Does the store name "Labelle's" ring a bell?

Post by S1500
Watching an old YouTube clip from 1984 featuring twin cities commercials. There's an ad
for "Labelle's" that apparently sells cameras & stuff.
Why am I drawing a blank? I'm 31, and would think I could remember more. I'm drawing a
blank. Help me out here.

Sure, there was one out by Ridgedale where BestBuy is now. I remember
one up in Brookdale area too, around where the Kmart is??? My wife
only remembers the one by Ridgedale.

Mostly catalog sale type stuff. Cameras, jewelry, watches,
electronics, books, etc. etc.

BMW

2007-10-15 12:11:46 UTC

Sure, there was one out by Ridgedale where BestBuy is now. I remember
one up in Brookdale area too, around where the Kmart is??? My wife
only remembers the one by Ridgedale.
Mostly catalog sale type stuff. Cameras, jewelry, watches,
electronics, books, etc. etc.

There was also one in Bloomington along 494 around Nicollet.

-Michael

John A. Weeks III

2007-10-15 12:07:03 UTC

Sure, there was one out by Ridgedale where BestBuy is now. I remember
one up in Brookdale area too, around where the Kmart is??? My wife
only remembers the one by Ridgedale.
Mostly catalog sale type stuff. Cameras, jewelry, watches,
electronics, books, etc. etc.

The Ridgedale Best Buy store was a "Best" store (Best Products as opposed
to Best Buy) prior to Best Buy taking over the space. Was LaBelle's
related to Best? The Best stores in several cities were signature
buildings that were very unusual. One looked like it was hit by an
earthquake, another had no obvious front door (until a section of the
building slid out revealing the door), and yet another looked like
it was built a few feet too short with display racks continuing outside.
The twin cities stores were run of the mill buildings, which leads me
to think that Best could have bought out another chain.

A similar line of stores back then was Service Merchandise. I used to
get their catalog because they carried decent stereo equipment at a
great discount. I don't recall if they were in the twin cities, but
I did shop at them in Chicago. Finally, the Phillips company, the
one that makes booze, was in this same catalog showroom business.
They had several locations in Wisconsin. All these places seemed
to go out in the early 1990s.

-john-

--
======================================================================
John A. Weeks III 952-432-2708 ***@johnweeks.com
Newave Communications http://www.johnweeks.com
======================================================================

Roughrider50

2007-10-15 14:22:33 UTC

On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 07:07:03 -0500, "John A. Weeks III"

Post by John A. Weeks III

I worked one Xmas season at LaBelles in Richfield, MN. It was in that
little strip mall along 494. That was in the early 70's. I was
unemployed at the time(at the age where unemployment wasn't such a big
deal). It wasn't a bad(albeit cheap) job. I filled & boxed orders for
shipping. They had items on shelves like at a Sam's club. We'd grab a
shopping cart & an order & go shopping.

Post by John A. Weeks III
The Ridgedale Best Buy store was a "Best" store (Best Products as opposed
to Best Buy) prior to Best Buy taking over the space. Was LaBelle's
related to Best? The Best stores in several cities were signature
buildings that were very unusual. One looked like it was hit by an
earthquake, another had no obvious front door (until a section of the
building slid out revealing the door), and yet another looked like
it was built a few feet too short with display racks continuing outside.
The twin cities stores were run of the mill buildings, which leads me
to think that Best could have bought out another chain.
A similar line of stores back then was Service Merchandise. I used to
get their catalog because they carried decent stereo equipment at a
great discount. I don't recall if they were in the twin cities, but
I did shop at them in Chicago. Finally, the Phillips company, the
one that makes booze, was in this same catalog showroom business.
They had several locations in Wisconsin. All these places seemed
to go out in the early 1990s.
-john-

Doug McIntyre

2007-10-15 14:25:52 UTC

"John A. Weeks III" <***@johnweeks.com> writes:
..

