Author Topic: A little about some old SO. CA. Hobby shops (Read 6337 times)

Tony Drago · « **on:** December 31, 2015, 08:21:07 PM »

Interesting read. Hope it comes through
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,3425424,nodelay=1

Mike Keville · « **Reply #1 on:** December 31, 2015, 08:30:00 PM »

Lakewood Village Hobby, Norse Way, Lakewood, CA. Owned & operated by Howard Nupen. Grand old LHS....and long gone. I worked there, part-time, in the '70s. Things began to deteriorate when 'Hobby Warehouse' opened a couple of miles north. One day an RC newbie came in asking for help with something he'd bought at Hobby Warehouse. Howard, a no-nonsense Norwegian, promptly told the guy, "Then take it back to @#$% Hobby Warehouse!!!"

Tony Drago · « **Reply #2 on:** December 31, 2015, 08:56:35 PM »

I remember the Hobby Warehouse.
Once you bought something that was it. They had a who gives a S&!! attitude. Bad customer rapport.

Norm Furutani · « **Reply #3 on:** January 01, 2016, 02:12:58 AM »

Back in the day, every town in SoCal had a hobbyshop. My local shop was one of the best, Barney Snyder's ModelCraft. I was a ThunderBug and they met at Swaney's in Long Beach. Further away was Wilshire Models, Hans sold German kits, Imported engines and stocked Sig wood. Tony and Addies in Burbank was always fun. Ed's Covina Hobbies was always a good place to buy ukie stuff. Bob Isaacson and I would take a work break and go to Chucks in Hawthorne. If we were lucky, some poor soul would bring in a plane from Hobby Shack, asking for help, Chuck used to go ballistic!

Now we go 35 miles away to Smith Bros. and we consider ourselves lucky! Even Tony Naccarato is there to chat with, and Tony is still out at the Basin on Sundays, helping folks learn to fly.

We also have two nice controline fields to fly on. Whittier just had the pavement repaired and they recoated the whole ukie area. Thankful for what we do have!

Happy New Year!

NormF

Tony Drago · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2016, 10:28:08 AM »

There was one Hobby shop in the LA Valley called the Flight Hanger. Their add stated they specialized in Control Line. Sorry to say I never made it out that way. By the time I did they were long gone.
Next time I get to Ca. will go buy Whittier Narrows.

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2016, 02:47:11 PM »

I grew up in south Los Angeles, 5 mi. from what was considered "downtown". In South Gate was West Coast Hobby Shop. A block away was Morgan's Hobby Shop (mostly wholesale and distribution). About a mile away was Collin's Cabinet Shop. He mostly cut balsa wood, but he had some model supplies.

Floyd

Carl Cisneros · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2016, 03:39:46 PM »

I grew up in Barstow and we had the Three Brothers Hobby and Trophy Shop.
They carried CL and FF planes and all the wood youneeded.

Sadly, the Trophy shop portion is still there but the hobby shop shut down Many years ago.

Paul Walker · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2016, 03:49:02 PM »

I grew up in Alta Loma and went to Don's Hobby Hut at Central and Foothill all the time. Drooled over all the stunt plane kits, motors, tanks, props etc.

There was also a hobby shop in Ontario that mostly dealt in trains, but had flying model supplies. I don't remember their name. It was on I believe D street just west of Euclid.

Tony Drago · « **Reply #8 on:** January 01, 2016, 04:37:05 PM »

Quote from: FLOYD CARTER on January 01, 2016, 02:47:11 PM

I grew up in south Los Angeles, 5 mi. from what was considered "downtown". In South Gate was West Coast Hobby Shop. A block away was Morgan's Hobby Shop (mostly wholesale and distribution). About a mile away was Collin's Cabinet Shop. He mostly cut balsa wood, but he had some model supplies.

