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Where To Get Sets and Parts For discussions about swapmeets, rallies, NVCF and BVWS, car boot sales, antique and charity shops, dealers, newspaper adverts, the local tip and just about any other source of equipment (other than eBay). |
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17th May 2022, 10:19 pm | #21 |
Nonode
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 2,004
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Sorry to hear the news.
I walked past the shop in October when I was in Lincoln, & had a look at the window display but didn't go inside.
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18th May 2022, 6:28 am | #22 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK.
Posts: 7,667
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Ahh, bummer, that is sad news, thanks Robin for the heads up. I haven't been to John's shop in a few years, helped him carry some stuff from #2 shop down to #1 shop last time, that bl**dy hill, I struggled, how he coped no idea. I told him he was famous online radio/TV forum's, a legend, he seemed quite surprised. I bought about 50m screened cable which I've now mislaid and some other bits and spent an hour talking whilst my daughter went for an audition at the Cathedral school. Interesting bloke, sad loss.
Andy.
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18th May 2022, 7:52 am | #23 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 1,781
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Very sorry to hear this. I knew John, not terribly well, through a mutual friend. I always got on well with him. Rest in peace.
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18th May 2022, 11:00 am | #24 |
Hexode
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 347
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Re: John Birkett RIP
A truly sad day and of course my sympathies and wishes go to those who John has left behind, may happy memories come to partly assuage their sense of loss and sadness.
I met John a couple of times at rallies but would also ring him with requests, his adverts said "orders over £10 post free" I would estimate and send cost of post and still have some old receipts that thank me for the gesture. A true Gentleman and great Human Soul, RIP John and may you always have "Blue Skies" |
18th May 2022, 11:36 am | #25 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Virginia Water, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 2,877
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Re: John Birkett RIP
The passing of a true gent - real old-school! I used to see him and buy bits from him at many rallies over the years. The last thing I got from him a few years ago was a clutch of dual-section caps (NOS). All proved great, of course. I wonder what will happen to the "treasure trove" in the Strait. Maybe one last wonderful open day to clear it out??
RIP John - you served us very well for so many years.
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18th May 2022, 6:44 pm | #26 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,118
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Sad news indeed. The last time I visited was maybe 15 years ago, I wanted some obscure part and John said "its probably in the loft, you'll have to go up there yourself, have a look around, I can't get up there any more" !!! How the rafters withstood the weight of gear up there was a miracle! RIP John.
Phil G4PHL |
18th May 2022, 7:24 pm | #27 | |
Pentode
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 116
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Quote:
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18th May 2022, 7:48 pm | #28 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 14,005
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Re: John Birkett RIP
I wonder what will become of the contents of his shop(s)??
I really doubt that he was the kind of guy who would have had the contents nicely shelved and itemised via a set of ledgers or spreadsheets [You want an AUY10? they're in second level, row 6, shelf 22 of the attic, £2.25 plus VAT, 19-set Dogbone connectors? back of the corridor, turn left, somewhere on the third shelves up from the bottom] which makes valuing things problematic. It would be kinda sad to see his shop-contents evicted into a bunch of WEEE-skips in order to make way for something horribly 21st-century like a vegan restaurant, a coffee-shop or a nail-bar.
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18th May 2022, 8:46 pm | #29 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tonbridge, Kent, UK.
Posts: 686
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Indeed, when I looked in the window a few years back there was a lot of treasure there, especially to those of the VMARS ilk.
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18th May 2022, 9:43 pm | #30 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Dorridge, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 1,485
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Re: John Birkett RIP
I am sorry to hear that, I visited only once in 2016 but it was an enjoyable experience meeting John, another well known character gone.
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Chris Wood BVWS Member |
18th May 2022, 9:49 pm | #31 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 4,257
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Re: John Birkett RIP
A sad loss. Can't say I knew John, we lived in Lincoln for seven years in the '80s but my radio activity was at a low ebb through that time, just as it is again lately. I must have passed the shop most weeks and always gazed in the windows, which sometimes held surprises: I still recall a Transcriptors turntable appearing there once, the only time I've seen one of those in the flesh. A few forgotten component purchases were my only transactions aside from one day buying an SX28 Super Skyrider which has been with us ever since. I've often thought of revisiting the city, but haven't set foot there since we moved away in '88.
Paul |
18th May 2022, 9:49 pm | #32 | |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,894
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Quote:
Ledgers? Nope, you're quite right on that score. But he kept it all in his head. Ask for something and you'd like as not get "I've got some of those round the back" He wouldn't disappear for long and return bearing the prize. David
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19th May 2022, 10:45 am | #33 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area.
Posts: 2,967
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Very sad news. I never met him but heard lots about him. Another sad loss for us all.
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Simon BVWS member |
19th May 2022, 11:27 am | #34 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 1,571
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Quote:
In more recent years I visited the shop a couple of times when attending the Lincoln Christmas Market. Each time John was there in his armchair and we had a chat about old days. There was an Eddystone 640 (IIRC) chirping away in the background. It was a bit like walking into a timewarp. The last time was in 2016 with SWMBO of the time. She did come in but quickly exited this peculiar place, the like of which she had never seen with its odd ‘old wireless’ smell, full of what she perhaps considered equally peculiar/nerdy blokes. Sadly, I wasn’t allowed to stay long, but I think she decided we were relatively harmless, and we did indeed head off to a vegetarian café of which there are several in Lincoln. (I then got in trouble having a hot pork sandwich at the market!) The shops are in a very good spot for tourists so they might have a more trendy future but OTOH there are (or at least were) a few other interesting establishments nearby selling second-hand books and the like. RIP John |
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19th May 2022, 4:32 pm | #35 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Oxfordshire/Bucks borders, UK.
Posts: 1,604
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Sad news indeed. I was over in his shop in February, didn't see him at the time. Hopefully the shops will live on.
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Avometer, vintage Fluke and Marconi collector. Also interested in vintage Yaesu and KW. |
19th May 2022, 4:41 pm | #36 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,723
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Re: John Birkett RIP
A great loss, probably the last of his kind. Although I only visited the shop once, I will always remember him standing behind his stall at the National Hamfest with a paper bag ready in hand for the next customer.
Condolences to the family, RIP John. Peter |
21st May 2022, 11:42 am | #37 |
Pentode
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Longfield, Kent, UK.
Posts: 240
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Very sad news. The only time I visited his shop it was closed, but I spent a good time browsing through the window. He will be missed by many. RIP John.
Mike
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24th May 2022, 8:15 pm | #38 |
Hexode
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Near Lincoln, UK.
Posts: 483
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John Birkett RIP
I couldn't find the sad news of the death of John Birkett anywhere else on here, so I'm posting it in this section. If it's a duplicate and/or it's in the wrong place, please amend.
The fullest obituary that I can find is here: Lincoln short wave club: https://www.g5fz.co.uk/silent-key/john- ... 1928-2022/ A full life indeed, a loss to Lincoln and to the vintage electronics world. He certainly helped in my early years. I well recall as a 10 year old peering up to his over-stocked shop counter to ask for resistors for my latest project His shop in Lincoln is a landmark for many - not just locals. Best regards, Paul M |
24th May 2022, 10:22 pm | #39 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK.
Posts: 2,039
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Re: John Birkett RIP
Thanks for posting this. Very interesting to read about his life.
Aub
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24th May 2022, 10:29 pm | #40 |
Hexode
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Near Lincoln, UK.
Posts: 483
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Re: John Birkett RIP
There's another obit on Hackaday
https://hackaday.com/2022/05/20/rip-...xtraordinaire/ Interesting to read some of the comments. Paul M |