Post by John A. Weeks III
The Ridgedale Best Buy store was a "Best" store (Best Products as opposed
to Best Buy) prior to Best Buy taking over the space. Was LaBelle's
related to Best? ...

No, I don't think so. I think Best just took over alot of their spaces
because they were growing around that time right when LaBelle's went away.

I seem to remember Best being around long before and long after LaBelle's.

But much reduced before and after, just their big swing up right
when LaBelle's went away.

WDS

2007-10-15 19:10:59 UTC

Was LaBelle's related to Best?

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_v25/ai_4220385

"Best tackles Seattle, Minneapolis markets in consolidation effort -
Best Products
Discount Store News, April 28, 1986

Best Tackles Seattle, Minneapolis Markets in Consolidation Effort

Best Products has started work in two markets, Seattle and
Minneapolis, on its 1986 program to refurbish former Modern
Merchandising showrooms and change their logo to Best.

The first group of refurbishings encompasses 15 units, nine Jafcos in
Seattle and six LaBelle's in Minneapolis.

Best will close ..."

S. Smith

2007-10-15 12:42:09 UTC

Sure, there was one out by Ridgedale where BestBuy is now. I remember
one up in Brookdale area too, around where the Kmart is??? My wife
only remembers the one by Ridgedale.

They had one in Roseville as well, Near the Rosedale Mall. I remember
Christmas shopping as a kid from their catalog and earmarking pages
with the electronic gadgets I wanted. ;-)

- Scott Smith: liberal-***@sludgereport.org
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/choppersmith
Blue States Rising: http://www.bluestaterising.blogspot.com

Melba's Jammin'

2007-10-15 11:22:54 UTC

--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
Notes about our first six meals in Tuscany have been posted to
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com; 10-14-2007

Thomas T. Veldhouse

2007-10-15 12:53:04 UTC

Post by Melba's Jammin'
There was one in Burnsville on Cty 42 east of Cty 5 -- where Sportmart
is/was, I think. I'm thinking there was another name either before or
after LaBelle's but it's not coming to me. They were a discount place
and had a catalog as well as storefront.

LaBelle's became Shopper City. I don't believe it lasted very long after
that. I think the Labelle's near Brookdale on Shingle Creek Parkway because
Shopper City and not long after was taken over by either Circuit City or Best
Buy {I can't remember exactly which location it was to say for sure).

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse

Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.
-- Henry Kissinger

2007-10-16 00:09:22 UTC

Post by Melba's Jammin'

There was one in Burnsville on Cty 42 east of Cty 5 -- where Sportmart
is/was, I think. I'm thinking there was another name either before or
after LaBelle's but it's not coming to me. They were a discount place
and had a catalog as well as storefront.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
Notes about our first six meals in Tuscany have been posted to
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com; 10-14-2007

Since I grew up in Wisconsin, the Maplewood store ( by 3M) was my Labelles
of record. My folks bought a TI calculator there in the early 70's for
$125. It added, subtracted, multiplied AND divided. Phillips had an
interesting marketing plan. You could order merchandise at your favorite
watering hole and they delivered the goods along with the tavern's booze
order.

Calvin

2007-10-17 03:38:44 UTC

Post by LJ

Post by Melba's Jammin'

Post by S1500
Watching an old YouTube clip from 1984 featuring twin cities commercials.
There's an ad
for "Labelle's" that apparently sells cameras & stuff.
Why am I drawing a blank? I'm 31, and would think I could remember more.
I'm
drawing a
blank. Help me out here.

This store was actually in St Paul, Suburban Ave. Building is still
there, but I don't know what's there.

Thomas T. Veldhouse

2007-10-15 12:50:48 UTC

Labelle's was sort of Mongomery Wards if I had to compare with with something.
They later became "Shopper City".

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse

Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.
-- Henry Kissinger

WDS

2007-10-15 14:56:33 UTC

Post by Thomas T. Veldhouse
They later became "Shopper City".

