Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
The Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company of Swindon
, Wiltshire
was a British
company which was famous for producing high-quality gramophone
turntables. It was formed by the jewellers Garrard & Co
in 1915 to create precision rangefinders, as they had the specialist equipment necessary. The company was sold to Plessey
, an electronics conglomerate, in 1960. During the period 1976-1978, Garrard developed demonstrators of the novel video disc technology. Although the team recognised the future potential of this data storage technology, Plessey chose not to invest, so this, and other innovative technologies under development, were abandoned thus denying the UK a leading position in disc storage technology (CD/DVD/Blu-ray). After several years in decline, Garrard was sold by Plessey to Gradiente
Electronics of Brazil in 1979 and series production was moved to Brazil
(Manaus). The remaining Garrard research and development operation in Swindon was reduced to a skeleton operation until completely shut down in 1992. Then, Gradiente licensed the Garrard name to Terence O'Sullivan, now doing business as Garrard and Loricraft Audio, since 1997.
Transcription turntables must have speed accuracy and wow and flutter
specifications as well as low rumble
- low frequency vibration that is audible in the reproduced sound. For professional use in broadcasting they must meet set standards standards laid down for wow and flutter measurement
and rumble measurement. Three types of drive have been used this: idler wheel and captan drive onto the turntable; belt drive; and direct drive, where the turntable becomes part of a slow-speed motor. Idler wheel drives tend to create rumble and flutter, while belt drives provide compliance between motor and turntable which reduces these effects. Direct drive reduces rumble and gives speed accuracy but can induce particular forms of flutter.
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
company which was famous for producing high-quality gramophone
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
turntables. It was formed by the jewellers Garrard & Co
Garrard & Co
Garrard & Co is a luxury jewellery and silver company founded by George Wickesin London in 1735. Its current base is at Albemarle Street in Mayfair, London, its USA flagship store is in New York. The company also has a presence in Tokyo, New York, Dubai, Moscow and Hong Kong...
in 1915 to create precision rangefinders, as they had the specialist equipment necessary. The company was sold to Plessey
Plessey
The Plessey Company plc was a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company. It originated in 1917, growing and diversifying into electronics. It expanded after the second world war by acquisition of companies and formed overseas companies...
, an electronics conglomerate, in 1960. During the period 1976-1978, Garrard developed demonstrators of the novel video disc technology. Although the team recognised the future potential of this data storage technology, Plessey chose not to invest, so this, and other innovative technologies under development, were abandoned thus denying the UK a leading position in disc storage technology (CD/DVD/Blu-ray). After several years in decline, Garrard was sold by Plessey to Gradiente
Gradiente
Gradiente is a Brazilian consumer electronics company based in São Paulo. The company designs and markets many product lines, including video , audio, home theater, high end acoustics, office and mobile stereo, and wireless. The company was founded in 1964...
Electronics of Brazil in 1979 and series production was moved to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(Manaus). The remaining Garrard research and development operation in Swindon was reduced to a skeleton operation until completely shut down in 1992. Then, Gradiente licensed the Garrard name to Terence O'Sullivan, now doing business as Garrard and Loricraft Audio, since 1997.
The Garrard 301 and 401 Transcription Turntables
The Garrard 301 Transcription Turntable was the first transcription turntable from the Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company that supported all extant commercial playback formats – the 33, 45 and 78 rpm records of the time. The first model was called the Garrard 301. The later 401 was nearly identical mechanically, but with a redesigned exterior, more powerful motor, slightly different eddy current braking speed control and different turntable thrust bearing. Both models became iconic products, revered by enthusiasts to the present day, and were used by the BBC and in commercial radio stations, mostly in Europe; the 301 and to a lesser extent the 401 were also exported around the world. Production of the 301 started in 1953; the 401 was produced until 1976.Transcription turntables must have speed accuracy and wow and flutter
Wow and Flutter
Wow and Flutter is an EP by the post-rock band Stereolab, released in 1994. A limited edition of 3000 7" copies was released with hand-painted covers. Two of the tracks appear on Mars Audiac Quintet, which was released the same year.-Track listing:...
specifications as well as low rumble
Rumble
A rumble is a form of low-frequency noise created by a random sound wave existing between certain limitation points. In audio rumble refers to a low frequency sound from the bearings inside a turntable. This is most noticeable in low quality turntables with ball bearings...
- low frequency vibration that is audible in the reproduced sound. For professional use in broadcasting they must meet set standards standards laid down for wow and flutter measurement
Wow and flutter measurement
Wow and flutter measurement is carried out on audio tape machines, cassette recorders and players, and other analog recording and reproduction devices with rotary components This measurement quantifies the amount of 'frequency wobble' present in subjectively valid terms...
and rumble measurement. Three types of drive have been used this: idler wheel and captan drive onto the turntable; belt drive; and direct drive, where the turntable becomes part of a slow-speed motor. Idler wheel drives tend to create rumble and flutter, while belt drives provide compliance between motor and turntable which reduces these effects. Direct drive reduces rumble and gives speed accuracy but can induce particular forms of flutter.