View Full Version : À la recherche du temps perdu
(With apologies to Marcel Proust)
Coming home on the bus today (yes - I’ve got a bus pass and I’m not afraid to use it!), I noticed the dot-matrix destination display on the bus was inactive. Instead it simply read ‘FERROGRAPH AVD’. Sadly this is the last vestige and reminder of the name of a once famous UK company. Most of the audio companies of the '50s, '60s and '70s in the UK, are now foreign owned and are a shadow of their of their former selves.
(For those interested in Ferrograph, Wright and Weaire, and their absorption into larger companies might like to read ‘Built like a Battleship’ by Terry Martini, 2008,Terpet Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4276-2523-6)
narabdela
17-10-2016, 21:20
I remember back in the early sixties(when as a teenager I could afford neither), mentally debating whether to buy a Ferrograph or a Vortexion.
When I could finally afford a tape deck in the seventies they had both disappeared, so I ended up with an Akai. Happy days! :)
I remember back in the early sixties (when as a teenager I could afford neither), mentally debating whether to buy a Ferrograph or a Vortexion.
When I could finally afford a tape deck in the seventies they had both disappeared, so I ended up with an Akai. Happy days! :)
The Vortexion was considered by some to be the better machine, though both used Wright and Weaire tape decks. There again, some consider the Clark and Smith machine, also using the W&W deck, to be a finer machine.
For a long time I used to use a Ferrograph 632T and a Brenell Mk.6, but these were 'retired' when I found I could make equally good recordings on Nakamichi cassette machines. But as you say: Happy Days!
Oi, I moved this thread from Blank Canvas because the discussion centres around old equipment, which is why it belongs in Past Masters! Please leave it in PM - ta :)
Marco.
walpurgis
17-10-2016, 22:46
Nothing wrong with having old equipment! ;)
Indeed - my system (like yours and Barry's) is full of it! :eyebrows:
However, Blank Canvas *must* remain a vintage-free zone.
Marco.
A few years ago now I noticed we had aquired Tandberg as a customer at work. I went on t'internet stright away hoping to see some modern takes on their old speakers and receivers. Regretably, the name now fronts a video conferencing company.
narabdela
18-10-2016, 08:43
...and a Brenell Mk.6,
I'd forgotten about Brenell. :wheniwasaboy:
Nothing wrong with having old equipment! ;)
Well...I got it.(not sure about Marco) ;)
walpurgis
18-10-2016, 08:54
Well...I got it.(not sure about Marco) ;)
You would Hugh. You're even older than me! :D
I'd forgotten about Brenell. :wheniwasaboy:
Well...I got it.(not sure about Marco) ;)
Ah - you're talking about *that* type of equipment! Speak for yourself :D
Marco.
walpurgis
18-10-2016, 09:16
:lolsign:
It's one thing having 'old' equipment and another if it works properly !!:eyebrows:
Another if it can even put in an appearance
walpurgis
18-10-2016, 09:26
It's one thing having 'old' equipment and another if it works properly !!:eyebrows:
Or even remember what it's for :scratch:.
A few years ago now I noticed we had aquired Tandberg as a customer at work. I went on t'internet stright away hoping to see some modern takes on their old speakers and receivers. Regretably, the name now fronts a video conferencing company.
Yes, Tandberg is another former audio manufacturer who's name is now associated with technology different to the original. We had Tandberg video conferencing gear at work.
Sadly the Tandberg company was forced into near bankruptcy because the Norwegian government claimed Tandberg had not paid enough tax over the years and presented them with a whopping bill.
So
Tandberg - video conferencing
Ferrograph - electronic signage
I think Goodmans now has it's name attached to cheap DVD players these days.
It's one thing having 'old' equipment and another if it works properly !!:eyebrows:
Yep - the rubber idler wheels of the speed change mechanism on my Series 6 Ferrograph have perished.
Another if it can even put in an appearance
Or 'rise to the occasion' :D
Marco.
Martyn Miles
30-10-2016, 17:40
Am I correct in thinking that Ferrograph once made a cassette deck ?
Think series 6 is a reel to reel valve machine.
Arkless Electronics
30-10-2016, 17:58
Am I correct in thinking that Ferrograph once made a cassette deck ?
North East Audio Ltd were absorbed by Ferrograph and became the cassette deck branch of the company. I have a NEAL 103 and very good it is.. or was before the pinch wheel turned to gloop (a fate which Ferrographs are known for but which the series 6 and all before seemed to escape. Dodgy Italian pinch and idler wheel manufacturer IIRC).
NEAL are well known to anyone who has reason to help the local constabulary with their enquiries as they make the twin cassette decks used for interview recording!
They have been owned by Canford for years now and they are now building digital recorders for this purpose, but still in NE England at Washington.
walpurgis
30-10-2016, 18:15
The NEAL was also sold with the Advent badge if I recall.
Arkless Electronics
30-10-2016, 18:34
AFAIK Advent were American and nothing to do with NEAL but used the same 3M Wollansak cassette deck mechanism and so looked virtually identical.
walpurgis
30-10-2016, 18:56
AFAIK Advent were American and nothing to do with NEAL but used the same 3M Wollansak cassette deck mechanism and so looked virtually identical.
That sounds likely. I know they looked very similar. I knew Advent were a US make, I've always wanted a pair of The Advent Speaker or The Smaller Advent speaker.
North East Audio Ltd were absorbed by Ferrograph and became the cassette deck branch of the company. I have a NEAL 103 and very good it is.. or was before the pinch wheel turned to gloop (a fate which Ferrographs are known for but which the series 6 and all before seemed to escape. Dodgy Italian pinch and idler wheel manufacturer IIRC).
NEAL are well known to anyone who has reason to help the local constabulary with their enquiries as they make the twin cassette decks used for interview recording!
They have been owned by Canford for years now and they are now building digital recorders for this purpose, but still in NE England at Washington.
Not quite, the idler wheels in my Ferrograph (model 632T) perished, turning to a sticky gunk which was only removed from the capstan flywheel by using cellulose thinners!
Arkless Electronics
31-10-2016, 12:50
Not quite, the idler wheels in my Ferrograph (model 632T) perished, turning to a sticky gunk which was only removed from the capstan flywheel by using cellulose thinners!
That's the first case I've heard of a 6 Series or earlier being effected... 7's are notorious for it. I've got a series 7 but haven't even dragged it out to look at it for over 10 years... it was fine when I last used it.
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