The store that is now Burlington Coat Factory on Hwy 100 in St. Louis
Park used to be "Shopper's City" in the 60s (maybe into the 70s?). It
was a Target/Walmart/KMart kind of discount store as I remember.

Howard Beale

2007-10-15 16:05:10 UTC

Post by Thomas T. Veldhouse

Labelle's was sort of Mongomery Wards if I had to compare with with something.
They later became "Shopper City".

Wasn't Zayre's Shoppers City a separate operation? I seem to remember them
going out of business before Labelle's. Or was there some kind of
last-ditch end-of-life merger between the two before they both died?

Thomas T. Veldhouse

2007-10-15 17:00:20 UTC

Post by Howard Beale
Wasn't Zayre's Shoppers City a separate operation? I seem to remember them
going out of business before Labelle's. Or was there some kind of
last-ditch end-of-life merger between the two before they both died?

Very possibly could be. I was a teenager when the transition occurred, so it
may not have been the same company, but instead, just the same location.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse

Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.
-- Henry Kissinger

Greg Kemnitz

2007-10-15 19:32:46 UTC

Post by Thomas T. Veldhouse

No, Labelle's did NOT become Shopper City... not related...

At the beginning of the 80's Labelle's was a part of a company called
"Modern Merchandising", who also owned Dolgin's, Jafco, Miller Sales,
Rogers and Great Western. In 1982 they sold out to Best Products, who
also bought a chain called Bosco that same year.

Best ran their acquired brands under their original names until at
least 1985 or so, when they began consolidation of their operations.
Originally they were going to keep each brand... that apparently
changed along the way as at least some of the stores did get
rebranded.

In late 1988, Best was acquired by Adler & Shaykin, a leveraged buyout
specialist in a $1.1 billion leveraged buyout. As is common in these
sorts of transactions, things did not go well, and by December of 1990
Best was suspending payments to its suppliers. On January 4, 1991,
Best filed chapter 11 bankruptcy, and operated under bankruptcy
protection until the beginning of 1994, emerging as a new publicly
held company owned by various of its creditors, with Adler & Shaykin
retaining none of their ownership, but retaining at least some of its
gains from cobbling together the failed LBO.

In September of 1996 L. Luria and Son Inc made an offer of $69 million
to acquire Best Products, but Best ultimately filed again for
bankruptcy later that month - September 24, 1996. By May 1997 Best
had liquidated the majority of its assets and its 180 stores, and in
December 1998 paid out its final checks to creditors and ceased to
exist.

Oh.... Best, Modern Merchandising, and Service Merchandise, while
competitors, shared a common catalog for much of their time in
business, which helped to make the Best / Modern Merchandising
acquisition look enticing... Their shared catalog was a cost saving
measure...

In 1999 Service Merchandise followed Best into Bankruptcy, and after
three years under bankruptcy protection was liquidated in 2002. The
company name was bought by its former chairman, and resurrected as an
internet-only retailer in 2004. That too seems to have failed, and
their website now shows as "under construction".

On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:50:48 GMT, "Thomas T. Veldhouse"

Labelle's was sort of Mongomery Wards if I had to compare with with something.
They later became "Shopper City".

Greg Kemnitz - KB0OSO - +1.763.548.2600 - ***@skypoint.com

osmium

2007-10-15 14:12:14 UTC

Post by S1500
Watching an old YouTube clip from 1984 featuring twin cities commercials.
There's an ad for "Labelle's" that apparently sells cameras & stuff.
Why am I drawing a blank? I'm 31, and would think I could remember more.
I'm drawing a blank. Help me out here.

I remember LaBelle's in Roseville fondly. The site is now occupied by
Circuit City and some kind of sporting goods stuff. I always thought the
formal name was Service Merchandise, but Wikipedia doesn't give me any
support for that notion. The Wiki description of the "showroom ordering
process" certainly describes LaBelle's to a T. But the store I remember had
no similarity to a five and dime, as mentioned in Wiki.

