Tannoy is a British company founded in 1926. Headquarters are located in Coatbridge, Scotland. Tannoy’s own factory is also located in Scotland. Hi-End acoustics are produced at this plant, and not in Southeast Asia, like many companies.
One of the most significant events in England of the twentieth century was the emergence of radio broadcasting in it. A few years after this (in 1926), the Tannoy company also appeared. The first radio receivers had a fairly large number of disadvantages: their operation required a constant low voltage, which was supposed to heat the filaments, as well as a high constant voltage, the task of which was to feed the anode circuits of the amplifying lamps.
Tannoy Founder Guy R. Fontaine
To ensure the operation of such devices, special dry or acid batteries were used. Their cost was sometimes very high, and their service life was very short. Among the many garages in London (often commercial) were those that had additional devices for recharging batteries. This, along with regular business, became a good additional income. The owner of the most famous of these garages, which was located in Dulwich (district of the British capital), was Guy R. Fontaine.
Comparative size of Tannoy WestMinister Royal GR acoustics
The distinctive feature of the commercial charger was that it was not very safe and quite expensive, because it used mercury vapor. As a result of this, engineer Fontaine decided to thoroughly study possible methods for modifying such devices so that the charging process would be simpler and could be safely carried out at home. However, the inventor’s dream could only be realized thanks to the presence of a special rectifier.
Tannoy 15 Monitor Silver (1953)
To create it, Fontaine took a fairly simple and completely harmless electrolytic rectifier and significantly modified it. During the manufacture of the new rectifier, several metals were used in production. These were tantalum (tantalum) and lead alloy (leadalloy), which formed the basis for the formation of the name Tannoy. The huge Tannoy company itself appeared in London on Dalton Road. It was here that Fontaine began creating his rectifiers.
Tannoy SRM-10B (1970)
After some time, when the production of rectifiers was well established, attempts were made at the Fontaine factory to create completely new loudspeakers that would have moving coils and a magnetic system operating on the basis of a direct current electromagnet. The experiment was a success, and the company began to develop very quickly and increase in scale. This was the reason for Tannoy’s move to Talsmeer Road, where the company found larger premises.
Tannoy Legacy Arden (1974)
It should be noted that in 1930 the company showed interest in the world of public addresses (PublicAddress). Despite the fact that at that time there were already several large organizations (Marconi and Western Electric) that were doing similar business, they could not adequately service all kinds of portable and mobile applications that were placed at fairs and circuses. The real turning point for the Tannoy company was the contract with the Bertram Mills Circus, where the company was to deal with its sound reinforcement equipment. After this, Tannoy’s business skyrocketed and became the impetus for further targeted growth.
Tannoy Mercury M20 (1983)
The rapid development of science and technology has forced us to constantly evaluate the performance of all kinds of amplifiers, loudspeakers and receivers. To meet the demands and needs of society, numerous Tannoy researchers have come up with a variety of developments that offer numerous test and measurement equipment.
Tannoy SGM-12X (1989)
Fontaine’s tests did not stand still and already in 1933 he presented his new two-way loudspeaker to the public. Exactly a year later, the company was able to establish a huge production of unusually high-quality loudspeakers, microphones and amplifiers, the output power of which ranged from 10-200 W. Over time, the factory began to produce more and more control and measuring equipment. Absolutely all Tannoy products were so unique and inimitable at that time that even the most famous scientists (such as Gilbert Briggs) constantly used them to carry out their measurements.
Tannoy Stirling HW (1993)
Despite the fact that in the first years of its existence (from 1926 to 1936) the Tannoy company was not afraid of experiments and made new attempts to gain world fame and glory, it, of course, succeeded. Proof of this can be the fact that it was Tannoy, among other companies, that at that time occupied one of the leading places not only in the UK, but throughout Europe.
