I used to work at Maplin
although back in the day when they still sold semi-serious hobby electronic components. Now it is an EMPORIUM DE GADGETTE CRAPPIE. But top of the pops in my day was the 'solar powered plant turner'. Powered by a 0.01W solar panel, this turntable would allow you to make your plants dizzy by rotating them around at about a squillionth of a mile per hour. I can only guess that it was thought to simulate the sun's passage across the sky except that the plant would see it is 'the sun is gyrating in a spirographic pattern which is defeating my attepts at phototropism'. On the box it also claimed that it could be used for 'showing off your ornaments or jewels'- it's not fucking Sale Of The Century mate.
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Wed 5 Oct 2011, 15:25, 9 replies)

Maplin used to be awesome





I wish I still had some of those 70s catalogues.
(gordonjcp, Wed 5 Oct 2011, 15:47, closed)

I have a loft full of those...
And the posters. I knew there was a reason for handing on to them!
ebay here I come.
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Thu 6 Oct 2011, 7:56, closed)

I would genuinely like a couple of those.
*searches*
( Tab Hunter Make this useless process end and so, begin again, Wed 5 Oct 2011, 15:53, closed)

I actually think that's not a bad idea
(TheManWithThePlan cussed your mum on, Wed 5 Oct 2011, 16:38, closed)

Houseplants tend to get their sunlight from only one direction (that of the window),
and so will bend towards it. Gently rotating them should help them grow straight, so, assuming it worked, this may not be the crap gadget you're making it out to be.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Wed 5 Oct 2011, 17:13, closed)

eeee the catalogs!
I'm sure i've still got 2 or 3 from the early 90's when i worked there... semiconductors was a NIGHTMARE of a section!

NE 555 timers... them were the days!
(TheManofScience, Wed 5 Oct 2011, 17:15, closed)

Yeah, I should have laminated mine
To easier wipe away the drool, whilst looking at all the things the school was to underfunded to afford (like solder and LEDs for CDT projects).
(The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Wed 5 Oct 2011, 18:07, closed)

there was a certain Op Amp snobbery if I recall...
of COURSE a 741 will do the job but you gotta use an LM320N for current delivery , or an NE5532 for DC offset adjustment or a Signetics OP-07 for clarity preference...

Hang on Barry, you're making a comparator circuit for a front door bell chime, why do you need an instrument grade £7 device?

Because I do.

Oh Ok. Shit, it's on A-Tray. Order from head office via mail?

Grumble.... just gimme the 741.

repeat every working day for 2 years......
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Wed 5 Oct 2011, 21:21, closed)

I had one from them mid-80s
Pages and pages of resistors, transistors and tantalum bead capacitors and the like.
And the stuff in the projects section was amazing.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Wed 5 Oct 2011, 20:50, closed)