The thing that always struck me was that the “dog and phonograph” trade mark was used both in the UK by the Gramophone Co./ HMV, “His Master’s Voice”, and in the USA by (RCA) “Victor” and I think (not sure) that some of the US “Victor” recordings were released in the UK on the HMV label. Was there a connection at some point rather than just a “special relationship” ?
You really have started something now. Everybody Googling the kit they let go.
Don’t think I got much for my Technics SU-V4 amp, SL-D2 turntable and Acoustic Research AR18S and AR8LS speakers. By the looks of eBay prices I should have hung on to them. Can’t remember the models of the Technics tuner, Sony 3 head, twin capstan cassette, Philips reel to reel or Pioneer CD.
Slightly puzzled that I can get a new drive belt for the Technics SL-D2 turntable. Don’t normally need to change the belt on a direct drive model.
Good-looking system Barrie.
I personally prefer the mellow, wholesome sound of 70s Hi-Fi systems - modern ones seem to be rather harsh by comparison. But then I’m a bit long in the tooth myself now, so I guess I would like the older sound!
Earlier on this year, I bought a 1970s Sony system for our new summer house - spent most of the summer in there just chillin’.
There was a lot of trading and interplay in those early days.
I have in my hand an 80rpm single sided shellac ‘Gramophone Monarch Record’ of ‘Marta’ as sung by Enrico Caruso, The label says
Made by The Victor Talking Machine Co. Camden USA
For sale in The British Possessions (except Canada)
and on the Continent of Europe
by The Gramophone and Typewriter Ltd and Sister Companies
052121
on the back it says ‘Reproduced in Hanover’
I don’t know when it was made, no dates on it, but it has my mother’s young handwriting on the original plain pre-release sleeve.
Richard that has got to be a collector’s item!!! Recorded New York 11 Feb 1906
PS: You’ve got me going now. Just WHO was your Great Grandfather???
Interested to read that the Garrard company was set up in 1915 by the London Jewellers…, Garrard and Co. They sold it in 1960
to Plessey, a telecommunications conglomerate. When the mass market for turntables withered, Plessey weren't too interested.
Garrard effectively died, the name was licensed out, and loads of branded ■■■■ appeared that had nothing to do with the original company.
The one bright light was that a small company in Swindon, home of the original manufacturing base for Garrard, specialised in servicing the
high end Garrard 301 and 401 turntables. They obtained a license to produce new developments of Garrard turntables and to name them as Garrards,
The Garrards 501 and 601 . ( About £10,000 each, so you won't be seeing them in Argos anytime soon ).
Early in 2018, this company, Loricraft Ltd was taken over by SME Ltd. ( yes , another name I remember from the past as a manufacturer of reassuringly/disgustingly
expensive turntables ). SME are themselves owned now by an Indian outfit. The strategy appears to be develop the companies, continue manufacture here,
rather than sacking everyone and transferring production to Laos, Vietnam or .... .
1 Like
Some very interesting and knowledgable posts going on here it makes a nice change from just car talk, I don’t mind admitting.
Barrie
I’m prompted to try to get my old Yamaha “Natural Sound” stacking hi-fi working; it’s sat here alongside me without being connected up and switched on for what must be getting on for twenty years now. I bought it new when I was based in Germany in 1980. Some parts of it failed with age (and heavy use!) so were replaced when I lived in Hong Kong up until 1998.
Arcam alpha 10/10p, biamped, linn Axis / Akito and marantz cd63ki. Served me well for many years but now the alpha 10 integrated is bust. Gone into self protection mode. Arcam want £200 to repair and I can’t find anyone who wants to repair analogue kit in the midlands. Any suggestions?
need to get my 1000 plus cds and lps playing again
The hi fi guys that I linked to, Wilkinsons, might be able to help? I realise it’s not the Midlands but they do offer postal options. An email to Andy may elicit a response and a path to repair? No idea of costs but my deck worked out cheaper than the estimate given, again, how long is a piece of string?
Barrie
Interesting reading all these posts. I followed the quest for ‘HI-FI’ for years and owned many of the afore mentioned models. Working in the electronics industry I built my own Mono power amps for each channel from a Linsley Hood design and pre-amp from an ‘Elektor’ magazine article. Single ended triode amps as well in the early days. Transcriptors Saturn was turntable, Ortofon cartridge, various KEF speakers. Much of the commercial stuff came from Tottenham Court road shops, remember ‘Heathkit’. Then I got married! need I say more.
Wow! Yes! I’ve still got one of their “HiFi” speaker units up in the attic. Somewhere!
Mate of mine in Fife sent off his early 70’s Quad Electrostatics for a full visual & electrical refurb last year. Not to Quad who wanted a sum exceeding HS2, but some licenced “specialist”.
Cost him over £1, 200.00 including transportation. Each box (they sent) ended up 20kg.
Suffice to say, they did perform better or so the placebo effects suggested. However the wood frame & stand restoration was second division. They did not roll out the grill dents much, and sprayed them some dodgy looking semi-matt black. Frankly, loving wood as I do and having developed an layman’s hand at French polishing using my Grandfather’s teachings, I’d have done a better job in my workshop.
Santana? Well, that was a reminder to dig out my own Volume 3…except it transpired I probably left it in a rental years back. Gone.
Amazon to the rescue. Yesterday for the princely sum of £6.49 Prime, my double-disc digitally enhanced CD arrived and it got slapped in with some decent decibels.
I thought they were decent. SWMBO left to do some retail therapy.
No doubt that turned the volume down a bit!
Tottenham Court Rd used to be a window shopper’s playground for anything electronic. There was one company that had four different stores there. If I remember correctly they used to advertise on the back cover of Practical Wireless magazine. I’m terrible with names. Come on, put me out of my misery.
Hello Paul,
The purists will probably sneer but I moved on to Home Cinema with Yamaha AV amps and Panasonic projectors and as many surround channels as I could sneak in until Wendy noticed!How about Laskys Radio and HI-FI Roadie?
Me too, loving this thread…
Slightly off thread, but I remember seeing Santana, among others, at the “Bath Festival” at Shepton Mallet in June 1970.
Oh, so quite recently then?
Barrie