Tannoy Autograph Mini OW (2009)
Since the company experienced a very high level of development from 1934 to 1939, in 1937 it was forced to move to even larger premises. It is here that all radio broadcasting and sound equipment is made only from high-quality parts and using the latest developments in this field. It is not surprising that such equipment is beginning to have a direct impact on absolutely all areas of both social and economic life. With the use of first-class equipment, all music reaches a completely new level of development. In addition, an amazing discovery for humanity is that national leaders now have the opportunity to communicate with millions of people at once. This inevitably led to the development of the entire society, which was able to become part of concerts, sports competitions and political life.
Tannoy Kingdom-12 (2010)
We can safely say that it was Tannoy, thanks to its exclusive developments, that made a real revolution in the field of communication. Over all the years of its existence, the company’s employees have accumulated a huge amount of knowledge and experience, which to this day is of great value to humanity.
Tannoy Kensington SE (2010)
With the outbreak of war in 1939, the company had to slightly change the direction of its activities. Now Tannoy was widely engaged in the production of communication systems necessary for numerous submarines, airfields, tanks, as well as various electronic equipment, without which it would be difficult to imagine the entire defense industry. During the war years, the corporation became famous throughout the world for its “Tannoy” PA system. At the end of the war (already in 1948), the word “Tannoy” was included in the Oxford Dictionary. The expression “Tannean style” remains popular today, as it is associated with a company that took a very professional and responsible approach to fulfilling its responsibilities in a very difficult and violent time for the whole world.
Tannoy Definition DC8 Ti (2012)
During the war years, the number of corporation employees increased significantly, which contributed to the production of an increasing number of products, which were supplied not only to Europe, but also to all world markets. Tannoy sound systems have been used at legislative meetings and international forums. Thus, its translation systems were installed in Paris, New York and Geneva. Also, not a single country that wanted to hold various international conferences could do without such equipment.
Tannoy Canterbury GR (2016)
The late 1940s and early 1950s saw the advent of heavy-duty electronic smoke alarms and fire-resistant emitters needed by the petrochemical industry. Tannoy has become known throughout the world as a company producing studio monitors and various audio equipment for recording studios. In 1948, the first loudspeaker called the Dual Concentric appeared on the market. It had the form of a compression driver located on the horn, and also had a low-frequency speaker. Here, too, only one magnetic system was used, but with two gaps. Such a loudspeaker pleased the famous recording company Decca, which immediately purchased six copies for itself.
Tannoy Westminister Royal GR (2017)
Tannoy has been based in Scotland since 1976, having been sold to the American group Harman International Industries in the early 1970s. After them, Tannoy bought Beatrice Foods Company, which in 1981 transferred management to Tannoy representatives. In 1983, the company widely produced Hi-Fi loudspeakers. A year later, Tannoy released a new modular PA loudspeaker, which was a great success among consumers and brought considerable profit to the company. In 1985, the company began moving into the CCTV field, which entailed a significant expansion of the company’s creative team, which now consisted of even more professionals and the best specialists.
Tannoy Kingdom Royal Mk III (2017)
Tannoy loudspeakers have gained enormous respect in Japan, where they have even won several major awards. In addition, the company is considered a leading supplier of Hi-Fi systems. In 1987, Tannoy merged with Goodmans Loudspeakers Ltd. Since then, the TGI plc group has been formed and is characterized as a supplier and manufacturer of the very best loudspeakers. In 1989, the company bought Audix Ltd, which produces equally high-quality PA equipment. In 2002, TGI plc merged with TC Group, forming the largest holding, consisting of independent companies (Tannoy, MartinAudio, Lab. Gruppen, TC Electronic, TC Helicon, TC Works and GLL), which became suppliers of only high-quality modern digital equipment. In 2014 Tannoy launches the revolutionary Dual Concentric technology with the latest generation of CMS Series. In 2015, MUSIC Tribe, the parent company of BEHRINGER, BUGERA, and UK professional brands MIDAS, TURBOSOUND and KLARK TEKNIK acquired the TC Group, which brings together various brands serving different areas of the professional audio industry.