Photograph by Berris Conolley
Vintage Gale
welcome to
Bringing timeless sound back to life.
At Vintage Gale, we specialise in restoring classic Gale 401 series speakers to their original factory
specifications. This includes all versions—401A, 401B, and 401C—as well as the rare 402C (wood
version) and the exceptionally scarce 'A' Chrome-ended model.
Our meticulous restoration process involves refoaming the original drivers and recapping the
crossovers with responsibly sourced, high-quality components. By bringing these iconic speakers
back to life, we extend their lifespan, reduce waste, and preserve the authentic sound and
craftsmanship of the 1970s—all while minimising the environmental impact of new production.
Explore our restoration process and see how we honour the legacy of these legendary speakers.
Vintage Gale was founded by Dave Smith, a
passionate engineer dedicated to preserving
the legacy of Gale speakers. His expertise and
commitment established Vintage Gale as a
trusted name among audiophiles. While the
business is transitioning to new hands, Dave
remains an integral part of Vintage Gale,
personally overseeing every aspect of the
handover. His meticulous craftsmanship,
technical knowledge, and dedication to quality
continue to shape everything we do.
Our team (me) combines technical expertise
with a deep appreciation for vintage audio
equipment, ensuring that each restoration not
only honours the original design but also
meets the highest standards of performance.
Our Story
Our Mission
We aim to provide audiophiles and collectors
with the opportunity to experience the
authentic sound of the 1970s. By focusing on
restoration rather than replacement, we
contribute to a sustainable future, reducing
electronic waste and celebrating the
craftsmanship of the past.
Restoration Process
Driver Re-Foaming: Carefully replacing the foam surrounds to maintain original performance
characteristics.
Crossover Re-Capping: Updating capacitors with high-quality, responsibly sourced components to
ensure optimal sound quality.
Cabinet Refinishing: Preserving or restoring the original aesthetic of the speaker cabinets to reflect
their vintage charm.
Our comprehensive restoration process includes:
Why Choose Vintage Gale?
Expertise: Our team has extensive experience with Gale 401 series speakers, ensuring precise and faithful restorations.
Sustainability: We prioritise environmentally friendly practices, sourcing materials responsibly and minimising waste.
Legacy: Continuing Dave Smith's tradition of excellence, we honour his legacy in every restoration project.
If you’re new to the brand, it helps to know that Gale has gone through a few distinct chapters each with its own
character.
The original era (1973-79)
Ira Gale’s GS-401 series was built in London and quickly became a hi-fi classic: chrome-capped cabinets, CTS
woofers, Peerless soft-domes and the Celestion HF2000 super-tweeter. These are the heavyweight, full-range
models we all recognise.
The D.W. Labs years (1979-mid-80s)
When financial trouble hit, Donald Wong’s D.W. Labs stepped in, keeping production in the UK and adding the
402 and 30-series while staying true to the original cabinet design and component quality.
Later generations
In the late ’80s and ‘90s the Gale badge passed to new owners who moved manufacturing offshore and shifted to
higher-volume bookshelf and multimedia models. Built in much larger numbers, these speakers served a
different market and use different drivers and construction methods from the 401 lineage.
At Vintage Gale we focus exclusively on the first two chapters—the Ira Gale and D.W. Labs GS-401 family,
restoring them to their factory specification so their performance and craftsmanship live on.
But there is something you should know....
A Legacy of High-Fidelity Sound
Since their introduction in the early 1970s, Gale speakers
have stood as an enduring icon of high-fidelity audio,
blending cutting-edge engineering with distinctive
aesthetics. Designed to deliver powerful, accurate sound
reproduction, these speakers remain highly regarded by
audiophiles and collectors to this day.
Origins: The Vision of Ira Gale
Gale Electronics was founded in the early 1970s by Ira
Gale, an American entrepreneur and engineer who was
passionate about high-performance audio. Dissatisfied
with the speaker designs of the time, he set out to create
a speaker that combined studio-quality precision with
the power and scale of live music reproduction.
To achieve this, Gale partnered with leading designers
and engineers, most notably Jon Bannenberg, the famed
industrial designer known for his work on luxury yachts.
His influence led to the creation of the GS401A, the most
iconic of Gale’s designs, featuring polished chrome end
caps that made the speakers instantly recognisable.
The History of Gale Speakers
in the 1970s, Gale Electronics operated from 23
Bruton Place, Mayfair, London, an unlikely factory
location in the heart of the city. This was where Ira
Gale, Jon Bannenberg, Billy Woodman, and David
Lyth created the legendary GS401 loudspeaker,
blending cutting-edge engineering with striking
design.
Visitors recall a unique atmosphere—hi-fi
innovation mixed with Mayfair’s high-end culture.
Even music legends like Oscar Peterson stopped by.
