Amateur Electronic Supply Signs Off

By Meg Jones of the Journal Sentinel

Among ham radio operators, it’s known as the candy store.

Amateur Electronic Supply sells radios, antennas and equipment that help hams connect with other hams throughout the world. It opened in Milwaukee in the late 1950s, attracted amateur radio enthusiasts from throughout the Midwest and eventually spawned stores in Cleveland, Orlando, Fla., and Las Vegas.

Ham radio clubs meet at the store at 5710 W. Good Hope Road in Milwaukee, aspiring ham radio operators take their FCC licensing tests there and enthusiasts stop in to pick up a part or carpool from Chicago or Dubuque, Iowa, to check out the latest radios. Dozens of license plates sporting ham radio call signs sent by customers hang on the walls.

Now AES is closing its doors after almost six decades in business, and the stunned ham radio community is reeling.

“It’s certainly a blow to the local amateur radio community. Not everybody has a local store they can go to,” said Dave DeFebo, historian of the Milwaukee Radio Amateurs’ Club which has 100 members.

“But probably one of the things that did them in is that a lot of people will use the internet and find the best price, especially with the more expensive things, and people get crazy about paying sales tax,” said DeFebo, whose call sign is WB9BWP.

At one time, AES was the largest amateur radio supply company in the U.S. Now, it’s second behind Ham Radio Outlet. When AES owner Phil Majerus earlier this month announced his decision to shutter the business, Ham Radio Outlet agreed to hire some AES staff members and open an outlet in Milwaukee in the AES facility….READ FULL ARTICLE