Los Angeles: Oldest TV shop is closing 11-1

[kx250rider]

This is a really hard thing to write, as I have an attachment to this TV repair shop in West Los Angeles, where I started my TV repair "career" in 1980 after school at age 13. I learned everything I know from Bob Chavez, owner since 1979. The shop was founded as Radio Analysis Group in 1936, and was the west coast factory repair shop for E H Scott, among others. They became the #1 sales & service shop for Zenith, and later became the exclusive Sylvania dealership in the 1970s.

32 years ago, I walked in the door of that shop, hoping to earn $2 for an hour to restock the tube caddies, and write the tube reorder list. Last night, I walked through the same door, and onto the same carpet (albeit faded and patched with tape), and made a list of things that Bob wants me to dispose of for him. There are no antiques, as I procured all that stuff during the 80s, but there are some manuals and various 1970s audio pieces, etc etc. Hundreds of flat panel TVs and VCRs, DVD players, etc., but again, nothing collectible.

Here are a few things that might interest people here:

Sams 1000 through 2800 (approx), in metal file cabinets

RCA factory manuals in RCA binders; CTC-12 through current

Magnavox, Zenith, Sony and Mitsubishi in binders (1970s-2010s)

Some 1960s-70s test equipment

Also there are LOTS of 1980s-90s parts for TVs & VCRs, etc


He has about 250 unclaimed (not working) flat panel TVs, which he will sell for 18 cents/pound to the e-scrap if no takers. That boils down to about $35 ea average for 40" flat panel sets. I bet he'd take a lot less than that, if someone buys & takes all for cash on the spot. None of them are working, but some have good panels and bad boards, and vice-versa.
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Please understand that I'm posting this with confidence that I can trust my fellow AK members, not to swarm Bob with phone calls asking if he has a certain item, as he has NO TIME to do anything but pack and plan. He does not have time to pack and ship anything, even if someone makes a "generous offer" to pay for the shipping and hassle. He's a nice guy, and he likely WOULD go spend time on stuff you ask about, and that's why I'm asking you not to... Thank you for your respect of this situation in cooperating

Call him and make an appointment to go with your truck, and I hope some of that stuff will find good homes. He needs any funds he can get, but he knows none of that stuff is worth much of anything, so any fair offer will be accepted. The more stuff, or better yet the entire contents of the building, the better the price.

The shop is located on Pico Blvd near the 405 & 10 Fwys, and he's usually open 11-5 M-F, and sometimes Sat by appt. (310) 559-6700. Tell Bob that Charles posted this, and I hope to hear of some mutually good results!

Again, this is a good faith posting, and I am trusting my fellow AKers to use good ethics and good will.

Charles

Note to mods: I'm not involved in any part of the sale or giveaway of any or all items in that shop; no commissions no kickbacks. Just helping a friend, and this is certainly non-profit for anyone.

[kx250rider]

Bump: 2 weeks left... Sams in file cabinets still there, and hundreds of manuals in binders for audio, vcr, camera, etc from the 70s-90s. Dumpster arrives some time next week!

Modules for 70s color TVs, boxes of remotes, misc. junk will go to the dump if not claimed. I took all the test equipment for a nominal price, and I hope someone will rescue some of those Sams and manuals. I can't.

Anyone?

Charles

[ctc17]

Ill try and get up there next week. I have 90% of those sams but I guess I could get them, I would like the rca manuals.

I have been doing some side work for a local shop thats in the exact same same situation. I think he made $50 last month....

[Dan Starnes]

All good things come to an end. But it is sad. Best of luck to your friend.

[waltchan]

Originally Posted by kx250rider

Bump: 2 weeks left... Sams in file cabinets still there, and hundreds of manuals in binders for audio, vcr, camera, etc from the 70s-90s. Dumpster arrives some time next week!

Modules for 70s color TVs, boxes of remotes, misc. junk will go to the dump if not claimed. I took all the test equipment for a nominal price, and I hope someone will rescue some of those Sams and manuals. I can't.

Anyone?

Charles

Any more of the VCRs and are they still here? Where is the shop located? I can be here on Monday.

[bgadow]

Sad, we will someday soon see the last of these shops close. Tomorrow I go to pick up the remnants of yet another shop. The gentleman passed away before I knew about him. I need to speak with his widow and take lots of notes about his business. I like to document these things and plan on turning it into a webpage at some point, just listing a bio for all of the local repairmen...a tribute page, I guess.

[ctc17]

I went and got the sams, gave the guy $80. Something I really cant afford/need right now but don't want them to go in the trash.
Talked to him for a bit, another victim of the disposable society. Its a really sad situation thats going on all over the place.
This once superpower empire is fading into a post industrial 3rd world distribution point for cheap Chinese garbage and low paying unskilled jobs.

[ctc17]

Ohh...
He has a really bitchen 50s working Philco refrigerator and Coke machine in there he wants gone.

We took so pictures and are going to put it on craigslist for him.

[Dude111]

Very sad,i am so sorry buddy

[kx250rider]

Very glad to hear that some things were rescued!!! I thought about that fridge, and I bet it still has a bottle of hot sauce of mine in there, from when I worked there through dinnertime every Wednesday from '80 to about '83. Dan- I'm sure that $80 was fine, as it's much better than paying $80 for dumping costs...

AFAIK, there are a lot of VHS VCRs, DVD & CD players, and stereo stuff (nothing vintage or valuable except for a couple of badly parted-out 70s Marantz units), still there. No repairable Betamaxes though... I checked.

Charles

[waltchan]

Originally Posted by kx250rider

AFAIK, there are a lot of VHS VCRs, DVD & CD players, and stereo stuff (nothing vintage or valuable except for a couple of badly parted-out 70s Marantz units), still there. No repairable Betamaxes though... I checked.

Charles

Where's the exact address? I'll go check them out on my way to work tommorow. Need some parts of course.

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by waltchan

Where's the exact address? I'll go check them out on my way to work tommorow. Need some parts of course.

It's best to call Bob and see when is a good time. He's not there any regular hours... (310) 559-6700

Charles

[DavGoodlin]

I bought a trailer load of stuff from a retired TV guy's estate in Buffalo a few months back.
It was transported hundreds of miles down to S.E. PA after I wrote and mailed a check for $225, sight unseen. The amount of 1946-54 Sams, Wallace TelAides and factory books alone made it worth what I paid.
I felt it was worth taking what others had left behind. I am still sorting through it and finding all kinds of intersting treasures.

Except for a shop in York with an Admiral Sign, there are none left in this area, even their signs that stayed up long after are now gone.

You're doing a great deed Charles!

[ctc17]

I really dont promote my own videos because I tend to be so annoying. I stopped by Harvey's tv yesterday to make a short documentary more for the owner and my own experience, what came out was fairly interesting.

We had posted the fridge and coke machine on craigslist last week, when I arrived yesterday a buyer was grinding the owner on the price

If you see anything in the video you like, make contact early in the week.

http://youtu.be/yrPVu3OfV18

[lnx64]

I wish I was local. If I could find a SAMs for my tv that would be great. I got a SAMs for the hitachi in my sig but not the Samsung.