The retail store is gone even though the successor company occupies the same building last I checked.Any science-minded kid who grew up in South Jersey in the 60s, 70s, or 80s laments their closure, I guarantee that.

Sciencecatalog

The back room sold surplus scientific gadgets and parts, as well as military surplus (some WW2)… none of the back room stuff was in the catalog, so it was extra special to visit their store. You never knew what you’d find, like a WW2-era military oscilloscope for sale. Or surplus giant glass lenses to try to make your own telescope. Or black lights. Or gas masks, giant capacitors, random IC chips or transistors, unknown electronic devices in random boxes or wooden shelves that looked like your dad built them for the garage.The front room was enormous and displayed everything in the catalog and possibly more. Everything could be touched and manipulated. Expensive items were in glass cases but clerks were happy to let you check them out.The retail store is gone even though the successor company occupies the same building last I checked.Any science-minded kid who grew up in South Jersey in the 60s, 70s, or 80s laments their closure, I guarantee that.

EdmondScientific

I would occasionally schlepp to an electronics surplus store in the San Fernando Valley to look around. Even when I didn't have a project in mind I would usually come up with something based on what I saw that day and would leave with the needed stuff. I checked their website just now and saw that they had closed permanently a few weeks ago after 50+ years.

The front room was enormous and displayed everything in the catalog and possibly more. Everything could be touched and manipulated. Expensive items were in glass cases but clerks were happy to let you check them out.The retail store is gone even though the successor company occupies the same building last I checked.Any science-minded kid who grew up in South Jersey in the 60s, 70s, or 80s laments their closure, I guarantee that.