“I was Ira’s first employee and sales manager… I set up the UK retailers and then the US military sound stores in the UK and some in Germany. My time with Ira Gale will always be remembered… I could spend hours talking about Ira Gale, great memories.”
Voices & Memories
First-hand recollections and interviews that capture the living history of Gale Electronics — the people, places and moments behind the GS401 loudspeakers and the GT2101 turntable.
Featured recollections
“I joined Gale in 1974, aged twenty-four, after a quick interview with David Lyth. We were in the middle of Mayfair — reputedly the only factory in the area. Bruton Place was alive with characters: Donald Sinclair with his whisky chasers, Peter Balkan in the anechoic chamber, and Ray with his E-Type Jaguar. Later I built the GT2101 control units upstairs, calibrating the speed crystals by oscilloscope. I still have my black-and-chrome 401s, and they still play beautifully.”
“Ray was Mr Hi-Fi in the UK during the 70s and 80s… One Saturday a chap asked for directions and left with a Linn LP12, a Quad 405/33 and a pair of 401s… Another time, wiring a B&O in Cheyne Walk, Yul Brynner burst in doing kung fu!”
“After visiting my husband’s RCA silversmithing show in 1980, Ira bought a folding table clock and later arrived at our door with gifts for our young son — first a robot arm, then a Star Wars AT-AT. No gift from Santa could compete with that.”
“Upper Heyford’s PX shop sold everything from Budweiser to a Cherokee Jeep, and masses of hi-fi. Those were the days we got two-plus dollars to the pound.”
Contribute a memory
Have a story, photo or document? Email vintagegaleuk@gmail.com and we’ll add it with full attribution.