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INFORMATION LINKS - 20240727

Favorite Links of where to get parts
for electronic and amateur radio repair or projects.

The stores for older components a disappearing fast as technology marches forward, just like the demise of Shortwave Broadcasting. What we have here is a small resource of information culled from the Internet and social interactions. Comments might be from other peoples opinions and not necessarily my own.

Note: I'm working to update the links and will be removing the dead wood.
You might be able find an offline site on ARCHIVE.ORG
    1. PARTS
    A-1 Electronic Parts

    The last place I know of in Ontario with overflowing shelves of equipment, where you take your own life into your hands when you visit. Wear a hard-hat. Stock is a mix of surplus parts up to modern stuff. Some components, but mostly electronic test equipment and assemblies. Absolutely worth a visit if you are in western Toronto.

    1. PARTS
    A2D Electronics

    Sells Arduino and microelectronics, what seems to be mostly typical Chinese products that you might see on ebay. Good prices. Their stock is dwindling; but they did have some modern hardware. Local pickup can be arranged.

    1. PARTS
    AA Electronics

    Distributor and wholesaler in professional Security Systems and Accessories, high quality Networking Cabinets & Accessories, commercial-grade LCD Video Wall Panels & Accessories, LED Lighting and Accessories, Home Theater and Professional Video/Audio products, and variety of Tools for electronics.

    1. HISTORICAL
    Active Surplus Annex

    Queen St. Toronto. (No relation to Active Electronics or Active123) Always had a stuffed ape in front of the store. Had a good selection of new and surplus electronics. However, it closed in 2015. There may be an echo of this store in the form of "The Gorilla Store" http://thegorillastore.com/ located at the Ontario Science Centre and 609 College St., but this store seems to be aimed at the educational market.

    1. PARTS
    Active Tech

    Was a pretty good place for parts and test equipment. Name changed a few times, was Active Electronics, Active Components, then Active 123 and now Active Tech.

    1. PARTS
    Adafruit

    Be warned: ordering from Adafruit can cause unexpected UPS invoices. To avoid this, several Canadian suppliers distribute Adafruit items.

    1. PARTS
    Addison Electronique

    Add-Tronique and Maddison were sub-distributors of Addison in the 80s and 90s. Today, those stores are independent from Addison. 8018, 20eme Avenue Montreal, Qc H1Z3S7 145, Rue Lafayette Repentigny, Qc J6A8K3 1025, Boulevard Lachapelle Saint-Jerome Qc, J7Z7M4

    1. PARTS
    Add-Tronique

    11990, Rue Sherbrooke Est, Pointe-aux-Trembles Qc H1B1C5 1750, Chemin Gascon, Terrebonne Qc J6X3A4

    1. PARTS
    Antique Electronic Supply

    They have traditionally been my go-to destination for antique parts, but recently they have moved more towards musical instruments. Good tube stock.

    1. MUSEUMS
    Antique Radio Pictures

    This site has information on clubs and club events with pictures, auction pictures, radios in my collection, links to other sites, data and information on restoring antique radios and electrical repairs, and an archive of over 1000+ antique radio pictures in alphabetical order.

    1. PARTS
    A-One Counterparts

    Retail store. Components and boards, including Sparkfun and Adafruit. (Poor site with broken links in menu.)

    1. PARTS
    Arrow

    Electronic Components and Computer Products Distribution.

    1. PARTS
    Artek manuals

    A good source of high-quality manuals for test equipment, but you must pay "a little" for the quality. For HP manuals, also check the Keysight web site as they have a good collection of historical manuals. And check the boat anchor manual archive http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/

    1. HISTORICAL
    Atwater Electronics

    886 Dundas St., Mississauga. A small place mainly supplying the radio/TV repair trade, but it had almost everything at a price. Closed in 1980s?

    1. PARTS
    B&E Electronics

    Retail outlets in all three cities. Slanted towards industrial electronics. Refreshingly they only ship to Canadian addresses.