Today, the building houses a Pizza Express, but its
walls once echoed with the sound of British hi-fi
history.
The Original Home of Gale:
23 Bruton Place, Mayfair
In the early 1970s, Ira Gale leveraged his background
in London’s avant‑garde art scene and musical
training at the Royal Academy of Music to launch Gale
Electronics. His pioneering vision led to the creation of
the iconic Gale GS401 Loudspeaker—celebrated for
its innovative dual‑woofer sealed‑box design and
striking aesthetics—and the futuristic GT2101
Turntable, developed with engineer Dr Sao Win.
Originally a boutique manufacturer, Gale Electronics
quickly gained international acclaim and became a
cult favourite among audiophiles and celebrities.
Although later ownership changes shifted the brand
towards more mainstream hi‑fi, the spirit of
uncompromising quality and visionary design
endures.
Ira Gale:
And the legacy of Gale Electronics
David Lyth played a key role in the early production
of the Gale GS401, building the soundproof
chamber used to test each speaker against a
reference standard. His work in quality control
ensured that every unit matched Ira Gale’s exacting
sonic vision, with fine adjustments made possible
via the midrange and treble controls.
He recalls visiting Ira's office, where a grand piano
and an obsession with humidity reflected the same
precision that defined the GS401. David later
founded Volt Loudspeakers, becoming one of
Britain’s leading loudspeaker engineers and leaving
a lasting impact on high-end and professional audio
design.
David Lyth:
Engineering the Sound of Gale
Billy Woodman:
The Engineering Mind
Billy Woodman contributed his engineering expertise
to the development of the Gale GS401, helping to
refine its overall performance and sound quality. His
involvement supported the creation of a speaker
celebrated for its power, clarity, and dynamic range,
setting new benchmarks in British hi-fi.
After his time with Gale, he founded ATC (Acoustic
Transducer Company), now a world leader in high-
performance loudspeakers used in professional
studios and live sound environments. His dedication
to accurate sound reproduction established him as
one of the most respected speaker engineers of his
time.
Jon Bannenberg was a pioneering designer known
for his work in yacht and industrial design. His
influence on the Gale 401 series made them more
than just high-performance speakers—they
became design icons.
A Unique Aesthetic
Introduced in 1973, the Gale 401 speakers stood
out with sleek chrome end caps and a minimalist,
sculptural form. Unlike typical speakers, they had
an architectural presence that appealed to both
audiophiles and interior designers.
A Lasting Legacy
Bannenberg’s approach combined sound and style,
making the Gale 401 series a timeless classic. At
Vintage Gale, we honour his design by restoring
these speakers to their original beauty and
performance.
Jon Bannenberg:
The Vision Behind the 401
The GS401 series was launched in April 1973 and
quickly became a benchmark for premium
loudspeakers. These were sealed (infinite baffle)
designs, featuring:
Dual 8-inch woofers for deep and tight bass,
inspired by Acoustic Research's design
philosophy.A 4-inch Peerless K040 midrange driver, prized
for its clarity and accuracy.A Celestion HF2000 dome tweeter, delivering
detailed high frequencies.A robust three-way crossover with level controls
for fine-tuning midrange and treble output.
These technical choices allowed the GS401 to
provide an expansive, dynamic soundstage with
minimal distortion—even at high volumes.
However, they were also known for their "amp-
killer" reputation, due to their low impedance and
demanding power requirements.
An Audio Revolution
GS401A
The most iconic version,
featuring chrome end caps.
This model’s bold aesthetic
made it stand out among
competitors.
GS401C
The walnut wood-veneered
version, designed with a curved
front grille for a more traditional
aesthetic.
GS401B
A rarer variation, similar
to the GS401C but
without the curved grille.
Only a handful of these
have been identified.
Gale’s advertising was as striking and unconventional as its speakers. Unlike other hi-fi brands that
focused solely on technical specifications, Gale took a more artistic, luxury-driven, and sometimes
provocative approach to marketing.
Gale's Advertising: A Bold and Distinctive Approach
Vintage Gale 401 Loudspeakers:
Fully Restored and For Sale
Experience the legendary sound of the 1970s,
brought back to life with meticulous craftsmanship.
This fully restored pair of Gale GS401A speakers has
been returned to factory specification by Vintage
Gale, preserving the iconic design and performance
that made these speakers world-famous.
Restoration Details
Original CTS woofers, Peerless midrange domes,
and Celestion HF2000 tweeters.Drivers professionally re-foamed and re-sealed.
Crossovers fully re-capped with high-quality
components for long-term reliability.Cabinet and chrome ends sympathetically
cleaned and preserved.Individually sound-tested and matched to original
reference specifications.
Enquire to Purchase
Interested in owning this piece of British hi-fi
history?
Please contact us directly:
Email: vintagegaleuk@gmail.com