[turretslug]

I miss the Maplin of 40-odd years ago, but not what they had latterly turned into and their demise barely figured in my thoughts. I'd long replaced them with the likes of Farnell, then eBay added to the sourcing diversity- caveat emptor for sure, but there are plenty of willing little vendors there with the NOS, wire-ended, HV, whatever stuff that the big operators are featuring less of. OK, Maplins meant that you could have it today- but I've also ordered stuff from Farnell late in the afternoon and had a Bruges-stock package turn up next morning.