    1. PARTS
    BC Robotics

    Arduino; R-Pi; Beagle; Adafruit; a bit of Spikenzie. Strange that one learns about a (the only?) local electronics supplier from somebody at a bus stop in another city! It did help that I was on the way to the Vancouver Mini Maker Faire...

    1. PARTS
    BuyaPi.ca

    Online ordering only. Rasp-Pi (of course!), Adafruit, Arduino, littlebits, some SparkFun, Mostly sells stuff related to computers. Low voltage components, even Printrbot 3D printers and a whack of parts.

    1. PARTS
    CanaKit

    Sell kits and boards. Their own designs as well as SparkFun and others. No components.

    1. PARTS
    Circuit Boards

    Very cheap custom circuit boards from China. I was very impressed with their service. 5 double-sided boards for $15 CAD total including shipping and tax.

    1. HISTORICAL
    City Surplus

    Dixie Road, north of the 401, in Mississauga. True military surplus, including tanks. Closed in 1970s?

    1. MUSEUMS
    Collectics Antiques and Collectibles

    Welcome To Collectics.com, the Internet's original Antiques & Collectibles Search Engine! What can you find at Collectics.com? Antiques & Collectibles at upcoming auctions and estate sales Antiques & Collectibles for sale Online Museums

    1. RADIOS
    CommUSA

    Two-Way Radios - Wireless Networking - CCTV - Accessories

    1. PARTS
    Component Electronics

    Storefront will be checked out soon. Mostly seems to be a re-seller, but they do state that they are an authorized distro for Hammond.One of those annoying online stores which post NO prices. OK, they do post prices now (noted August 2017)...prices seem high though.

    1. PARTS
    Consumer Parts Source Inc.

    Mostly seems to be service parts. Trying to drill down to their listings the site says 6,681 entries under semiconductors, yet the only categorization that exists is that there are 43 voltage regulators. First item in that list is an op amp! Hmmm, needs work! no clue on the site as to whether the address I was given is a storefront. No pictures, except of credit cards, on the site at all!

    1. PARTS
    Creatron Inc.

    349 College St. Toronto (also in Scarborough) A range of electronic components, mostly modern. If you are visiting, you are better off going down the street to 290 College St. Retail store on College. Wide range of parts and assemblies up to modern boards such as the Lilypad series and Raspberry Pi.

    1. PARTS
    Crown Assets

    Search "National Capital Region" under "Electronic and communication equipment and supplies" or "Medical, dental, scientific, lab equipment" (or occasionally under other categories). It is an on-line auction site, and you pick the stuff up on Hawthorne Rd. I have purchased test equipment, but I have seen antique radios and tubes for sale. YOU BID ON-LINE, BUT PICK-UP IN PERSON.

    1. MUSEUMS
    Crystal Radio Stay Tuned

    Welcome to the "Stay Tuned" Crystal Radio Web Site Dedicated to the preservation, experimentation, and advancement of crystal radios. This is a noncomercial website. In other words........We don't sell anything!

    1. PARTS
    Digikey (Canada)

    They have an immense catalogue, excellent prices, are happy to deal with "hobbiest" quantities, and ship amazingly quickly to Canada. I've had parts in under 48 hours without paying anything extra. $8 shipping flat rate for orders under $100, and they take care of duty and brokerage somehow. I'd rather not spend my money in the US, but Digikey make it irresistible.

    1. PARTS
    Diigiit Robotics

    Seems to be a failrly complete line-up. Looking at just one type of device, they seem to carry most all of the ultrasonic range finders you would ever need for a robot. No retail store.

    1. PARTS
    Dipmicro Electronics

    Web-based initially, then, in mid 2014 a retail store was opened in Niagara Falls, then it closed in late 2015. No phone orders. They sell new components and some boards, e.g. Chinese Arduino clones. They do a good job of showing the availability of items by showing their stocking level and whether more can be ordered.

