Wharfedale Speakers

Brand Profile

The cellar of Gilbert Briggs’ house in Ilkley, Yorkshire, is where he created his first loudspeaker. This tranquil market town was situated in the “Wharfedale” region, known for the valley of the river “Wharfe.” A brand that would eventually be known throughout the world for quality in high-fidelity reproduction was born in this seemingly improbable setting. Gilbert Briggs continues to be admired for his groundbreaking work in high-fidelity reproduction and his quest for higher sound quality, motivated by his passion for live music.

Gilbert built his new loudspeaker drive units at a small factory near Bradford. Word of the new transducers rapidly spread throughout the region, and demand increased quickly. His wife, Doris Edna Briggs, served as the production team at first, working many late nights winding coils and soldering wires in the true spirit of a cottage industry.

He entered the Bradford Radio Society’s annual competition the same year and took first and second place, giving the business its first significant order. The Wharfedale Wireless Works never looked back and continued to grow, manufacturing up to 9000 units annually until the start of World War II.

Gilbert’s business had outgrown its small space, so it relocated to a larger factory in Bradford. Despite the outbreak of war, the factory continued to operate. The Wharfedale Wireless Works received orders for transformers from Marconi during the latter half of the war. Before the war officially ended, a skilled team of only 20 staff members had completed around 40,000 units.

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The company quickly gained a reputation for its innovative designs and superior sound quality, winning first and second place in the Bradford Radio Society’s annual competition, which gave the business its first significant order. The Wharfedale Wireless Works continued to grow, manufacturing up to 9000 units annually until the start of World War II.During the war, the factory kept operating and received orders for transformers from Marconi during the latter half of the war.

With the release of his first book, “Loudspeakers: The Why and How of Good Reproduction,” Gilbert Briggs began a new endeavor, which helped him to establish the brand even more. With this achievement, Wharfedale created the first two-way loudspeaker, which served as the model for contemporary loudspeakers. The company’s products have been praised for their accuracy, clarity, and dynamic range. Wharfedale Speakers continues to be recognized and respected worldwide for its commitment to quality and innovation.

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High-quality products are what Wharfedale is known for, if anything. The business is known for creating high-quality speakers that are distinctive, useful, and appealing. These are some of the greatest Wharfedale products ever.

Together with Quad’s “Peter Walker,” a close friend and collaborator, Gilbert Briggs embarked on an ambitious project. They started an industry-defining series of performances where spectators were allowed to directly compare live music to recorded music, with Quad providing the amplification and Wharfedale creating the loudspeaker systems. These performances were held at prestigious locations including the Royal Festival Hall in London and Carnegie Hall in New York, both during tours in the UK and the USA.

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The controversial sale of Wharfedale Wireless Works to the Rank Organization spurred the brand’s quick growth and expansion into industries such as electronics. Gilbert Briggs, who was 68 at the time, remained in charge of the day-to-day operations of the business until he retired in 1965.

Two significant developments occurred in the first four years of the Rank era. Wharfedale invented the now-famous “roll surround” for cones and introduced the first ceramic magnet loudspeakers. The company also entered the electronics industry in the 1960s, releasing a variety of turntables, amplifiers, and tuners on the market. Growth was quick as the newly-emerging youth market was drawn in by the products’ high quality and appealing appearance.

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