BSR

BSR Origins

Birmingham Sound Reproducers (BSR) was established in 1932 by Dr. Daniel McLean McDonald in the West Midlands, England. Initially focused on manufacturing high-quality audio transformers and public address systems, the company quickly expanded into producing turntables and record changers, becoming a key player in the audio industry during the mid-20th century.

By the 1950s, BSR was supplying auto-changing turntables to various manufacturers, most notably contributing to the popularity of the Dansette record player, which became a household name in Britain. The company went public in 1957 and by 1961 employed around 2,600 workers, capturing a significant portion of the market—up to 87% at its peak.

BSR's products included the Monarch Automatic Record Changer, capable of playing multiple sizes and speeds of records, and they were known for producing up to 250,000 units weekly by the late 1970s.

However, changing consumer preferences in the 1980s toward portable music formats led to a decline in BSR's market presence.

The company ceased production of turntables in 1985 and eventually moved its operations to Hong Kong before being fully acquired by Emerson Electric Company in 1998.

Despite its closure, BSR remains a significant part of audio history for its contributions to turntable technology and design.