Parts from the Phlippines!!

[boater sam]

This may seem to be a strange post, but.......

In the Philippines there are many CRT sets still being used and repaired. There are Aladdin's cave shops with all sorts of old parts, CRT sockets, transistors, etc. but no valves that I have found yet.
Being stranded out here all winter away from the workbench I get bored. If there is anything you need I am able to wander around and find things. Silly low prices too.
So, let me know and I will have a look on my way round the islands, but my delivery times are longer than China, I get back to the UK in late March!
Sam

[boater sam]

I know where there is a large stock of STK modules, here with me in the Philippines. NOS but dusty!

If you need any I can possibly  find after New Year. But be quick!

Sam.

[Murphyv310]

Hi Sam.
Black and white TV tubes would always be wanted over here, snag though is their bulk and fragility. I'd be interested if there was any possibility but I'd not ask you to do anything you didn't feel ok with.

[boater sam]

Sadly I saw today about 20 rectangular tubes, 17" up to about 23" lying in a ditch at the road side, in one piece still.
No, I can't bring any back, Emirates wouldn't like it even if I could get them to the airport and past security.
Suppose they are not allowed on a plane, like cigarette lighters, nail clippers, water etc.

There are loads of CRT TVs here still but they are obviously going out of use though there are still repair shops fixing them and parts are available freely.

[boater sam]

Before we move over to Cebu island in 3 days, I have found a supplier of STK modules.
They appear to be old stock so probably not counterfeit.
If anyone wants any, be quick!

[boater sam]

Searching and buying in Bacolod on Monday, if you need any parts you think I could find over here, let me know soon as. Bear in mid I am 8 hours ahead of GMT.

So far we have a success on 2SC1969 transistors @£2.34. Now looking for AF124-5-6-7s
No valves at all found.

We leave for a more remote area on Wednesday but will be back in Bacolod next month.

Sam.

[Diabolical Artificer]

Thank's for thinking of us Sam, but am ok for STK's, have a tub full.

I've alway's wondered if there were big stash's of valve's over sea's what with the presence of the armed forces in India, Malaysia, HK etc. I did a bit of a search on ebay India etc but a search for "valve's" came up with ECC83's etc from the UK. Probably for the budding middle class hifi market. I wouldn't be suprised if a lot of military valve stock was bulldozed. you never know though, there may be a store room out there somewhere hot full of NOS PX4's, KT88's and what have you.

Do you see many component shops out there like we used to have? Hope your enjoying your sojourn, it's wet and orrible here. : )

Cheers Sam, all the best, Andy.

[boater sam]

Hi Andy.

Searched high and low for valves, called tubes here by those who remember of course, but there is nothing in glass at all. I was surprised, even valve sockets are rare but there are some CRT sockets around.
Many shops with large stocks of semiconductors, capacitors etc, mostly Japanese and Chinese stuff, some American.
Texas Instruments had factories in Luzon for early chips. Nothing from Mullard etc, very little even European.
The old CRT TV trade is all semiconductor, sadly there are piles of CRTs dumped after the Junk yards have recycled the rest of the set, most rubbish get recycled, no lofts or cellars full of hoarded sets.
Most of the new components are for audio amps, good stocks of high power amps and speakers for the "Sound Stages", ear blasters.
Have seen mains transformers sold, boxed, brand new.
Unfortunately its common to find shops selling led arrays for cars  and bikes in all colours, its all very now type products that are taking over.
There are back street electronic shops that will repair most stuff but as everywhere else, its becoming a throw away society.
They do fix fridges and freezers, you can buy small cans of refrigerant gas. No recovery systems, it all gets vented into the ozone layer.
Been good fun looking for stuff, met some interesting people.