Floyd

Floyd. Do you recall a hobby shop in or around South Gate called Hobby Lane or something close to that name.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #9 on:** January 01, 2016, 05:09:15 PM »

We used to go to Barney Snyder's Hobby (Modelcraft) in '60-'61 when we were stationed at Edwards AFB. I don't recall what city it was in. It was all just "LA" to us. We drove by Reginald Denny's hobby...the Dennymite engine guy, and '20's/'30's movie star. Dad knew him through his pre-WWII work with R/C Drones (the real drones...the ones that were officially intended to be shot at!!!). Alas, the store was not open that day. Other than it was raining, I don't recall much about it, or where it was.

Around Seattle, there used to be dozens of hobby shops. Most came and went, some were quite good, and others were pretty lame. There aren't many left. John Leidle recently posted about his LHS closing down in the last month or two...I'm wondering which that was? For me, the one in Covington is probably closest, but the one in Parkland is much better when looking for airplane stuff.

Steve

Tony Drago · « **Reply #10 on:** January 01, 2016, 07:39:53 PM »

Steve.
There was a ModelCraft hobby shop in Long Beach Calif. The last location for it was on Woodruff St. before they closed.
I can remember walking in the door and one wall was all Veco kits.

Bill Morell · « **Reply #11 on:** January 01, 2016, 07:44:22 PM »

Quote from: Paul Walker on January 01, 2016, 03:49:02 PM

I grew up in Alta Loma and went to Don's Hobby Hut at Central and Foothill all the time. Drooled over all the stunt plane kits, motors, tanks, props etc.

There was also a hobby shop in Ontario that mostly dealt in trains, but had flying model supplies. I don't remember their name. It was on I believe D street just west of Euclid.

Don's Hobby Hut was cool. The ceiling was nothing but planes. Sadly, the next owner named Gil turned it into a porno shop. I guess that sells better in some circles.

Norm Furutani · « **Reply #12 on:** January 01, 2016, 08:35:24 PM »

Quote from: Tony Drago on January 01, 2016, 07:39:53 PM

Steve.
There was a ModelCraft hobby shop in Long Beach Calif. The last location for it was on Woodruff St. before they closed.
I can remember walking in the door and one wall was all Veco kits.

That ModelCraft was started by Barney and might have been for his son to operate. Didn't last very long. Barney's shop ended up in Gardena, about two blocks from where I live now.

I also remember a small shop on Los Coyotes Diagonal, near Spring? Really nice guy was the owner, name escapes me. Further east in Cerritos? was a big shop, Jet Hangar Hobbies, went there for AeroModeller magazines.

Floyd- There were a couple shops on Paramount Bl. and the CalAero industrial surplus store (still there).

Norm - looking back instead of where I'm going!

Tony Drago · « **Reply #13 on:** January 01, 2016, 10:09:15 PM »

Quote from: Norm Furutani on January 01, 2016, 08:35:24 PM

That ModelCraft was started by Barney and might have been for his son to operate. Didn't last very long. Barney's shop ended up in Gardena, about two blocks from where I live now.

I also remember a small shop on Los Coyotes Diagonal, near Spring? Really nice guy was the owner, name escapes me. Further east in Cerritos? was a big shop, Jet Hangar Hobbies, went there for AeroModeller magazines.

Floyd- There were a couple shops on Paramount Bl. and the CalAero industrial surplus store (still there).

Norm - looking back instead of where I'm going!

Norm That Hobby shop on Los Coyotes. I use to go there as well. Was right across the street from a school. I believe the owners name was Joe. He worked for I Douglas aircraft. His wife ran it during the day and he ran it a night and on the week ends.
There was a few on Norwalk Blvd. One was changed over to Tex's Auto supply. A little further up the street on the right there was one that ended up being turned into a pawn shop. Then way up on Norwalk and Centralia was Paul's hobby shop.
Use to pass them every day walking to school. Superior Balsa was further down on Centralia. There was Bergains (sp) hobby shop in Los Alamitos.
On a good day we could go to at least 7 or 8 hobby shops riding are bikes.
There was one hobby shop on Paramount Blvd. Called Paramount Hobbies. One of are club members use to work there part time after school. Also back in the day there was one right near Whittier Narrows. That ended up being a Soccer store.

