SME acquires Garrard and Loricraft

[Jazid]

https://sme.co.uk/2018/05/01/sme-limited-acquires-the-garrard-audio-brand/

Interesting, I'm feeling a bit cynical this morning, so can we expect a staggeringly overpriced 301/401 lookalike in the near future?

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

[spendorman]

The good thing is that it's still British.

[Wakefield Turntables]

The good thing is that it's still British.

errrr.... No it isn't. Sorry.

[Spectral Morn]

The good thing is that it's still British.

Its not as SME is owned by an Indian company, The Cadence Group.

[spendorman]

I was going by the provided link

https://sme.co.uk/2018/05/01/sme-limited-acquires-the-garrard-audio-brand/

that states:

"1st May 2018 – Steyning, England – SME, the British engineering and specialist Hi-Fi company, has acquired the rights to the Garrard audio brand from IGB Gradiente S.A. of Brazil. A British brand synonymous with the design and manufacture of class-leading Hi-Fi products throughout the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, including the iconic 301 and 401 transcription turntables, Garrard is a much-admired audio brand whose products are eagerly sought out and traded worldwide."

[Spectral Morn]

I was going by the provided link

https://sme.co.uk/2018/05/01/sme-limited-acquires-the-garrard-audio-brand/

that states:

"1st May 2018 – Steyning, England – SME, the British engineering and specialist Hi-Fi company, has acquired the rights to the Garrard audio brand from IGB Gradiente S.A. of Brazil. A British brand synonymous with the design and manufacture of class-leading Hi-Fi products throughout the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, including the iconic 301 and 401 transcription turntables, Garrard is a much-admired audio brand whose products are eagerly sought out and traded worldwide."

SME themselves were bought by Cadence.

[vintagesteve]

Well, I think it's safe to say that SME didn't buy the Garrard name to lock it in a cupboard, so personally I think they will produce - or even badge - decks with Garrard on them. Given that SME have their mega bucks, high-end decks, I'd have though that the 'to-be' Garrard decks would sit below those, kind of in Linn Sondek territory. At least, it's an interesting 'watch this space' situation!

[dwhistance]

Well that explains why my recent enquiry to Loricraft about a plinth for a 401 has not been answered whereas previously Terry replied instantly with both emails and phone calls.

David Whistance

[SCIDB]

I was going by the provided link

https://sme.co.uk/2018/05/01/sme-limited-acquires-the-garrard-audio-brand/

that states:

"1st May 2018 – Steyning, England – SME, the British engineering and specialist Hi-Fi company, has acquired the rights to the Garrard audio brand from IGB Gradiente S.A. of Brazil. A British brand synonymous with the design and manufacture of class-leading Hi-Fi products throughout the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, including the iconic 301 and 401 transcription turntables, Garrard is a much-admired audio brand whose products are eagerly sought out and traded worldwide."

Hi,

The Cadence group also own Spendor, Siltech, Crystal Cables, Timberworx, and HiFi shop Audio Lounge.

[StanleyB]

Its not as SME is owned by an Indian company, The Cadence Group.
India is still part of the Commonwealth with the Queen as head of it. So it is technically still British.

[walpurgis]

Yes. High time we restablished the empire properly! ;)

[Spectral Morn]

India is still part of the Commonwealth with the Queen as head of it. So it is technically still British.

Ask, tell, any Indian India is still British and see what the reaction is.

[Spectral Morn]

Well that explains why my recent enquiry to Loricraft about a plinth for a 401 has not been answered whereas previously Terry replied instantly with both emails and phone calls.

David Whistance

According to their website still open for business at the original address and contact details.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Ask, tell, any Indian India is still British and see what the reaction is.

:lol: Well that made me spurt some coffee.

[walpurgis]

Ask, tell, any Indian India is still British and see what the reaction is.

Bit like telling one born here that he is not Indian. Which I have done! :)

[Macca]

I've never really understood the whole 'British ownership' thing or why it is such a big deal to some people. A company is owned by the shareholders, if it is a public company that can be anyone. If I buy 100 shares in BMW does that make it less German? If not how many shares would I need to buy to make it 'British-owned'? 51%?

Added to which political correctness says we should not care about nationality, and that nationalism is bad. So isn't complaining that a company is 'No longer British', racist?

I mean I don't think so, but surely that is the logical conclusion of the argument?

As far as I can see if it is made in Britian then it is a British product. If it is made overseas then it isn't. ( obviously I'm sidestepping the complications of various parts being made overseas and that not all the workers in the British factory will be British nationals). But surely the nationality of the shareholders is pretty much irrelevant?

[Audio Al]

Big price hike on the way then :(
Glad I purchased my PRC5 when I did :)

[montesquieu]

https://sme.co.uk/2018/05/01/sme-limited-acquires-the-garrard-audio-brand/

Interesting, I'm feeling a bit cynical this morning, so can we expect a staggeringly overpriced 301/401 lookalike in the near future?

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

Ever checked the price of a 501? :hmm:

Well-deserved retirement beckons for Terry I'm sure.

Glad I got my PRC6 when I did though ....




Glad I purchased my PRC5 when I did :)

snap .. great minds and all that ...

[Barry]

Well at least it isn't Chinese, who seemed intent on "hovering up" well-regarded British hi-fi marques, such as Quad, Leak, Wharfedale, Mission and Cambridge with the purchase of the IAG group.

Or Korean with the purchase of KEF inter alia by Goldstar.

[Macca]

Would it matter if it was the Chinese? Or the Nicaraguans for that matter?

