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History of the manufacturer  

Garrard Eng. & Mfg. Co. Ltd.; Swindon, England

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Name: Garrard Eng. & Mfg. Co. Ltd.; Swindon, England    (GB)  
alternative name:
Garrard Eng. & Mfg. Co. Ltd.
Abbreviation: garrard
Products: Model types Others
Summary:

In 1945 the 'Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company Ltd' is founded. In 1954 the first Garrard Hi-Fi turntable, the famous model 301, is presented. Garrard provided the rock 'n' roll era with its high quality turntables, but it also produced a range of lower quality models for the mass market.

In USA the distributor (not manufacturer!) was Garrard Sales Corporation, 80 Shore Road, Port Washington New York.

Founded: 1915
Closed: 1979
Production: 1930 - 1979
History:
This English firm was founded by George Wickes in 1730 and taken over by Parker & Wakelin after his retirement in 1760. Robert Garrard (1758-1818), who was not a working silversmith but had been made a freeman of the Grocers' Company of London in 1780 and thereafter had been accountant to Parker & Wakelin, became a partner in the firm in 1792. The joint mark of Robert Garrard and John Wakelin (1776-1802) was entered in that year. Wakelin was appointed Goldsmith and Jeweller to George III in 1797, and, upon Wakelin's death, Garrard assumed sole control of the prestigious London-based firm, entering his own mark that year. In 1915 the 'Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company' was founded in Willesden, North West London. This company was part of 'Garrard the Crown Jewellers', producing precision parts for militairy applications. After WW1 the production of spring-driven motors was started. By 1925, eleven types of spring-driven motors were being made at a rate of 350,000 a year, and when Garrard's went public in 1926, further expansion followed. In the late twenties the factory was moved to Swindon, Wiltshire. In 1930 Garrard introduced a complete gramophone, in 1932 the first record changer (Garrard RC1) is presented. In 1945 the 'Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company Ltd' is founded. In 1954 the first Garrard Hi-Fi turntable, the famous model 301, is presented. Garrard provided the rock 'n' roll era with its high quality turntables, but it also produced a range of lower quality models for the mass market. It was, indeed, a golden era, but it couldn't last. In 1979 Garrard's is sold to a Brazilian firm, Gradiente, for a nominal fee, and in 1982 production in Swindon ceased altogether - the last 179 jobs out of more than 4,500 less than ten years earlier, finally axed.

This manufacturer was suggested by John Hupse † 28.9.20.


Some models:
Country Year Name 1st Tube Notes
GB  51 65    
GB  48 Automatic Record Changer Seventy (70)   A 78rpm autochanger. Takes 10 inch or 12 inch records. 
GB  47 D    
GB  47 H    
GB  47 L16    
GB  54–64 Transcription Motor 301   The first Garrard professional turntable, basically without tone arm. 33, 45 and 78 rev/mi... 
GB  47 RC60   This changer has been used in postwar production by following manufacturers: Barker... 
GB  72 63SP   3 Speed Belt Drive Turntable Record Player Model Garrard 63SP Dust Cover   
GB  59 4SP/H ECL82  4-speed-player, Ronette crystal cartridge ST-105, Tempofoon import. 
GB  48–51 Automatic Record Changer R.C.70B    
GB  52 Universal RC80   The Garrard model RC80 is a three speed Automatic Record Changer, capacity 10 records of o... 
GB  52 Triumph Record Changer RC80/AC   Garrard Record Changer Model Triumph RC-80. 3 Speed Record changer Automatic Shut O... 

[rmxhdet-en]

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

tbn_gb_garrard_rtm.png
Q: Garrard, Produktkatalog 1974tbn_gb_garrard_logo.jpg
Q: Garrard, Produktwerbung, 1973tbn_gb_garrard_produktwerbung_1973.jpg
Advertisement - Suono HiFi Stereo, n.13, Agosto 1972 - Italytbn_uk_garrard_italian_ad.jpg
tbn_gb_garrard_truimph.jpg

  

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