    1. HISTORICAL
    Dominion Radio and Electronics

    535 Yonge St., Toronto. Excellent source of surplus electronics of all types. One of my favorite places. Bought my first IC and LED there. Right next to the old Electrosonic building. Closed in 1990s?

    1. HISTORICAL
    Durham Radio

    One Great HAM Shop. Good guys. Radios and accessories. Always bought stuff when found at the flea markets.

    1. MUSEUMS
    Early Television Foundation and Museum

    The Early Television Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of the technology from the early days of television. Our website's mission is to preserve and make available to the public the history of early television, from the mechanical systems of the 1920s through the introduction of color television in the 1950s.

    1. PARTS
    Electrical & Electronic Supply Inc.

    At Electrical & Electronic Supply Inc., we offer electrical and electronic supplies to the commercial, industrial and hobbyist market place. We also specialize in a wide variety of repurposed and refurbished equipment and components. Come on in to our store, there is something here for everyone.

    1. PARTS
    Electrosonic

    The grandfather of Canadian electronics supply. In business since September 1952. Originally at 543 Yonge St., Toronto, and moved to Gordon Baker Rd., Toronto, in 1974. They moved again and are only online. ONLINE ONLY.Used to maintain, a huge and complete stocks of the widest possible variety of product linesOne of the best things about taking EE at the University of Toronto when I did was being able to walk over to Electro Sonic at lunch! Alas they moved long ago, and they no longer list any semi companies on their linecard. Still OK for passives, tools, instruments and Hammond cases. Despite their stock being maintained in the US I still think of them as Canadian.

    1. PARTS
    Fair Radio Sales

    Interesting selection of boat anchors and vintage surplus parts. ON-LINE sales, but I believe they have a storefront.

    1. PARTS
    Forest City Surplus

    1712 Dundas St., London. Brian says that they have surplus of all varieties, some electronics but less than they used to, sounds like it is somewhat like KW surplus. STOREFRONT.

    1. PARTS
    Gervais Electronics

    Also called Accessotronic https://www.accessotronik.com/ 716 Industrial Ave. A long time electronic supplier, recently merged with Active123. They have a good selection of resistors, some high voltage electrolytic, basic semiconductors, good selection of hardware.

    1. HISTORICAL
    Global

    Product line includes everything from semiconductors to test equipment and accessories. Was there, now gone.

    1. HISTORICAL
    Globe Electronics

    Radios, test equipment, manuals, (military surplus and commercial), tubes, semiconductors, transformers, and passive components. Place always smelled like an old cigar shop.

    1. MUSEUMS
    Hammond Museum of Radio

    The Museum is home to hundreds of receivers and transmitters dating from the spark era up to and including National's first solid state HRO500. Over the years the Museum has evolved to become one of North America's premiere wireless museums. A must see Canadian radio museum.

    1. HISTORICAL
    Heathkit

    1478 Dundas St., Mississauga. This was their Canadian head office. They also sold some parts and occasionally had surplus sales.

    1. PARTS
    Jameco

    Not as seamless as Digikey, and shipping is more expensive, but they have inventory of some older parts that Digikey does not.

    1. HISTORICAL
    John's Vintage Radio

    John's Vintage Radio (johnsvintageradio.com) is a small antique store which competes against brands like WorthPoint, The Saleroom and Getty Museum. John's Vintage Radio is one of the less active retailers when it comes to offering discount codes on its website.

    1. PARTS
    Just Radios

    Dave Cantelon sells a bewildering array of capacitors and other related components mainly for our old radios. Ships from the Toronto area. CONTACT ON-LINE. High Voltage Capacitors, Resistors and Schematics for Tube Radios A very comprehensive listing of capacitors and resistors for vintage electronics repair.