JIM Nordin · « **Reply #14 on:** January 01, 2016, 10:21:57 PM »

I lived about 3 blocks from jet hanger and new Larry Wolf pretty good . A little farther west on centrailia . Was superior aircraft . They sold mostly balsa . Some foam . You could go in there and hand pick your balsa

Norm Furutani · « **Reply #15 on:** January 01, 2016, 11:38:03 PM »

Joe and Betty Stream!

We really miss Superior Balsa! Sal Taibi and then son, Mike kept the racks well stocked, but if you needed something special, Mike would tell you to come back next week and he would have it ready. Spoiled us!

Quote from: Tony Drago on January 01, 2016, 10:09:15 PM

Norm That Hobby shop on Los Coyotes. I use to go there as well. Was right across the street from a school. I believe the owners name was Joe. He worked for I Douglas aircraft. His wife ran it during the day and he ran it a night and on the week ends.
There was a few on Norwalk Blvd. One was changed over to Tex's Auto supply. A little further up the street on the right there was one that ended up being turned into a pawn shop. Then way up on Norwalk and Centralia was Paul's hobby shop.
Use to pass them every day walking to school. Superior Balsa was further down on Centralia. There was Bergains (sp) hobby shop in Los Alamitos.
On a good day we could go to at least 7 or 8 hobby shops riding are bikes.
There was one hobby shop on Paramount Blvd. Called Paramount Hobbies. One of are club members use to work there part time after school. Also back in the day there was one right near Whittier Narrows. That ended up being a Soccer store.

Jim Dincau · « **Reply #16 on:** January 02, 2016, 11:39:58 AM »

Does anyone remember a hobby shop located on the north end of the city of San Fernando on Hubbard Ave. just north of the railroad tracks?

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #17 on:** January 02, 2016, 11:53:36 AM »

Bob Dunham, the guy who started Orbit R/C, started manufacturing his R/C equipment at his home in Downey. In 1955, he and I worked together to design his 10-channel R/C receiver. I built the first prototype receiver, which I still have. A while later, Bob opened his own hobby shop in nearby Lynwood. It didn't last very long.

Floyd

Robert Dible · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2016, 02:58:52 PM »

Floyd, was that a regen receiver with a tube and two transistors?

Larry Renger · « **Reply #19 on:** January 03, 2016, 09:56:57 PM »

In the South Bay region, there were two shops on PCH, one in Hermosa Beach (can't recall the name) and Majle's in Redondo Beach. Also a shop opposite Alondra Park.

In Los Angeles, there were Col. Bob's and Pico Hobbies as I recall, not too far from each other on Pico Blvd. well west of downtown. Col. Bob's eventually moved to Costa Mesa.

In Pasadena, Ace Hobbies opposite Pasadena City College.

There was also a shop in Downtown LA, but I can't recall exactly where. (46 years ago! Gimme a break.)

And, there STILL are Evett's Hobbies in Santa Monica, Covina Hobbies in Covina and Pegasus Hobbies in Montclair.

aba183210 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2016, 07:19:11 PM »

Back in the 1980s, in my now distant infancy (I was 13 at that time) there was a very good hobby store in the heart of East Los Angeles: Toy Villa. It was located near the corner of Whittier Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue. It later closed and became a music store, which also closed down.

It had a very good selection of control line and radio control items, as well as lots of model rockets and related supplies. In addition, it also sold game cartridges (my father bought me the game Venture for the ColecoVision there-for some reason, that game ended up giving me nightmares at times), handheld games (i.e. Nintendo Game and Watch and football and basketball electronic games), and plastic model kits.

Nearby businesses nearby at that time: El Pico Rico Restaurant (now it's a laundromat) and Patty's Liquor (still strong after more than 30 years and recently renovated).

Another store I remember is one that was located in downtown Los Angeles, at Broadway near 3rd Street or so. I remember it because, when I went there the first time, I saw 4 RC ARFs for sale: a Cox Sportavia, a Cox Cessna Centurion, an MRC Trainer Hawk .15, and an American Eagle 4 foot wingspan sailplane.

