"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message


FWIW My recollection is that when we had valve TVs years ago, that
calls to the repair man were more common. Mainly to replace valves.
Indeed, we used to have nearby high street shops that did this. Such
things vanished later on as with SS units many shops contracted any
repair work back to the makers or a central agent as it wasn't worth
their while to keep a repairman employed any more just for the shop.

When all we had were valve-based electronics in the US, many
consumer-oriented stores including hardware stores and drug stores had tube
checkers. Repair shops for home electronics proliferated to the point where
just about every commercial strip had at least one. Electronics stores were
dominated by shelf after shelf of replacment valves.

Today, shops that repair consumer electronics are regional businesses. In
1960 there were three within a mile of my current residence. Today the
nearest one is about 5 miles away.