[XCSSA] ATEX going out of business, electronics kits
xcssa@xcssa.org
xcssa@xcssa.org
Tue, 11 Jul 2006 23:24:09 -0500
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This was beautiful informations - thanks Matt! I frequented Altex on
Gulfdale in the early 90's and have always enjoyed returning there,
which means I drive to Gulfdale before remembering they moved to
Broadway. Not much occasion to order electronics this past decade,
though - maybe now that the kids are almost all grown up...
Really a nice summary of an excellent store,
-Kevin
xcssa-admin@xcssa.org wrote:
> Tweeks,
>
> A long. Long, long time ago (1981-82 +/-), way before I met you, I stumbled on this tiny treasure trove of electronic wonder, ALTEX
> Electronics. It was a 15x40 foot space in the larger building at the corner of Sunset Road & Jones Maltsberger. There I met Jeff
> (owners son) Roger (Jeff's boyhood friend), and Jack (Jeff's little brother or cousin) and started a 25 year friendship with these
> guys. They didn't know boo about what they had or what they were doing, but Jeff's dad had the inside connection to the bulk
> electronics / surplus market and they had stuff piled high; everywhere.
>
> They soon outgrew that space and relocated to their long time home on Gulfdale where they grew to be the dominant Electronics spot
> in San Antonio, putting a big dent in long time solo act Sherman Electronics on San Pedro, and becoming the leader in the emerging
> market of personal computer (PC) parts for those folks brave enough to "build" their own PC/XT "clone" complete with a 20MB hard
> drive, Hercules video card, and a huge 12" amber monochrome monitor. They kept growing and where "the" spot for electronics,
> computer parts, and supplies (magnetic media in particular).
>
> Over they years the family grew to include Wayne (still there today), Rheinert (the eccentric semi-conductor wizard from germany),
> Mike (Gonzales?, from the old TV repair shop on Commerce who was always helpful with a schematic or a quick design for a deer
> feeder), Mike ? (from Mexico, great for international sales), Mario (Mimi), and too many others to recall.
>
> Finally the computer business grew so large it eclipsed the electronics side of the house and Altex Computers (San Pedro & IH35) was
> spawned, leaving the electronics house on Gulfdale, minus one "L", known forever more as ATEX ELECTRONICS.
>
> Well, you know the rest. Wayne and Rheinert and others soldiered on, outlasting San Antonio electronics legends Sherman Electronics
> who had moved in just a block away and Electrotex (Hildebrand & IH-10). It was clear for years that business could be better, then
> they down-sized and moved to Broadway. It's sad to see them go. It was a great ride, with a great bunch of folks, and I'll miss them
> all.
>
> For components anymore, I rely on my Mouser catalog sitting on my bench. If I need anything I just call, order, and they deliver in
> short order. Don't know if you're aware of it or not but Mouser won my undying loyalty the first time I placed an order. I called
> them, placed an order for some stuff ($100 or so) and they just shipped (WITHOUT PAYMENT) and billed me later. Yeah, old school;
> didn't know me from Adam, sent me stuff, then sent me a bill. In the mail! Like it was 1954 all over again. For that alone I buy
> almost everything from them.
>
> If you need stuff locally your best bet is InterTex Electronics. Remember Mike from Mexico & Mimi from above? These ALTEX alumni
> split off 6-7 years ago and started InterTex Electronics, currently located in the old ELECTROTEX location (see above) Capitalizing
> on their fluency in the Spanish language they specialize on international orders to Mexico and South America, but do maintain a
> showroom and a fairly large local inventory of new & surplus semiconductors, IC's, etc (now certainly the best in SA). I haven't
> been there in a year or so, hope they're still in business.
>
> Well enough rambling.
>
> Farewell ALTEX ELECTRONICS; it was groovy while it lasted.
>
> Matt (not Firestorm; he's too young to remember all this crap) Grooms
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: xcssa-admin@xcssa.org [mailto:xcssa-admin@xcssa.org]
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 1:43 PM
>> To: xcssa@xcssa.org
>> Cc: xcssa-admin@xcssa.org
>> Subject: Re: [XCSSA] ATEX going out of business, electronics kits
>>
>> On Tuesday 11 July 2006 11:38 am, xcssa-admin@xcssa.org wrote:
>>
>>> Anyway, I like AAI in the same way I always liked what is/was now Atex -
>>> but nothing at AAI that is truly component-wise.
>>>
>> Bummer..
>> If anyone knows of any other component level vendor in town.. please post it
>> to this list. If I can't find an alternative to ATex.. I don't know what
>> I'll do... At this point I would even feel better just having a Fry's in
>> town if it meant that I could get components and PCB fab materials...
