sad day for coatbridge tannoy factory

[russel]

I was an apprentice and an engineer at Royce's for part of the 70s and 80s. Old enough to have seen what it used to be post-war and to have watched it fade into what it has become at least from an engineer's perspective. I have also worked in Germany and certainly didn't return to the UK for work reasons! We had the option back in the 80s to maintain an infrastructure that would be required by high/medium tech industries of the future but opted not to do so. Not a lot we can do about it now.

Perversely, I suspect the low tech, low wage manufacture of luxury goods represented by something like Tannoy speakers is something that might start returning in a few years time. It will depend of course on whether we continue to be viewed by the rest of the world as a joke or manage to retain some kudos, our trading relationships with richer countries, how deep the growing crash turns out to be, etc... Despite the large number of negative changes that are happening there are likely to be a few positive ones. Not many but some (from the perspective of the 99% not the 1% of course).

A Finnish guy was chatting to me about the U.K. and he said “what happened to the U.K.?, at one time we really used to look up to U.K. engineering, now it’s just full of salesmen who over promise and under deliver”, he does have a point.

 

[hifinutt]

Fortunately we still have spendor , harbeth and proac amongst others made in the UK but he does have point

 

[say it as it is]

sadly i feel the reputation of the UK is under serious threat as a manufacturing or engineering strength. As mechanical engineer i have found it very hard to find gainful employment and find the skills massively undervalued, for me this is sign of the times and a sad reflection.
I can only hope the few icons of the music industry continue and flourish.

 

[Bairnstorm]

But the German and US sites are growing (or were prior to covid). This is not jobs fleeing to lower cost countries but jobs fleeing to countries that are better able to handle high tech engineering. Falling education, falling infrastructure and now red tape, delays, taxes, warehousing, etc... from brexit makes the UK an unattractive and difficult place for the high tech engineering industry.

What a load of bollocks. Look at wee Krankie if you want a reason.

 

[cooky1257]

Such a shame, those old enclosures were part of the heritage display so perhaps abandoning them is somewhat symbolic.

 

[Robert M]

Is tannoy now gone or is it Chinglish? Sorry I didn't read the start.

 

[Mr Pig]

Is it sad? I suppose in some ways but things change, and sometimes for the better.

The designers and creative people behind Tannoy are now at Fyne. Same people but the difference is that they are now free to do what they want instead of having to do what fits in with the established Tannoy brand image etc. From what I understand about the sales and response to the new products, this seems to be a good thing.

 

[say it as it is]

well as long as all the shopfloor staff transferred then yes its a good thing too often the management move on or the designers and hail the rebirth but those whose skill and workmanship made the products what they are get left behind

 

[flatpopely]

Tannoy ergo The Music Group ergo Behringer is not what it was, but it will continue and Uli Behringer is a great people leader. His products are awesome Vfm, deepmind 12 is an example.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/behringer-deepmind-12

 

[Mr Pig]

well as long as all the shopfloor staff transferred then yes its a good thing too often the management move on or the designers and hail the rebirth but those whose skill and workmanship made the products what they are get left behind

From what I understand, all of the current staff at Fyne are ex Tannoy. Management, designers, sales and production. All Tannoy.

 

[Beobloke]

PS #154 is interesting, I suspect that’s a device for refreshing tired alnico magnets.

No, it’s a magnetiser used to activate the magnetic field in all of the speakers’ magnets. When drive units are built the magnets are supplied un-magnetised for ease of assembly (if you’ve ever tried to align a speaker’s motor unit around a magnetised magnet you’ll know it’s damn near impossible!)

Once the drive unit is built, the last step is to sit it into this unit, and press the button which discharges a large electrical charge from some hefty capacitors into a coil around the magnet. This lines the particles in the material up properly and establishes the magnetic field.

As has been mentioned, if you get it wrong, it can be a bit dangerous....

 

[John]

That’s a shame. Was that the only Tannoy factory in Scotland?

 

[graystoke4]

I think , if scotland leave the uk, im uk nottingham, it will be the end of the country, they take and receive billions from the uk to prop up what once was a great, manufacturing country, if you vote to leave and vote for that
Nicola Sturgeon, you will be well and trully fuccekd,
she is the she devil, and no mistake, its, her OWN agenda to leave, 3 votes and 3 votes no, but she is still pushing ,, blindley like a modern day thatcher, and she has done more damage to this wonderful country than Hitler, no shit,,

 

[narabdela]

I think , if scotland leave the uk, im uk nottingham, it will be the end of the country, they take and receive billions from the uk to prop up what once was a great, manufacturing country, if you vote to leave and vote for that
Nicola Sturgeon, you will be well and trully fuccekd,
she is the she devil, and no mistake, its, her OWN agenda to leave, 3 votes and 3 votes no, but she is still pushing ,, blindley like a modern day thatcher, and she has done more damage to this wonderful country than Hitler, no shit,,

The whole UK is going to be well and truly fuccekd after 31st December anyway, so it really makes no odds in the long run. Any form of Scottish self determination would be preferrable to the shitstorm that is the present Westminster Government.

Here endeth the lesson. Back to Tannoy.

 

[Mr Pig]

Any form of Scottish self determination would be preferable to the shitstorm that is the present Westminster Government.

That depends. I seriously doubt that the SNP have worked out the true cost of Independence, or if they have they are hiding it well. And I seriously doubt that most people have thought about the dire implications of the socialist policies the SNP would implement given the chance.

 

[Alex M]

That depends. I seriously doubt that the SNP have worked out the true cost of Independence, or if they have they are hiding it well. And I seriously doubt that most people have thought about the dire implications of the socialist policies the SNP would implement given the chance.

If you compare Scotland with Denmark (for instance) the outlook might look more promising. Similar population, and despite Denmark having a political culture that definitely looks "socialist" compared with what we have in the UK. There are quite a few nations in Europe that have smaller populations than Scotland and seem to manage all the same - the Republic of Ireland and the Baltic states, for example. Oh, sorry - I forgot that the latter still have an advantage that Scotland will lose in a few weeks: uninterrupted trade with the EU.

Alex

 

[Mr Pig]

The two big issues I don't see being properly addressed are how Scotland will pay for the new government departments and structures they will need and how the currency will work. I've not heard anyone mention the first and the second question is muddled over. There seems to be a tacit assumption that we'll just keep using the pound but no one is talking about how the hell that would work!

The scary thing is that Sturgeon is genuinely popular. She comes across well to the man, and woman, on the street and they don't seem very good at seeing behind the persona.

 

[PerF]

From what I understand, all of the current staff at Fyne are ex Tannoy. Management, designers, sales and production. All Tannoy.

Only their flagship speakers are UK made, everything else Chinese.

 

[TheDecameron]

I think Fyne are missing a trick by not producing a 12” and/or 15” driver. I’d like to hear their speakers one day.

 

[TheDecameron]

I think , if scotland leave the uk, im uk nottingham, it will be the end of the country, they take and receive billions from the uk to prop up what once was a great, manufacturing country, if you vote to leave and vote for that
Nicola Sturgeon, you will be well and trully fuccekd,
she is the she devil, and no mistake, its, her OWN agenda to leave, 3 votes and 3 votes no, but she is still pushing ,, blindley like a modern day thatcher, and she has done more damage to this wonderful country than Hitler, no shit,,

Posted at 2:35am Saturday morning. My, does it show and we’re not just talking about the grammar.