Garrard

Garrard Origins

Garrard audio company, renowned for its high-quality turntables, has a rich history that dates back to 1735 when it was founded as a jewelry maker in London. The company, known as Garrard & Co., remains a high-end jeweler by appointment to the Queen of England today. In 1915, Garrard established the Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company to produce motors for the war effort during World War I. Following the war, the company pivoted to manufacturing gramophones and became notable for its spring-wound motors, which were quieter than those of competitors.

By the late 1920s, Garrard had expanded its product line to include electric motors and introduced its first complete gramophone in 1930. The company gained further acclaim with the launch of the Garrard 301 turntable in 1954, which was celebrated for its engineering excellence. This was succeeded by the Garrard 401 in 1965, solidifying Garrard's reputation in the audio industry.

However, Garrard faced challenges in the late 20th century, particularly with increasing competition from Japanese manufacturers. In 1960, it was sold to Plessey, an electronics conglomerate. After a series of unsuccessful ventures and declining sales, Plessey sold Garrard to Gradiente Electronics of Brazil in 1979. Production was then moved to Brazil, and by 1992, the original research and development operations in Swindon were shut down.

In the 1990s, the Garrard name was licensed to Loricraft Audio, which began servicing and remanufacturing Garrard turntables. This revival included the introduction of new designs like the Garrard 501 turntable, which garnered attention during a time when belt-drive systems dominated.

Today, Garrard is remembered not only for its historical significance in audio engineering but also for its lasting impact on vinyl culture.