I am inclined to think the Wiki article has some shortcomings in terms of
being complete. And isn't/wasn't there something in MOA called Service
Merchandise? I thought I saw it listed someplace, as opposed to actually
eye-balling a store.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_Merchandise

Doug McIntyre

2007-10-15 14:23:53 UTC

Post by osmium
I remember LaBelle's in Roseville fondly. The site is now occupied by
Circuit City and some kind of sporting goods stuff. I always thought the
formal name was Service Merchandise, but Wikipedia doesn't give me any
support for that notion. The Wiki description of the "showroom ordering
process" certainly describes LaBelle's to a T. But the store I remember had
no similarity to a five and dime, as mentioned in Wiki.

Service Merchandise was another catalog sales store, but they didn't
have any locations around here until the MOA store. They were in other
areas of the country. You always heard the game shows giving prizes
in Service Merchandise gift certificates way-back-when.. :)

No connection, other that being exactly the same style of store.

Post by osmium
I am inclined to think the Wiki article has some shortcomings in terms of
being complete. And isn't/wasn't there something in MOA called Service
Merchandise? I thought I saw it listed someplace, as opposed to actually
eye-balling a store.

Yes, Service Merchandise opened a store in the MOA for a few years.
IIRC, its where one of the big book stores is now in there.

WDS

2007-10-15 14:54:18 UTC

Post by Doug McIntyre
Yes, Service Merchandise opened a store in the MOA for a few years.
IIRC, its where one of the big book stores is now in there.

I think that Sam's Club and Costco and such are the new incarnations
of these. It's the same basic concept but without the "nice" displays
and with fewer employees.

AnnE

2007-10-15 22:09:45 UTC

I swear that Service Merchandise was in the Best Buy location near
Ridgedale. We moved back here in '78 so it would be around then, I
think. I LOVED that store but after it closed and then opened at the
MOA, it no longer was so good.

Post by Doug McIntyre
No connection, other that being exactly the same style of store.

Yes, Service Merchandise opened a store in the MOA for a few years.
IIRC, its where one of the big book stores is now in there.

I can see it in my mind but seeing as I *always* get lost in malls, not
sure excatly where it was. 1st floor tho. lol

AnnE

Greg Kemnitz

2007-10-16 01:00:40 UTC

Nope. No Service Merchandise store at the location near Ridgedale. I
lived a mile from there from 1971 until about three years ago...

Labelles -DID- use the same catalog as both Service Merchandise and
Best. They were separate companies, but they shared the same catalog
for cost saving reasons as they were largely in different markets.
Perhaps they seemed similar as a result...

Once the original place burned down it never was quite the same
again...

Post by AnnE
I swear that Service Merchandise was in the Best Buy location near
Ridgedale. We moved back here in '78 so it would be around then, I
think. I LOVED that store but after it closed and then opened at the
MOA, it no longer was so good.

Greg Kemnitz - KB0OSO - +1.763.548.2600 - ***@skypoint.com

AnnE

2007-10-16 15:49:24 UTC

Post by Greg Kemnitz
Nope. No Service Merchandise store at the location near Ridgedale. I
lived a mile from there from 1971 until about three years ago...
Labelles -DID- use the same catalog as both Service Merchandise and
Best. They were separate companies, but they shared the same catalog
for cost saving reasons as they were largely in different markets.
Perhaps they seemed similar as a result...

I remember that it was LaBelles first and then Service Merchandise. lol

Post by Greg Kemnitz
Once the original place burned down it never was quite the same
again...

What original place burned down????

AnnE

Post by Greg Kemnitz

Greg Kemnitz

2007-10-17 12:49:34 UTC

The buildfing that the Minnetonka Labelle's/Best store was in burned
down at one point. It was interesting seeing them somewhat in a panic
about the potential for folks wandering through the remains searching
for jewelry... they had 24x7 armed guards watching over the place as
they sifted through the remains... It got rebuilt, with a different
floorplan / layout...

