Farrington

Contains:

History

New: 20/1/08

I came across your website when looking for Farrington Amps.

Just a bit of info:

Farrington amps were made by my grandfather James (Jim) Farrington, who at the time lived in Bellambi (near Wollongong), NSW, Australia. He retired in the 80's and now lives in Howard, Queensland. I think he was making them from the 60's onwards. He sold the business in the 80's to another bloke (can't remember the name) who now lives in Warilla (i think).

I have been trying to track down some of his old amps as I have recently gained an interest in guitar and recording my own music. From what I have heard, his amps has a legendary status on the South Coast. Some are still used in various bands around this area as I hear them mentioned every now and then.

If I ever find one, I'll send a photo for your collection. In the meantime, I'll ask him if he still has any info on the make-up of the old amps, diagrams etc.

regards, Robert Appleby

Trevor Tombling who is Secretary of The South Coast Country Music Association Inc. writes (11/9/07);

Roly,
I have gathered together the few snippets of information that I can remember on Jim Farrington and his amps. Unfortunately no pictures.

Jim told me a little bit about himself one day when I asked him if I could hang around while he serviced my 40W Vadis Reverb piggy back amp (I was an apprentice electrician at the time with an unhealthy yen to poke around inside the amp myself!).

He told me he started out as an instrument tech. at the Port Kembla Steelworks, during his days off he used to service the PA equipment at Bulli Showground for the local dog racing club as a favor for a friend. From there he gradually moved into music instrument amplifiers.

He worked from a workshop at the rear of his home in East Corrimal/Bellambi building and servicing his amps. All his Amps/PA's were 100W+ and from memory he used large speaker boxes loaded with Rola 12UEG speakers. He used quartettes of 6CA7's for the power amp stages and 12AX7/12AU7 for the preamp stages.

Jim Tailor made PA systems for some of the local clubs in the Illawarra and also used to have a selection of his Amps/PA's available for bands to hire. If any of Jims gear was to suffer a failure during a performance a quick phone call to him and he would be out with a replacement as soon as he could get there.

A few of my mates used Farrington amps I don't know if any of them still have one stuck in their garages they were quite large amps (about the size of a mini!) I'll have to check.

After Jim passed away his son took over the business for a short while then sold it on and from there the business has just seemed to fade away without a trace.
Regards,
Trevor Tombling

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