Remember all those wonderful devices from the 1980s that could be found at the electronics stores at that time? The Casio scientific calculator watch...the Spanish/English pocket translators...the radios that were as thin as a credit card....the game watches by Casio and Nelsonic...I really get nostalgic about that time period. Oh, and if someone had told me back then that we would have EDFs, RTF quality planes, RTF scale RC warbirds, quadcopters, 3D capable RC planes and helis...I would not have believed it.

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #21 on:** January 07, 2016, 07:16:08 PM »

Me and Dave Passannante used to ride our bikes up to Col. Bob's when it was on Harbor Blvd. in Costa Mesa. It was there pretty long, I had started college so maybe around 1978 it closed? It became a BAP parts place and since I had an MGB was there a lot after the changeover too! I used to go to Evetts often when I lived in Pacific Palisades, Colby Evett died about four years ago and he was in his 90's. His wife still operates the shop.
Chris...

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #22 on:** January 07, 2016, 09:11:03 PM »

What, no mention yet of the legendary (and rightfully so) T and A Hobby Lobby in Burbank? As a kid couldn't get enough of the many planes on the walls, hanging on the ceiling and under construction in the shop area. I went by there a few months ago, signage still up but big "Vacancy" sign on the door. Sad.
As many know Tony Naccaratto (Jr.) is still working at the Smith Bros. Hobby shop in Reseda near Cal State Northridge (which BTW is stocks building supplies, dope fuel and kits and NO DRONES as of the last time I was there ). I haven't lived in LA for many years but back in the day visiting T & A's was a must-do on every visit.

Paul Wescott · « **Reply #23 on:** January 08, 2016, 11:35:03 AM »

Stores

I started flying in 1974. Lived across the street from Heartwell Park (Long Beach) and across the park was Lakewood. Went to Hobby Warehouse ALL the time. Saved up $6.95 and bought my first brand new engine, a Cox Black Widow .049 (still have it) for my Carl Goldberg Lil' Wizard. Also shopped at Paramount Hobbies. Dad worked in Torrance so also visited Chuck's once in a while. Hobby Warehouse closed in mid-2015. On my last visit Gary's son gave me a venomous earful about the state of the hobby distribution industry and how it was difficult for small stores to stay in business and darn near impossible for new ones (or new locations) to open. Sad.

Jet Hangar, Larry Wolf's store was in Hawaiian Gardens. When I was 16 and my parents were having money troubles I walked in and asked Larry if I could vacuum mold some parts for him, as we had a home-made molder in the garage for making small boxes for car alarms. I was hoping to make some small parts. Larry asked a few questions then handed me an enormous fiberglass plug for an F-16 canopy. 16-year old on cloud 9. Pulled 4 canopies and Larry bought 2. He was and is a really good guy.

Used to go to the hobby shop in Hobby City on Beach Blvd at Ball Rd. Now it's "Adventure City", the hobby store doesn't do much in the way of real hobbies, mostly die-cast Do-Not-Remove-From-Box stuff.

Used to go to Brookhurst Hobbies at the original location, great store for builders. They moved north and had less hobby stuff. Then they moved south to their current location and only do 2 things: plastic models and role-playing games (dungeons & dragons, etc.). I go there 6 times a year to buy gaming stuff for my 3 adult children.

Never knew Lakewood Village Hobby and never visited Superior Balsa.

Drove over to Blackhawk Models in Long Beach a couple times a year ago to hand Larry Rice some cash and leave with goodies but he's closing down.

Now I visit Smith Brothers and Tony Naccarato whenever I make the drive up to Sepulveda Basin. And I visit Covina Hobbies more often after KOTRC events at Whittier Narrows.

I'm sitting in a Spires waiting for the 2016 AMA Expo to open and you guys have made me sad. Thanks.

Here's some pictures of the Whittier Narrows circles being repaired...

Paul W.

https://flic.kr/s/aHskqGRqYN

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #24 on:** January 08, 2016, 12:15:32 PM »

Nice to see the east (?) side walk way being widened. Foot traffic along that side often strayed very close to the active circle. This should help. There was also a LHS on the west side of Van Nuys Airport, Hobby House maybe? More of an R/C shop but but had the usual Veco/Dumas/Sterling etc. kits on the wall and lots of building supplies.