Post by AnnE

Post by Greg Kemnitz
Once the original place burned down it never was quite the same
again...

What original place burned down????
AnnE

Greg Kemnitz - KB0OSO - +1.763.548.2600 - ***@skypoint.com

AnnE

2007-10-17 13:43:41 UTC

Wow, I never knew that. Must have been before 1979. Thanks
AnnE

Post by Greg Kemnitz
The buildfing that the Minnetonka Labelle's/Best store was in burned
down at one point. It was interesting seeing them somewhat in a panic
about the potential for folks wandering through the remains searching
for jewelry... they had 24x7 armed guards watching over the place as
they sifted through the remains... It got rebuilt, with a different
floorplan / layout...

Post by AnnE

Post by Greg Kemnitz
Once the original place burned down it never was quite the same
again...

What original place burned down????
AnnE

2007-10-16 01:10:01 UTC

Post by S1500
Watching an old YouTube clip from 1984 featuring twin cities
commercials. There's an ad for "Labelle's" that apparently sells cameras
& stuff.
Why am I drawing a blank? I'm 31, and would think I could remember more.
I'm drawing a blank. Help me out here.

I did some youtube searching and couldn't find it. Do you have a link?

Ted Novak
TRA#5512
IEAS#75

2007-10-16 01:13:25 UTC

Post by S1500
Watching an old YouTube clip from 1984 featuring twin cities
commercials. There's an ad for "Labelle's" that apparently sells
cameras & stuff.
Why am I drawing a blank? I'm 31, and would think I could remember
more. I'm drawing a blank. Help me out here.

I did some youtube searching and couldn't find it. Do you have a link?

Ok, I'm a idiot. It helped when I *didn't* misspell commercial :/

Ted Novak
TRA#5512
IEAS#75

John A. Weeks III

2007-10-16 02:30:34 UTC

Post by S1500
Watching an old YouTube clip from 1984 featuring twin cities
commercials. There's an ad for "Labelle's" that apparently sells cameras
& stuff.
Why am I drawing a blank? I'm 31, and would think I could remember more.
I'm drawing a blank. Help me out here.

I did some youtube searching and couldn't find it. Do you have a link?

LaBelle's Camera is another interesting outfit. There are dozens
of different camera shops, apparently all in NYC, all within a block
or two of each other, all with the same product line, ads, and
prices. I don't know if they are each different companies, or all
one company, or they just watch each other very close. They all
have the same odd hours...closed early on Friday, closed Saturday,
but open a few hours on Sunday. Perhaps they are all run by
Jewish folks.

I have called these companies a number of times, but never been
able to buy from them. They don't seem to stock anything. What
I gather is that they take orders, and once they get a case lot
of orders to fill, they go to a warehouse and pick up the product
in case lots, then send them out. I never buy something unless
the vendor has one in stock and in their hand.

-john-

Melba's Jammin'

2007-10-16 12:42:23 UTC

In article

Post by John A. Weeks III

Post by S1500
Watching an old YouTube clip from 1984 featuring twin cities
commercials. There's an ad for "Labelle's" that apparently sells cameras
& stuff.
Why am I drawing a blank? I'm 31, and would think I could remember more.
I'm drawing a blank. Help me out here.

I did some youtube searching and couldn't find it. Do you have a link?

