Jelco are closing their tonearm business

[Ammonite Audio]

Jelco have announced that they are closing down their tonearm business with immediate effect. The decision has been made for business reasons, as stated in their letter to dealers, reproduced below:


It is with deepest regret to inform you this sad announcement.

The novel corona virus pandemic continue to have a significant impact on our production lines, and so I have decided to terminate our business effective immediately.

For the past few years, the business has endured a decline in labor productivity due to health issues arising from our aging skilled engineers. Furthermore, due to our obsolete mechanical equipment, performing maintenance on them has become difficult.

I sincerely ask for your understanding on the following points:

•No new orders will be accepted.

•Repair of products will not be accepted.

I would like to thank everyone for their warm support that was extended to us throughout the years. I would also like to express in writing my deepest gratitude for your kindness and wish you all the best for your continued development.

Sincerely yours,

Takako Ichikawa
President & CEO
ICHIKAWA JEWEL CO.,LTD.

What does this mean for us and for you? In short, once our existing stocks of Jelco products are gone, that’s it and there won’t be any more. Jelco leave a gaping hole in the lower/middle price point of the tonearm market and we are not quite sure how to fill it. But, we will try!

[mikeyb]

Sad news indeed, unfortunately I'm sure there will be many more similar announcements is that coming months.

RIP Jelco [emoji3525]

[Lurch]

Yeah sad news indeed.
Hope no one minds but will link this in the wam.

[graham67]

I am assuming this is just for Jelco branded Arms and not the OEM business???.....

[Ammonite Audio]

I am assuming this is just for Jelco branded Arms and not the OEM business???.....

I suspect it's everything, but we shall have to wait and see

[Jac Hawk]

I would say it's the whole arm making business, the letter basically spells it out, they have an aging skilled workforce and obsolete manufacturing equipment, putting those 2 things together says it all, i'm surprised they haven't tried to sell the business on though

[Audio Al]

Sounds like a management fault then , No Apprenticeships offered , No infrastructure updateing , They dug their own grave

[loheswaran]

Sounds like a management fault then , No Apprenticeships offered , No infrastructure updateing , They dug their own grave
the sad tale with all engineering

[Audio Al]

I'm also please I did not buy a arm knowing it was built with " our obsolete mechanical equipment, "

[Ammonite Audio]

I'm also please I did not buy a arm knowing it was built with " our obsolete mechanical equipment, "

Yet Jelco managed to turn out arms of the highest quality and Jelco users know that, so this remark is unfair. The 'obolete mechanical equipment' reference is simply an acknowledgement that Mrs Ichikawa felt there was no longer a business case for renewing it with long term production in mind. In any case, using old equipment should not stand in the way of excellent quality - ask any machinist using ancient lathes and milling machines, but the overall business case for Jelco is quite another matter.

[scotty38]

I'm also please I did not buy a arm knowing it was built with " our obsolete mechanical equipment, "

Totally unfair comment,. Just because the machines are obsolete doesn't mean they don't work well it just means it gets ever harder and more expensive to repair them when they do have issues.

[Audio Al]

I won't get into a debate about machining accuracy as its not what this post is about ;)

[scotty38]

You mean you won't continue what you started? ;)

[Audio Al]

You mean you won't continue what you started? ;)

And you want to carry it on ?

[Jac Hawk]

Easy fellas, i can see both sides of the coin, think about it we are talking about vinyl playback by it's very nature "obsolete mechanical equipment" but we know it's better than CD and streaming which is current technology.

[ronyobi]

agree completely with previous post...and is really sad that Jelco has to close their doors...hope they will find a way to come back...

[drSM]

sad news re Jelco.
I am happy that I got my 9 inch 850 from Hugo a few months ago.
I guess i just missed the short lived mk 2 version of that arm but I am very happy with the performance of what I have.