>>
>> Tweeks
>> _______________________________________________
>> XCSSA mailing list
>> XCSSA@xcssa.org
>> http://xcssa.org/mailman/listinfo/xcssa
>>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> XCSSA mailing list
> XCSSA@xcssa.org
> http://xcssa.org/mailman/listinfo/xcssa
>
>
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This was beautiful informations - thanks Matt! I frequented Altex on
Gulfdale in the early 90's and have always enjoyed returning there,
which means I drive to Gulfdale before remembering they moved to
Broadway. Not much occasion to order electronics this past decade,
though - maybe now that the kids are almost all grown up... <br>
Really a nice summary of an excellent store, <br>
-Kevin <br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:xcssa-admin@xcssa.org">xcssa-admin@xcssa.org</a> wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid022c01c6a55e$1fc4fc30$6400000a@burnside.local"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Tweeks,
A long. Long, long time ago (1981-82 +/-), way before I met you, I stumbled on this tiny treasure trove of electronic wonder, ALTEX
Electronics. It was a 15x40 foot space in the larger building at the corner of Sunset Road & Jones Maltsberger. There I met Jeff
(owners son) Roger (Jeff's boyhood friend), and Jack (Jeff's little brother or cousin) and started a 25 year friendship with these
guys. They didn't know boo about what they had or what they were doing, but Jeff's dad had the inside connection to the bulk
electronics / surplus market and they had stuff piled high; everywhere.
They soon outgrew that space and relocated to their long time home on Gulfdale where they grew to be the dominant Electronics spot
in San Antonio, putting a big dent in long time solo act Sherman Electronics on San Pedro, and becoming the leader in the emerging
market of personal computer (PC) parts for those folks brave enough to "build" their own PC/XT "clone" complete with a 20MB hard
drive, Hercules video card, and a huge 12" amber monochrome monitor. They kept growing and where "the" spot for electronics,
computer parts, and supplies (magnetic media in particular).
Over they years the family grew to include Wayne (still there today), Rheinert (the eccentric semi-conductor wizard from germany),
Mike (Gonzales?, from the old TV repair shop on Commerce who was always helpful with a schematic or a quick design for a deer
feeder), Mike ? (from Mexico, great for international sales), Mario (Mimi), and too many others to recall.
Finally the computer business grew so large it eclipsed the electronics side of the house and Altex Computers (San Pedro & IH35) was
spawned, leaving the electronics house on Gulfdale, minus one "L", known forever more as ATEX ELECTRONICS.
Well, you know the rest. Wayne and Rheinert and others soldiered on, outlasting San Antonio electronics legends Sherman Electronics
who had moved in just a block away and Electrotex (Hildebrand & IH-10). It was clear for years that business could be better, then
they down-sized and moved to Broadway. It's sad to see them go. It was a great ride, with a great bunch of folks, and I'll miss them
all.
For components anymore, I rely on my Mouser catalog sitting on my bench. If I need anything I just call, order, and they deliver in
short order. Don't know if you're aware of it or not but Mouser won my undying loyalty the first time I placed an order. I called
them, placed an order for some stuff ($100 or so) and they just shipped (WITHOUT PAYMENT) and billed me later. Yeah, old school;
didn't know me from Adam, sent me stuff, then sent me a bill. In the mail! Like it was 1954 all over again. For that alone I buy
almost everything from them.
If you need stuff locally your best bet is InterTex Electronics. Remember Mike from Mexico & Mimi from above? These ALTEX alumni
split off 6-7 years ago and started InterTex Electronics, currently located in the old ELECTROTEX location (see above) Capitalizing
on their fluency in the Spanish language they specialize on international orders to Mexico and South America, but do maintain a
showroom and a fairly large local inventory of new & surplus semiconductors, IC's, etc (now certainly the best in SA). I haven't
been there in a year or so, hope they're still in business.
Well enough rambling.
Farewell ALTEX ELECTRONICS; it was groovy while it lasted.
Matt (not Firestorm; he's too young to remember all this crap) Grooms
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">-----Original Message-----
From: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:xcssa-admin@xcssa.org">xcssa-admin@xcssa.org</a> [<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:xcssa-admin@xcssa.org">mailto:xcssa-admin@xcssa.org</a>]
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 1:43 PM
To: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:xcssa@xcssa.org">xcssa@xcssa.org</a>
Cc: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:xcssa-admin@xcssa.org">xcssa-admin@xcssa.org</a>
Subject: Re: [XCSSA] ATEX going out of business, electronics kits
On Tuesday 11 July 2006 11:38 am, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:xcssa-admin@xcssa.org">xcssa-admin@xcssa.org</a> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Anyway, I like AAI in the same way I always liked what is/was now Atex -
but nothing at AAI that is truly component-wise.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">Bummer..
If anyone knows of any other component level vendor in town.. please post it
to this list. If I can't find an alternative to ATex.. I don't know what
I'll do... At this point I would even feel better just having a Fry's in
town if it meant that I could get components and PCB fab materials...
Tweeks
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
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XCSSA mailing list
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