LaBelle's Camera is another interesting outfit. There are dozens
of different camera shops, apparently all in NYC, all within a block
or two of each other, all with the same product line, ads, and
prices. I don't know if they are each different companies, or all
one company, or they just watch each other very close. They all
have the same odd hours...closed early on Friday, closed Saturday,
but open a few hours on Sunday. Perhaps they are all run by
Jewish folks.
I have called these companies a number of times, but never been
able to buy from them. They don't seem to stock anything. What
I gather is that they take orders, and once they get a case lot
of orders to fill, they go to a warehouse and pick up the product
in case lots, then send them out. I never buy something unless
the vendor has one in stock and in their hand.
-john-

John, have you ever heard of or looked at Don Wiss' site?
http://donwiss.com/pictures/BrooklynStores/

--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
Notes about our first nine meals in Tuscany have been posted to
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com; 10-15-2007

John A. Weeks III

2007-10-16 23:17:20 UTC

Post by Melba's Jammin'
John, have you ever heard of or looked at Don Wiss' site?
http://donwiss.com/pictures/BrooklynStores/

Thanks for the link...it confirms what I was thinking after
trying to buy from some of these places.

-john-

Howard Beale

2007-10-16 13:23:33 UTC

Post by John A. Weeks III
LaBelle's Camera is another interesting outfit. There are dozens
of different camera shops, apparently all in NYC, all within a block
or two of each other, all with the same product line, ads, and
prices. I don't know if they are each different companies, or all
one company, or they just watch each other very close. They all
have the same odd hours...closed early on Friday, closed Saturday,
but open a few hours on Sunday. Perhaps they are all run by
Jewish folks.

I've been in a couple of the more "reputable" ones in Manhattan (and I
judge them reputable simply because they have obvious storefronts with
displayed merchandise in Midtown Manhattan).

I think all of them appeared run by orthodox Jews; I didn't remember seeing
any staff that weren't obviously Orthodox.

Post by John A. Weeks III
I have called these companies a number of times, but never been
able to buy from them. They don't seem to stock anything. What
I gather is that they take orders, and once they get a case lot
of orders to fill, they go to a warehouse and pick up the product
in case lots, then send them out. I never buy something unless
the vendor has one in stock and in their hand.

From what I've read, these are almost all a massive scam based on either
greymarket imports or some kind of resale gimmick.

Roughrider50

2007-10-21 16:15:32 UTC

On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:30:34 -0500, "John A. Weeks III"

Post by John A. Weeks III

Post by S1500
Watching an old YouTube clip from 1984 featuring twin cities
commercials. There's an ad for "Labelle's" that apparently sells cameras
& stuff.
Why am I drawing a blank? I'm 31, and would think I could remember more.
I'm drawing a blank. Help me out here.

I did some youtube searching and couldn't find it. Do you have a link?

LaBelle's Camera is another interesting outfit. There are dozens
of different camera shops, apparently all in NYC, all within a block
or two of each other, all with the same product line, ads, and
prices. I don't know if they are each different companies, or all
one company, or they just watch each other very close. They all
have the same odd hours...closed early on Friday, closed Saturday,
but open a few hours on Sunday. Perhaps they are all run by
Jewish folks.
I have called these companies a number of times, but never been
able to buy from them. They don't seem to stock anything. What
I gather is that they take orders, and once they get a case lot
of orders to fill, they go to a warehouse and pick up the product
in case lots, then send them out. I never buy something unless
the vendor has one in stock and in their hand.
-john-

Stay away from the Brooklyn camera stores. 60 minutes did an expose on
them several years ago. PC World has a good article
http://tinyurl.com/yoylx2

I almost bought my first digital camera from one of them but Sears
gave me a price match within $25 of the lowest priced one. After
perusing NG's about cameras & reading the horror stories I'm glad I
went that route.
Apparently the stores are owned by a handful of mid-easterners who
engage in bait & switch, strong arm, & gray market items. The lowest
priced items aren't in stock unless you buy an accessory package of
dubious value. Stick to well known companies.

Mike H

2007-10-16 01:58:02 UTC

Not an electronics geek, or catalog buyer?

Always had a Labelle's catalog along with the Sears catalog to go
through and write down the catalog number of the toys my brother and I
wanted for Christmas or birthdays. That would get sent off to
grandparents so they could order it.

