<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Gosh, it was great to read this conversation about the electronic parts stores in the 1960‘s. RITCO & SYSCO bring back fond memories, but as a young teenager my travel ability was minimal, so for me the most common shopping was done at “KEY electronics“ in Arlington. I remember they had the front 50% of the store as a customer browse area which featured open top bins filled with loads of second world war electronic surplus. It was this rich availability of parts that got me started on a lifetime career.</div><div><br></div>On Sat, Mar 14, 2020 at 5:19 PM Terry N4TLF <<a href="mailto:n4tlf@wb4jfi.com">n4tlf@wb4jfi.com</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Arial";color:rgb(0,0,0)">
<div>In the D.C. area in the 60s and 70s, we had SASCO on King St. in Alexandria
(two floors of stuff), and RITCO in a warehouse in Annandale, behind the lawn
mower repair shop off 236. SASCO was always fun to visit, but RITCO was
strange. The guy would follow you all around, like he didn’t really want
to sell anything.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Then there was Arcade in Annandale, I loved talking to Vern and the other
owner. Vic Clark (W4KFC) would regularly show up there. And the
Heathkit store in Rockville, along with another parts store in Rockville.
Plus the electronics surplus store (with various names Surplus Electronics,
Electronics Plus, etc...) in College Park. And the ham store in Woodbridge
(now HRO), and lest we NOT forget, EEB in Vienna.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>But, that guy at RITCO was strange... I can’t remember his name.</div>
<div>73, Terry,</div></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></body></html>