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Garrard 301 Hammetone turntable. Runs nicely and holds good pitch. Restored about 20 years ago (the family are not sure who by). Paintwork is generally in nice condition and seems to be original (see photos), a couple of marks to the rim of the platter and notable patch above the on/off switch. Turntable runs nicely on all speeds, holds good pitch, speed control works nicely. It can be a bit fussy about selecting 78, the spring tension perhaps needs backing off slightly as the idler can seem to get stuck under the 78 notch on the pulley. The on/off switch lever doesn't go the full way over when in the on position but operates correctly and the motor stops as it should when in the off position. The previous restorer seems to have replaced the grease cap with something more modern and attached the original to the bearing to keep it safe (see photos). We will ship with great care and have tried to describe the item as completely as possible. Please see the listing photos.
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Garrard Turntables trace their origins to the Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company, established in 1915 in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, as a division of the renowned jeweler Garrard & Co., founded in 1735. Initially tasked with producing motors and range finders for World War I, the firm pivoted post-war to consumer audio, crafting silent spring-wound motors for gramophones supplied to brands like Columbia and Decca. By 1930, it unveiled its first complete gramophone turntable, building a legacy in precision engineering amid the vinyl era's dawn.
The brand's product focus centered squarely on high-quality gramophone turntables, with iconic idler-wheel models like the 301 (launched 1954) and 401 (1965) standing out for their robust four-pole induction motors, aluminum chassis, and support for 33, 45, and 78 rpm speeds. These transcription turntables, favored by the BBC and European broadcasters, eschewed modern direct-drive or belt systems in favor of grease-bearing designs and eddy-current braking, often sold without plinths for custom integration. Garrard innovated in record changers and autochangers but never diversified into amplifiers, speakers, DACs, headphones, or cables.
Garrard occupies a revered niche as a vintage collector's cornerstone in the high-end hi-fi market, synonymous with the golden age of analog playback. Sold to Plessey in 1960 and ceasing production by the late 1970s, its decks remain prized today for their torque, build quality, and musicality among audiophiles restoring "Swindon iron" script-logo classics. No active modern entity perpetuates the original line, cementing its status as a benchmark for idler-drive excellence.
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