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Naim serial numbers

Staff builds always used to have no serial numbers. Sometimes there were special builds for shows or one offs for people that had hand written serial numbers.
All staff builds were to have used seconds where possible, e.g. scratched PCBs and cases, imperfectly finished fascias etc. Electrically they're the same as production models unless you were, ahem, a member of the test department and used to pimp your own kit somewhat.
 
When staff build is mentioned, does that mean any staff member can build or that it’s built by someone that builds that particular product for another staffer?
 
When staff build is mentioned, does that mean any staff member can build or that it’s built by someone that builds that particular product for another staffer?
Most staff build their own. You didn't used to get into a different job at the factory without knowing the previous production method. For example you can't wire the amps until you've made the boards, I couldn't test amps until I'd learned how to make and wire them. So most people would be competent enough to build their own kit. Things like testing would have been done by someone else.
 
Did you get a choice in what you built as a staff member? ie could you build yourself a NAC52 or were you restricted to NAC92’s and the like?
 
You could build what you wanted, but the system had to be 'appropriate' so if you wanted a 52 and 135s then you had to have a good source and it was signed off for approval.
 
You could build what you wanted, but the system had to be 'appropriate' so if you wanted a 52 and 135s then you had to have a good source and it was signed off for approval.

Just say you’ll build a CDS or whatever’s the top source at the time :)
 
Wonder what period staff build really began ?

Maybe JV and PS and maybe few others were just about the complete staff back in the 70'ies.?
Sure they employed more staff during late 70'ies / early 80'ies ?

Does anybody know approximately number of employees in the early years of Naim.?
 
Had to stump up for an LP12 to get to build a 72/Hicap/250/SBLs even then Paul Stephenson looked me up and down a few times, still he signed it ;)

I built the PCBs as I was competent for that, wiring was a case of asking Tony, think Sheila did them if I recall correctly, Test was probably you Mark!

Things like ARO and SBLs were done by the specialist, it isn't like you could rock up and have a go ...

No serial numbers on any of my kit, no boxes, but a great benefit for those of us lucky enough to have worked there at the right time.

My guess was by the late 80s about 50 people in the factory?!!? Dunno, just a guess.
 
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50 people was about right for late 80's as I recall. I had to beg PS to be allowed a Rega P3 with a 72/HC/135s but I shortly got a CDI which was deemed good enough.
 
Had to stump up for an LP12 to get to build a 72/Hicap/250/SBLs even then Paul Stephenson looked me up and down a few times, still he signed it ;)

I built the PCBs as I was competent for that, wiring was a case of asking Tony, think Sheila did them if I recall correctly, Test was probably you Mark!

Things like ARO and SBLs were done by the specialist, it isn't like you could rock up and have a go ...

No serial numbers on any of my kit, no boxes, but a great benefit for those of us lucky enough to have worked there at the right time.

My guess was by the late 80s about 50 people in the factory?!!? Dunno, just a guess.

50 people was about right for late 80's as I recall. I had to beg PS to be allowed a Rega P3 with a 72/HC/135s but I shortly got a CDI which was deemed good enough.

Are you still using them? What happened the job at naim?
 
50 people was about right for late 80's as I recall. I had to beg PS to be allowed a Rega P3 with a 72/HC/135s but I shortly got a CDI which was deemed good enough.

Were you not allowed to build your own amp if source wasn't cleared with PS ?
 
I'm still using all my kit, same system, 30 years, self serviced with Mark's help.

You could not just build something, you had to get management agreement to employee build, there was a form on which you had to say what you wanted to build and what the system would be. If you wanted a bigger better system you had to have the source to go with it. If you wanted to build a Nait2 then a Rega would be accepted, but say you wanted to build a 52 and six pack then you would have to show commitment with a suitable source, which at that time meant an LP12 ...

The job, for me, was a gap year before university followed by summer holiday work to get me through university without too much debt! Mike Moore was always very honest about future possibilities of work and suggested I would be better off looking elsewhere after university. So I did.
 
I left after limited job prospects (read none) after I was overlooked for a servicing co-ordinator role, and decided my future career would be in video having already done audio. I had a few ideas rolling around in my head and founded Witch Hat at the height of the financial crisis. I think I kind of upset the cart a little back at HQ with that and encouraged them to look into their servicing pricing.
I'm now back in video again looking after a major Hollywood studio. I like to work for some of the best companies in their field. Technically my current employer is also a Hi-Fi company as it a very well known Japanese company.
 
Technically my current employer is also a Hi-Fi company as it a very well known Japanese company.

Technically your current employer also issues Jimi Hendrix' and Bob Dylan's records as it a very well known Japanese company?
 


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