About the Company
Ferrograph was a British manufacturer of reel-to-reel tape recorders—particularly known for semi-professional, high-fidelity, and consumer open-reel tape decks made from the late 1940s through 1981. Its products were popular in the UK and abroad for broadcast, studio, government, military and hi-fi use.
Origins and Company Background
Ferrograph’s roots go back to the electronics firm Wright & Weaire Ltd., established around 1918 by Joseph Wright and Thomas Weaire in London, initially producing radio components and instruments. After World War II, interest grew in magnetic recording technology.
1945 – Wright & Weaire’s production moved to South Shields in northern England to expand operations.
1947–1948 – A prototype Wearite tape deck was developed (later incorporated into the first Ferrograph recorders).
1949 – The British Ferrograph Recorder Company was formed as a separate entity to market and manufacture the new tape recorders.
The company produced audio tape recorders and related equipment in the UK from 1949 until about 1981.
Corporate Evolution
1950s – Ferrograph machines successfully entered the growing home and semi-pro audio market. In 1955, Wright & Weaire went public and acquired Ferrograph. By 1958 the company name was changed to The Ferrograph Company.
1959 – The company was absorbed into Wilmot Breeden Group, a larger electronics conglomerate. It expanded its product line to include amplifiers, radio tuners, and monitor loudspeakers.
Late 1960s–70s – Under financial pressure from international competitors (especially from Japan and continental Europe), sales declined.
1977 – Wilmot Breeden sold Ferrograph to North East Audio Ltd (NEAL).
1981 – The company finally went into receivership/bankruptcy. Post-closure, the Ferrograph name survived through spares and service firms, but major tape recorder production ceased.Production and
Production Timeline for Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorders
Ferrograph produced reel-to-reel tape recorders from approximately 1948/1949 (first prototypes/production) through the late 1970s/early 1980 (with sources commonly citing 1951–1980 as the core commercial run). Early models used valve (tube) electronics, later transitioning to solid-state.
Key series and approximate eras:
Late 1940s–early 1950s: Initial Wearite/Ferrograph decks and early Series (e.g., first machines around 1948).
1950s: Series 4 (e.g., Model 4A introduced ~1950s, with speeds like 3¾ & 7½ ips; 4AH for 7½ & 15 ips).
1957–1960s: Series 6 (introduced ~1957–1960s; e.g., mono half-track, later stereo versions; speeds including 1⅞, 3¾, 7½ ips; heavy valve-based builds, often with 8¼" reels; popular semi-pro models like 632, 651 variants in late 1960s).
Late 1950s–1960s: Series 5 (early 1960s; improved hi-fi performance).
1959+: Series 4 continuation and Series 66 (chassis models for hi-fi integration, no built-in amp; speeds like 3¾/7½ or 7½/15 ips).
1960s–1970s: Series 7 (e.g., 722 half-track stereo, 724 quarter-track; solid-state transition, highly regarded for broadcast use).
Later models incorporated 4-track options, various voltages (220–240V & 110–120V), and both half-track and quarter-track heads.
Ferrograph emphasized robust construction (often three-motor designs, precise timing ~0.2%), excellent frequency response (e.g., up to 15 kHz at higher speeds), and professional-grade features. They were not mass-market consumer items like some Japanese brands but targeted semi-pro, hi-fi enthusiasts, and broadcast markets.
Note: Production volumes reportedly peaked in the early 1960s, with over 100 machines per week being hand-built at the South Shields factory, a significant output for the era.
Decline and End of Production
By the late 1960s and 1970s, the audio tape recorder market became highly competitive. Japanese manufacturers like Sony, Akai, TEAC and European firms offered machines with more modern features, sleeker designs, and competitive pricing. Against this backdrop, Ferrograph’s relatively traditional designs struggled, and declining sales led to restructuring and ultimately the end of production in 1981.
Legacy
Today Ferrograph machines are valued by collectors and vintage audio enthusiasts for their robust British engineering and historical significance in the development of reel-to-reel tape technology.