Baynesville Electronics Closing Shop

skrol · October 2016

Sad to see that another electronics shops is closing its doors. Baynesville
Electronics in Towson Maryland has been such a cool store for the DIY electronics folks and professionals as well. I remember going there as a kid with my dad, then I'd go there when in college for my EE projects.
Stan

From their Facebook site:
"This is a letter that none of us wanted to write, but the time has come to let our loyal customers know what is happening to Baynesville Electronics. As of October 1st, we will be liquidating our stock and preparing to close our doors on or before the end of the year.

For 61 years, it’s been our pleasure for Baynesville Electronics to serve the generations of families that have come through our doors. These families, as well as, our loyal customers have allowed us to thrive these past years in this wonderful community.

Although we have tried to keep up with the changes in our industry and retail sales in general, we have been unable to continue to keep ourselves profitable.

It is our hope that you understand and ask that you wish our employees the best with their future plans.

From Our Family to Yours...
Thank you for allowing us to serve you!"

[Deleted User] · October 2016

That is a real shame, I have gone there for years and will miss it very much. But, to be honest I'm surprised they have lasted as long as they have. With this and the Bel-Loc Diner closing at the end of the year (turning into a Starbucks) the area won't be the same.

mhardy6647 · October 2016

Well that is sad to see. I went to high school (not LRHS) within walking distance (on a nice day) of that place.

I guess I am part of the problem, though -- haven't been there for years. Of course, living 500 miles away, I do have some excuse :-P

When I was in high school, the local Heathkit store (yes, a B&M Heathkit store) was just a wee bit down Joppa Road, the other way from Loch Raven Blvd.

Those were the days -- sorry, young whippersnappers!

Now, you darn, punk kids -- get offa my dang lawn!

F1nut · October 2016

Very sad to hear about Baynesville. I first started going there as a kid with my dad to test tubes for the TV and have been going back ever since. I noticed about 6 months ago that they weren't restocking some things and figured the end was coming.

I remember the Heathkit store too. My dad and I used to buy hi-fi kits there.....fun times.

The Bel-Loc Diner was the very first place we ate the day we moved to the area.

Then there was Luskin's, "the cheapest guy in town" just down the road. I bought my first color TV from them, an MGA. By far the best picture then and for many years after. Luskin's had a great fireworks show on the 4th too.

All good things come to an end, still sucks though.

WagnerRC · October 2016

Old memories never die. Fun times.

mhardy6647 · October 2016

F1nut wrote: »

Very sad to hear about Baynesville. I first started going there as a kid with my dad to test tubes for the TV and have been going back ever since. I noticed about 6 months ago that they weren't restocking some things and figured the end was coming.

I remember the Heathkit store too. My dad and I used to buy hi-fi kits there.....fun times.

The Bel-Loc Diner was the very first place we ate the day we moved to the area.

Then there was Luskin's, "the cheapest guy in town" just down the road. I bought my first color TV from them, an MGA. By far the best picture then and for many years after. Luskin's had a great fireworks show on the 4th too.

All good things come to an end, still sucks though.

Heh -- I remember Luskin's very well, too.
"Where Jack you know will save you dough".

Never bought hifi there, but I still have a ancient (ca 1972 or 73) Zenith "Circle of Sound" clock radio and (somewhere, I think) an old JVC multi-band radio/cassette (mini) boom-box from Luskin's.

Triggered a random memory, Luskin's did:

When our daughter (who is now... aiyee... 32!) was very small, we went to my old high school (just across the Beltway from the Luskins' hill -- now behind grown-up trees, though) to watch the fireworks. The noise terrified the poor child (she was probably a toddler; i.e., probably her second Fourth of July).

[Deleted User] · October 2016

I used to haunt the Heathkit store when I lived in Parkville, I built lots of kits and even got a roll-up Xcelite tool kit that is in continuous use there as a birthday gift to myself. I still have a "digital" alarm clock by my bed that must be 40 years old I built. Signal generators, oscilloscope, VTVM, soldering station and other things. It's an Easter Lock and Key place now.
I worked for Luskins for one day. I needed a job and got hired there to work in the audio department. They had a big combination warehouse and training facility on Route 1 north of Laurel. I started the training program, got the red Luskins sweater and got a tour of their repair shop. The guy leading the tour said, "We've even got our own (insert derogatory Asian epithet here) fixing crap!" He waved his arm over dozens of long work benches filled with sad looking Asian men repairing all kinds of TVs and other electronics.
I knew then this wasn't the place for me and resigned the next morning, I gave the sweater to a friend years later as a joke. I do have to say, Luskins sent me a check for one day's work minus the cost of the sweater. So, can't fault them on that at least.

mhardy6647 · October 2016

I bought a few things at that Heathkit store, too. Would've bought much more, but economics were not in my favor

heathkit1978christmas by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

-- and I still have my father's roll-up Xcelite kit (the smaller, red one -- not the "high-end" blue one). Good quality tools. The pouch part is long since disintegrated, though. The tools are still great.

AR19 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

AR19lguts by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

Back on topic: requisqat in pace Baynesville Electronics

skrol · October 2016

Wow, I remember that Heathkit catalog cover. My dad ordered a Heathkit TV kit from that store through the GI-Bill. We had a lot of fun building the test equipment that would later be used to assemble and calibrate the TV. There was a bread-board with power supply and function generator, a bench digital multi-meter with nixie-tube display and the oscilloscope. I had the O-scope up until a few years ago. I learned to solder real well assembling the TV. I think the TV was about 26" and my dad made a nice wood floor standing cabinet to house the thing.

Sad to say that I don't get up to the Towson area much at all anymore. But when I do, I make a point of stopping in Baynesville and Record and Tape Collectors. It was usually after my eye appointment at NRI and my eyes ere dilated so I have to get one of the folks there to read labels for me.

mdaudioguy · October 2016

I was just there about a month ago and was suspicious that perhaps business had not been too good for a while. Sad. That place was like Radio Shack on steroids. Lots of folks will miss Baynesville Electronics.

[Deleted User] · October 2016

Very sad to see this store go. They were a real lifesaver sometimes because they were open on Saturdays. George Harrison - "all things must pass...".

Baynesville Electronics Closing Shop

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