There's a few industries who have discovered that whilst people don't care where cheap goods are produced, if they are going to pay a premium for high end products then they want them made in the traditional place by the traditional craftsmen. No-one would pay the same for a BMW made in China instead of Germany, even if they were identical down to the last nut and bolt.

They want German engineers to make their German car. Even though the actual engineer might be British. Or Slovakian, or whatever. I had a cousin who used to design for Audi-Porsche. Scouse as they come, but he lived and worked in Germany so that's okay. But move Porsche design and production to Merseyside and watch sales drop.

It's all about perception, not reality.

[Barry]

Would it matter if it was the Chinese? Or the Nicaraguans for that matter?

There's a few industries who have discovered that whilst people don't care where cheap goods are produced, if they are going to pay a premium for high end products then they want them made in the traditional place by the traditional craftsmen. No-one would pay the same for a BMW made in China instead of Germany, even if they were identical down to the last nut and bolt.

They want German engineers to make their German car. Even though the actual engineer might be British. Or Slovakian, or whatever. I had a cousin who used to design for Audi-Porsche. Scouse as they come, but he lived and worked in Germany so that's okay. But move Porsche design and production to Merseyside and watch sales drop.

It's all about perception, not reality.

I know what you mean: Porsches built in Finland are considered inferior by some to those built in Stuttgart. And Leitz optics assembled in Portugal or Canada are considered to be not quite as good as those assembled in Wetzlar.

My Sinophobia is partly born of reports of the later versions of the Quad 909 sounding poor, due to inferior Chinese-sourced components (especially the capacitors), but largely of my distaste of the appalling human rights track record of the Chinese state, their annexation of Tibet and their attitude to the use of endangered species in tradition Chinese medicine.

[montesquieu]

I know what you mean: Porsches built in Finland are considered inferior by some to those built in Stuttgart. And Leitz optics assembled in Portugal or Canada are considered to be not quite as good as those assembled in Wetzlar.

My Sinophobia is partly born of reports of the later versions of the Quad 909 sounding poor, due to inferior Chinese-sourced components (especially the capacitors), but largely of my distaste of the appalling human rights track record of the Chinese state, their annexation of Tibet and their attitude to the use of endangered species in tradition Chinese medicine.

To say nothing of their increasing development of a surveillance state that far surpasses anything in the West, and their disgraceful bullying behaviour over Taiwan.

I've spent a lot of time over the last 15 years or so in both mainland China and Taiwan and frankly, developments since Xi came to power are quite chilling. Not least in their effects on freedom of speech - you simply won't find a mainlander with any sort of political opinion openly expressed, as a report back can be career ending. We have a lot of East Asian academics through for dinner parties and the difference between the Chinese ones and the Taiwanese ones is frankly enormous - that's not down to 'culture' (much of which is shared, despite the depredations inflicted by the CCP), it's down to a state run using methods of ever-increasing repression and fear. Ten years ago it was nowhere near as bad as this.

[Edward]

To say nothing of their increasing development of a surveillance state that far surpasses anything in the West, and their disgraceful bullying behaviour over Taiwan.

I've spent a lot of time over the last 15 years or so in both mainland China and Taiwan and frankly, developments since Xi came to power are quite chilling. Not least in their effects on freedom of speech - you simply won't find a mainlander with any sort of political opinion openly expressed, as a report back can be career ending. We have a lot of East Asian academics through for dinner parties and the difference between the Chinese ones and the Taiwanese ones is frankly enormous - that's not down to 'culture' (much of which is shared, despite the depredations inflicted by the CCP), it's down to a state run using methods of ever-increasing repression and fear. Ten years ago it was nowhere near as bad as this.

+1

Recently I had an in-depth discussion with two Taiwanese academics and once they realised I was open to having a honest discussion regarding mainland China they became very open as to their opinions on what was happening with Xi etc. As you say quite chilling.

[Macca]

I can see the efficacy in a mass boycott of Chinese goods in order to exert political pressure on a tyrannical regime. But an individual boycott on personal, moral grounds doesn't stack up logically. To be morally consistent you would have to extend your personal boycott to products of all countries with repressive regimes. In which case putting petrol in your car is going to become quite tricky.

[steveharman]

"British" - based in Britain ?

Not necessarily owned by a British corporation. Perhaps

[Barry]

I can see the efficacy in a mass boycott of Chinese goods in order to exert political pressure on a tyrannical regime. But an individual boycott on personal, moral grounds doesn't stack up logically. To be morally consistent you would have to extend your personal boycott to products of all countries with repressive regimes. In which case putting petrol in your car is going to become quite tricky.

Yes I know I'm swimming upstream, but if I have a choice not to buy Chinese-made goods then I will exercise that option: I'm not expecting anyone else to follow suit.

Clearly I can't do anything about where the petrol in my car comes from, or the fact that Quatar have a majority stake in the airports around London, or the fact that all the butchers in London where my partner lives sell halal meat. That does not mean I'm going to stop driving or use a bus, or fly out of the country. And as for the meat, well I just buy pork, ham, gammon and bacon from a supermarket when in London.

[harmonica98]

Terry is no longer in the first flush of youth, so this kind of development is to be expected.

I'll keep an eye out for new products with interest, but given SME prices, without much expectation of buying.

[Beobloke]

According to the Munich rumour mill (which I only heard second-hand, so don't shoot the messenger!), a new 301 will be in production within a year and they are planning to gradually re-introduce the old classic SME arm models.