    1. PARTS
    K-W Surplus

    666 Victoria St. N., Kitchener. Very Interesting place to visit. A Kitchener-Waterloo fixture for over 40 years), they used to have excellent electronic surplus, old and new, but most of the electronics is gone. Now they mainly have cheap tools, hardware, and housewares, and non electronic surplus. Stratford K-W Surplus in Stratford, Deals Surplus in Owen Sound, Cambridge Surplus in Cambridge, Brantford Surplus in Brantford.

    1. PARTS
    Lee's Electronics

    Retail location on Main in Vancouver. Wide variety of items, including some Hammond boxes.

    1. PARTS
    Main Electronic Supplies

    Inventory is up for sale! Arduino clones, good selection of power supplies and some other test equipment, NTE TV service components.

    1. PARTS
    Mastervox

    Favorite Store 2500, Boulevard Taschereau, Longueuil Qc J4R1T7 68, Rue Antonio Barrette, Notre-Dame-des-Prairies Qc J6E1E4

    1. PARTS
    Meistertech Solutions

    Seems to be gone! An interesting collection. Mostly discrete parts aimed at repair and refurbishment. A good place to look for a replacement bulb or an audio grade capacitor.

    1. PARTS
    Mikronauts

    A supplier of boards and kits of their own design. Aimed largely at the education market, their microcontrollers are heavily Propeller based.

    1. PARTS
    Mouser

    Good service. A very complete line-up, probably not as many as Digi-Key, but close.

    1. PARTS
    Other Sources

    There are numerous other Digikey-like distributors like Mauser, TTI, Newark, Richardson (has tubes), Avnet, and Arrow.

    1. HISTORICAL
    Ottawa Surplus

    Was located just off of Preston. Had limited electronics. Believed to be affiliated with KW Surplus.

    1. PARTS
    OVRC tube stock

    email your requirements, run by a very friendly and helpful guy. Can’t beat the prices. CONTACT ME ON-LINE

    1. PARTS
    PCBOARD

    PCBoard.ca is the online presence of Publisher's Resource Centre. We are located in Mississauga, Ontario Canada, just outside of Toronto. We do not have a formal store front to allow for personal pickups. We operate as a web-only entity with delivery by the International postal system.

    1. PARTS
    PISHOP.CA

    PiShop.ca is one of the largest distributors of Raspberry Pi products and accessories in North America. We work with schools, libraries, commercial projects and happily supply individual hobbyists and DIY-ers. Please see our contact details below for more information or to request a quote. We welcome volume quote requests. We specialize in building complete Pi kits for various projects (from education to entertainment) with pre-loaded software and necessary accessories - including our Raspberry Pi starter kit, Raspberry Pi Budget Kit and one of our most popular - Raspberry Pi Media Center Kit. We also offer a large selection of educational products and kits for tech development for various age groups.

    1. PARTS
    Play Things of Past

    Has good selection of transformers for old radios (Retired and for sale! Now new owner!) If nothing happens soon the shop will be moved to HISTORICAL.

    1. PARTS
    Princess Auto

    Sometimes have some surplus electric and electronic thingys, but it's not an electronics store! Nice supply of linear actuators for robotic projects.

    1. PARTS
    Proto Advantage

    Mostly breadboarding package adapters, but Arduinos also carried, especially the Netduino.

    1. PARTS
    Q kits

    Another entry from my contact form. Another distributor of both Arduino and Raspberry pi boards, etc. etc.

    1. PARTS
    Qkits Kingston

    620 Cataraqui Woods Dr., Kingston. I have never used them, but other club members have, and apparently, they have decent quality kits and modern parts, as well as tools and hardware. Worth the drive. STOREFRONT.

    1. PARTS
    Radio Daze

    Rochester, NY. Another member favorite. They feature many custom radio items like dials, decals, knobs, and grill cloth.

    1. AMATEUR
    Radio H.F.

    Shortwave, scanning, CB, FRS and amateur radios and accessories. Radio HF has one of Canada's largest selection of radio books and publications on hand as well.

