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History of the manufacturer  

Ferry Sound Industries; Adelaide S.A.

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Name: Ferry Sound Industries; Adelaide S.A.    (AUS)  
Abbreviation: ferry
Products: Model types
Summary:

Ferry Sound Industries.
99 Springbank Road, Clapham, SA
175 Woodland Street, Balgowlah, NSW

Ferry Sound industries specialised in manufacturing tape recorders.
Founded: 1947
Closed: 1966
Production: 1947 - 1966
History:

Jack Ferry began by making 5 valve mantel radios in 1947 in a small factory in Lower Mitcham Adelaide. He then worked for Peerless Radio before starting his own factory at Clapham, Adelaide, where he manufactured turntables, pickups, amplifiers and disc recording equipment.

In about 1949 the company had produced magnetic wire recorders, by which time the company was registered as Ferry Sound Industries. In 1950 the company produced its first tape recorders. In 1956 the first experimental stereo recorder was made. By 1959 the company was using Collaro tape decks, rather than manufacturing their own.

Due to a slump in demand, the company moved away from tape recorder manufacture in 1961 but still made PA systems and industrial electronics. Jack Ferry died in December 1966.[1]

In about 1949 the company had produced magnetic wire recorders, by which time the company was registered as Ferry Sound Industries. In 1950 the company produced its first tape recorders. In 1956 the first experimental stereo recorder was made. By 1959 the company was using Collaro tape decks, rather than manufacturing their own.
Due to a slump in demand, the company moved away from tape recorder manufacture in 1961 but still made PA systems and industrial electronics. Jack Ferry died in December 1966.

[1] Ferry tape recorders: South Australia, 1950-1963. Neville Ellison. Libraries Aust.  ID 5419440

This manufacturer was suggested by Stuart Irwin.

Some models:
Country Year Name 1st Tube Notes
AUS  56 PA Speaker   Extension speaker box for PA installations. Ellison Pop-Up Museum of Radio & Magnet... 
AUS  58 Prototype 3" spool 6 volt DC   Prototype featuring 3" spools and 6 volt DC motor would have been the basis for a portable... 
AUS  55 Tape Recorder with Radio Tuner   Plastic top and front escutcheon sheet metal construction, three motors with DC applied to... 
AUS  50 TD-1 50-25 (1950 #25)   1950 Ferry tape recorder copied in 1991 by Neville Ellison (past employee of Ferry Sound I... 
AUS  56 Radio tuner   Radio with tuned RF stage. Made by Neville Ellison (Ferry Sound Industries employee) in th... 
AUS  57 Semi Professional Recorder 2   Semi-Professional Model.  Donated by Mr. & Mrs. E.R. Shaw of Whitemore Tasmania. ... 
AUS  56/57 Semi Professional Recorder   Semi-Professional Recorder. Modified by Wallis Cinema's for their purpose. Was supplied to... 
AUS  56 Bluebird   This Bluebird tape recorder wa one of 40 or more made by Jack Ferry for Ralph A. Peterson,... 
AUS  56 Semi-Professional Special   Sometimes Jack Ferry was asked for a tape recorder with a special design. This one wa... 
AUS  52–54 Deluxe Radio-Tape Unit M5   A reel to reel tape recorder incorporating a radio receiver. Single motor drive to two ... 
AUS  50 Ribbon   Microphone, ribbon type, reportedly made from cigarette packet lining, very high impedance... 
AUS  56/57 Professional Reel to Reel (mono)   Ferry Professional tape recorder - three heavy duty motors, 19-inch rack and panel mountin... 
[rmxhdet-en]

Further details for this manufacturer by the members (rmfiorg):

Ferry Deluxe radio tape recorder advert. Radio & Hobbes, April 1954, page 55.tbn_aus_ferry_ad_r_h_april_1954_p55.jpg
My late father Neville Ellison worked for Ferry Sound Industries through the 1950's and during his retirement in the 1980's collected around 20 Ferry reel to reel recorders and associated equipment, which was the start of "The Ellison Museum of Radio & Magnetic Recording" in Adelaide South Australia. When Neville passed away in 2008 he left his entire registered private museum (of over 300 items) to me, which I eventually catalogued and packed in late 2017. The attached photo shows most of my Ferry collection on display in portable "Pop-Up" display/transport/storage cases in a National Trust museum in Whyalla South Australia. I have only just joined radiomuseum.org and this is the first of many photos and information I will upload in due course. In 1996 Neville researched, wrote, edited and published a book titled "Adelaide's Early Radios and Tape Recorders" (ISBN: 06462754X which is now out of print, but available on DVD on eBay) which includes a 33 page chapter on Ferry Sound Industries, which in due course I will add to this manufacturer listing. Regards, Keith Ellison.tbn_ferry_collection_2018.jpg
Chapter 14 from Adelaide’s Early Radio’s and Recorders” by Neville Ellison. Ferry Sound Industries employee for 10+ years.tbn_adelaides_early_radio_s_and_and_recorders_chapter_14_ferry_page_77.jpeg
tbn_adelaides_early_radio_s_and_and_recorders_chapter_14_ferry_page_78.jpeg
tbn_adelaides_early_radio_s_and_and_recorders_chapter_14_ferry_page_79.jpeg
tbn_adelaides_early_radio_s_and_and_recorders_chapter_14_ferry_page_80.jpeg
Forum contributions about this manufacturer/brand
Ferry Sound Industries; Adelaide S.A.
Threads: 1 | Posts: 2
Hits: 1255     Replies: 1
Ferry Sound Industries Adelaide South Australia
Keith Ellison
01.Dec.18 		  1
Ferry Sound Industries Adelaide South Australia 

I'm new member to RMorg and am still finding my way around, however I have a 34 page (6mb) PDF history of Ferry Sound Industries written by my late father Neville Ellison, who worked for Jack Ferry 1950-1963 that I would like to upload and link to your Ferry Sound Industries manufacturer page, but I'm not sure the best way to do this? Would your literature finder be the best way, but then how do you link it back to the manufacturer page? Keith Ellison
Gary Cowans
05.Dec.18 		  2
Ferry Sound Industries Adelaide South Australia 

Hi Keith,

I will arrange for it to be uploaded and be in touch via email.

Regards,

Gary Cowans
 
Ferry Sound Industries; Adelaide S.A.
End of forum contributions about this manufacturer/brand
  
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