Next up in my dusty files series of posts: One of a number of ads I have seen that tells victorious Allied users to get ready for new products…Garrard-after the war. According to the Garrard FaceBook entry, and this thorough history of Garrard’s from Swindonweb, they made clock mechanisms for the war effort. I hope they ran quieter than the Garrard turtables I’ve used over the years. While the 301 is justifiably famous as a standard-setter, I had the option to keep a white grease bearing 301, or a TD124 mkii and chose the Thorens. What I do miss is the Zero 100, an underrated (and flawed in execution) design, ahead of its time. It was produced at a price too low to justify the parts quality necessary to make it an audiophile caliber product. Still, the Zero 100 has a look and feel that bridges the gap between the high quality products of the ’60s and the crass mass-production of the ’70s. If only the Zero 100 had been built with jeweled bearings worthy of a Swiss timepiece, and a motor at least as good as the 401, and without the automatic nonsense. It could’ve been as desirable as the 301.
“Garrard” is in quotes. Why? Copyright by U.C.P. Inc? Were they a New York advertising agency, run by men with big cigars and lipstick on their collars? So, after the war, Garrard planned on producing New and Improved models of the famous “Garrard” Record Changers; Also “Garrard” High Fidelity pick-ups. And other associated products will once again be available…we invite inquiries from post-war planners. I can hear the Soviets now: Already profit-taking, comrades?