I do believe they hosted the Hamfest if my memory serves me right. Lots of interesting stuff, picked up on a couple of old items from there. Never forget that trip up there, that good friend of mine who was with me that day became a SK the very next day. I wonder who had built that building and what was their business, all of those overhead roll up doors in that warehouse.

[@WG7D]

Sorry for the loss of your friend. I thought the buildings looked a little like lumberyards I have seen ,...Thanks for watching! WG7D

[@ftswarbill]

*It's pronounced 'Lime-aw' with the Ohio accent. Good stuff they got, I want some!*

[@WG7D]

Thanks,I was not sure. Thanks for watching. WG7D

[@GunsandRadios]

I have been to Lima a half dozen times and didn’t know that was there

[@WG7D]

Check it out before it closes! thanks for watching! 73,WG7D

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Wow a last look at Fair Radio! Of course many of us are interested in the few really collectable and useful pieces that were not shown like the R390 parts (we saw a glimpse), the T368 and BC-610 larger transmitters likely parts cars under the saw mill shed outside not shown etc... A lot of the valuable stuff is gone, no doubt. This is a great record of the end times.

[@WG7D]

Glad you enjoyed it. WG7D.

[@kd7alt]

Their are several surplus places in Portland area. The on he is talking about is wacky Willie's surplus. Then we had R5D3, Cascade electronics, surplus gizmo's.

[@raymondkb2nzo788]

Sad to see this go the good old days.

[@WG7D]

Sad indeed...take care ,WG7D

[@boots_n_coots]

Long after all the humans have left the planet Earth, Fair Radio will be carefully tended by a quiet team of robots. “Oil my back joints, that’s a good lad”.

[@WG7D]

😂...good one!

[@peterxyz3541]

I wish I knew about this place (July I’m watching this vid)

[@AndreasAndersson-ve4jx]

I was always fascinated by their printed catalogs back in the 70/80:s...But the oldtime ham equipment, DIY & very few, very big (surplus) parts, which did a lot, i can imagine not many is into that anymore... But certainly you can still find projects in old ARRL handbooks & such... (I remember you could even order surplus Tommy guns... But not from Sweden... DEFENITELY not from Sweden...)

[@henkholdingastate]

Very nice shop

[@WG7D]

Sure is

[@SteveBrosig-dh3xz]

Yes, I have purchased plenty of ham radio stuff from these folks, 171 Texas, here

[@LW-eg7ln]

They had a good run. Unfortunately the generation of the surplus radios is thinning out and not much market for the stuff any more. Hate to see it go .. I hated to lose Heath and Radio Shack and Lafayette and Allied .. Thanks for the tour .. hope the owners enjoy a long and healthy retirement once everything is sold off.

[@hamradios-wd8nvn]

Lima Ohio pronounced here locally as "lime-uh"; not "lee-muh" as in Lima Peru. 😁😁😁😁😁

[@bertroost1675]

This place will be missed by me.

[@mikeadams9641]

That use to be a lumber store back in the early 2000 I believe they have been in lima for ever I knew the lumber store like the back of my hand up until they closed there doors then it sat empty for a few years until fair raido bought it

[@WG7D]

Thanks ! I thought it looked like a lumber yard. Thanks for watching,WG7D

[@Steven-re7xt]

It used to live on east Elisabeth at lima...on my break from usar meetings and as a child I would hunt in the halls for parts. Remember God is just a prayer away as the clerk was religious. Tubes you won't find... antenna's ect at the lumber shop on 4th Street Lima. Get it while you can. We will never see another like It. Retired army sargent Williams. Former of the 983rd battalion Lima ohio

[@johnszczepaniak8679]

I thought it went out of business a long time ago.

[@WG7D]

Very much in business. 😊

[@Marcospu1mas]

boa noite, ok, vao a leilao, muito bom vai ser tudo aproveitado, um abraço, 73.

[@WG7D]

Thanks...73,WG7D

[@Marcospu1mas]

boa noite , saberia mi responder si eles enviam para outro pais ( BRASIL), um abraço.

[@WG7D]

they are closing the business...SORRY.

[@ryanbarker5217]

anything you want... if you can find it.

[@WG7D]

Yep,it would take some digging 😊

[@user-fr5fz6vv6z]

That was a lumberyard back in the day.

[@vu3mes]

Wow. Too far from me😊 That’s a lot of radio history there, HROs Heathkits

[@Marcospu1mas]

bom dia e todos aqueles equipamentos vam para onde, que tristeza.

[@WG7D]

AUCTIONED OFF IN AUGUST. Thanks for watching! WG7D

[@henkholdingastate]

The problem is that the yought only interested in games computers and social internet. Result youngsters who dont untherstand as much as the older generation. And they are also less intersted in technical things. What a change overtime. Greetings from the Netherlands

[@Steven-re7xt]

PS . Rail mfg...tank mfg...Lima flock. And Ford engine plant. And a host of factory's no doubt Lima's on its way back.

[@72chargerse72]

It is sad to see the surplus market going away, but with cheap chinese crap getting so inexpensive... I wont buy that crap I only buy quality surplus and for the time I have left I expect there will be items. The next generation though...

[@glyn1]

Would be like a kid in the candy shop But the people that used this stuff are far and few left OLD HAMS never die They just smell that way ZL 3--

[@WG7D]

😂 Funny...kind of true....😊

[@Gordonseries385]

👍

[@peterjaniceforan3080]

😳