    1. AMATEUR
    Radioworld

    Amateur Radio equipment sales. Diversified with other lines (marine, metal detectors, Optical (telescopes and binoculars)

    1. PARTS
    RP Electronics

    Retail location in Vancouver. Fairly full line from books to components, to test equipment.

    1. PARTS
    RTC

    Product mix is geared towards wholesale, OEM educational & repair centers.

    1. PARTS
    Sayal Electronics and Hobbies

    Six locations in Southern Ontario (Burlington, Cambridge, Markham, Mississauga, Scarborough, Concord) Wide variety electronic parts and educational hobbies. With a good selection of modern components. Some surplus stuff. Great Web site with live inventory levels!

    1. PARTS
    Sphere Research Corporation

    Don't be fooled by the intimidating name, this is a very hobbiest-friendly business that specializes in vintage Tek and HP parts, Nixie tubes, slide-rules, and a fascinating variety of eclectic components. They have monthly "surprise packs" and annually "free and almost free" sales. ON-LINE unless you catch one of their sales events.

    1. PARTS
    Spikenzielabs

    Sell new components and many boards: AdaFruit, SparkFun and others. A few ICs only.

    1. PARTS
    Supremetronic

    In the basement of Home Hardware, 290 College St. Toronto. (web presence unknown). This hidden gem has the best selection of self-serve parts in Canada. Some high voltage parts, too. Some surplus and odds and ends. Note that it looks like a Home Hardware from the front. A long wall of thousands of part drawers that you can browse through.

    1. AMATEUR
    Teal Resources inc.

    new/used/vintage commercial VHF/UHF gear crystals and elements for above manuals and surplus eqpt. Test equipment.

    1. PARTS
    The Tube Store

    A good selection of tubes and other parts related to tube-based equipment. Aimed more at amplifier repair than towards vintage radio repair.

    1. PARTS
    Tip Top Electronic Supply

    Not sure I understand the relationship with Active (see #4): this was reported to me as a “former Active Tech Electronics store [which is] still affiliated but changed their name, however, the same address is listed on the Active site as their Winnipeg store.They sell Adafruit, Sparkfun and Seeed Studio items. As far as I can tell, Active also sells these lines, with the exception of Adafruit.

    1. PARTS
    Toronto Surplus and Scientific

    Communications and Test Equipment, some parts, High prices, more geared to institutions, not little guys like us. I have browsed on-line for years but have never bought anything. I like them when they had a store for browsing around on Gordon Baker Rd.

    1. HISTORICAL
    Universal Radio Inc.

    Time waits for no one, and that includes Barbara and myself. We have decided to retire and our current location in Worthington will close on November 30, 2020. Even though the store is closing we will fulfill all existing customer orders and have a large amount of inventory to close-out. The Universal Radio website will be maintained for the foreseeable future to sell remaining stock, publications and some select products. Unfortunately the lack of a store front showroom will preclude us from carrying some manufacturers' products.

    1. PARTS
    Universal Solder Canada

    If you are reluctant to buy parts from China, consider this site as an option. Lots of interesting modules and some parts. ON-LINE.

    1. HISTORICAL
    W.J. Ford Surplus

    Surplus transmitters, receivers, lab equipment, test equipment. Bill Ford and his son ran this sprawling warehouse full of ancient electronic and lab equipment. I remember wandering around for an hour, only to discover that I had missed an entire building. His prices were, at best, erratic. I certainly purchased stuff there, especially near the end, but often I was dissuaded by high prices on obsolete and potentially inoperative equipment. Still, it was a great place to explore.

    1. HISTORICAL
    Wackid Radio

    Formerly on Parkdale (and before that, on Bank St. Don Judd saw the Bank St. location burn down!) Had traditional walk-up-to-the-counter service and carried traditional radio parts. Also, at other locations, sold TVs and stereo equipment.

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