About the Company
Ferguson (under Ferguson Electronics, formerly Ferguson Radio Corporation) was a well-known British consumer electronics brand that produced reel-to-reel tape recorders (Tonbandgeräte) primarily during the 1960s, with some overlap into the early 1970s. The brand originated as an American-Canadian company pre-WWII, manufacturing radios for the UK market based on U.S. designs, but it became fully British after being acquired and integrated into UK conglomerates.
The company was incorporated in the UK in 1935, with Jules Thorn becoming chairman in 1936. Post-WWII, it focused on radios and televisions under Thorn Electrical Industries (acquired in 1946 for £150,000). By the late 1950s–1980s, it was owned by Thorn (later Thorn EMI), and the Ferguson name was used for a wide range of domestic audio-visual products, including open-reel tape recorders, hi-fi systems, radios, and later cassette recorders.
Production History Overview
Active period for reel-to-reel tape recorders: Approximately 1962–1970 (peak in mid-to-late 1960s), as the consumer tape market boomed in the UK after rationing ended and home audio became popular.
Country of origin: United Kingdom (British-made, often in Thorn Group facilities; some sources note U.S. manufacturing influence early on, but surviving examples and collector consensus point to UK production for the domestic market).
Market focus: Entry-to-mid-level consumer reel-to-reel recorders — mono and stereo, transistor-based (solid-state) in later models, aimed at home users for recording radio, voice, music, or family events. They were affordable alternatives to premium brands like Ferrograph or Revox, competing with Grundig, Philips, and Bush.
Output scale: Moderate for a mainstream UK brand — Ferguson produced a solid lineup of models (numbered in the 32xx series), sold widely through retailers. Not as specialized as pro brands, but popular in British households during the 1960s hi-fi/tape era.
Ferguson entered the tape market as part of its expansion into audio (following radios/TVs), with open-reel models preceding their cassette lines. Production aligned with the broader UK shift to transistor tech and 4-track stereo by the mid-1960s.
Key Models
Ferguson reel-to-reel models were typically 3- or 4-speed, 4-track stereo/mono, with 7" reel capacity, and features like auto-stop, self-threading, or multi-playback:
3214 / 3216: Popular mid-1960s models (e.g., 3-speed, 4-track, up to 17 hours play on double-play tape; often in wooden or plastic cases).
3226 / 3232: 1960s tabletop/portable units (e.g., grey metal/synthetic casing, 4-track, 3-speed; examples preserved in UK museums and YouTube restorations).
3204: Iconic 1960s 4-track model, often with wooden cabinet.
442 TR: Late 1960s portable variant (leather/canvas/plastic carry case).
Others like 3T07 / 3289 (Thorn-branded variants) and stereophonic solid-state models from the late 1960s.
These featured typical era specs: 7½, 3¾, 1⅞ ips speeds; built-in amps/speakers; and simple controls.
Today, Ferguson reel-to-reel machines are sought-after vintage collectibles in the UK/Europe — reasonably common on eBay, Gumtree, or specialist sites (often needing belt/capacitor restoration). They're appreciated for their reliability and as examples of 1960s British domestic audio before cassette dominance.