Purchased my first stereo receiver from Labelle's, Pioneer SX
something. Paid like $400 for it, and it went on sale 2 months later
for $200. My first experience with that stuff.

The DAK catalog was something around then as well.

The Labelle's I went to was the one in Burnsville, in the building
that is now a strip mall in front of the GM Dealer. You never
purchased anything off the floor. You'd find what you wanted, see it
in a showroom, then pay for it, and get a number. then you would go
over to an area where they would call a number and you'd pickup your
box.

I can remember going with the parents to shop in Montgomery Wards
before they closed their doors. I can remember parents shopping at a
Zayre Shopper City. there was a Red Owl grocery store on the other
side of the parking lot.

Ah yes... the good old days. And I'm only 39

John A. Weeks III

2007-10-16 02:26:14 UTC

Post by Mike H
The DAK catalog was something around then as well.

The original DAK catalogs are collectors items today. I have
a bunch of them, perhaps the first 10 or so. There were a few
different catalogs then that used the narrative style to talk
about their products, though I don't remember any of the names.
The classic example today is C.C. Crane, who used Art Bell to
talk about the products. Between the text written by Crane
and the delivery from Art Bell, you really wanted to own anything
they sold. They were a great pair.

-john-

Howard Beale

2007-10-16 14:56:43 UTC

Post by Mike H
The DAK catalog was something around then as well.

What is Drew Andrew Kaplan up to these days? You'd think an early
gadgetophile would still be a force to reckoned with, or at least poked at
with a stick.

2007-10-16 15:11:40 UTC

Post by Howard Beale

Post by Mike H
The DAK catalog was something around then as well.

What is Drew Andrew Kaplan up to these days? You'd think an early
gadgetophile would still be a force to reckoned with, or at least poked
at with a stick.

I'd say poke with a stick. I remember the DAK catalogs well. And I
remember the crap product they used to sell.

Ted Novak
TRA#5512
IEAS#75

Mike H

2007-10-16 17:23:10 UTC

Post by Howard Beale

Post by Mike H
The DAK catalog was something around then as well.

What is Drew Andrew Kaplan up to these days? You'd think an early
gadgetophile would still be a force to reckoned with, or at least poked
at with a stick.

I'd say poke with a stick. I remember the DAK catalogs well. And I
remember the crap product they used to sell.

Oh come on now, at least he wasn't a big chain trying to sell crap
like the auto stores do these days. i.e. Tornado, or fuel saving
magnets.

One of the coolest items I purchased from one of those catalogs was a
Walkman like player that had a cassette you would load and then have
an FM radio. An Akai brand if I recall. I used it for a long time
until the dual slide volume controls finally couldn't be coaxed to
work any longer.

Mike H

2007-10-16 17:19:07 UTC

Post by Howard Beale

Post by Mike H
The DAK catalog was something around then as well.

What is Drew Andrew Kaplan up to these days? You'd think an early
gadgetophile would still be a force to reckoned with, or at least poked at
with a stick.

Back in business... .his whole story (from his perspective no doubt)
is on the website.
http://www.dak.com/

S1500

2007-10-17 02:47:20 UTC

Post by Mike H
The DAK catalog was something around then as well.

I bought a shortwave radio from them(after eyeballing their catalogs for years). Still
have it.

Richard Steiner

2007-10-19 16:56:58 UTC

Post by Mike H
The DAK catalog was something around then as well.

Heh. I remember DAK, and their ADC SoundShaper equalizer special that
would never leave. :-)

--
-Rich Steiner >>>---> http://www.visi.com/~rsteiner >>>---> Mableton, GA USA
Mainframe/Unix bit twiddler by day, OS/2+Linux+DOS hobbyist by night.
WARNING: I've seen FIELDATA FORTRAN V and I know how to use it!
The Theorem Theorem: If If, Then Then.

Gandalf

2007-10-16 04:00:30 UTC