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Keith Monks has been in the Audio Industry for 43 years.
Starting in 1969 as a sales representative for Walters Tape Recorders,
after 2 years he joined Fi Cord and was responsible with Bernard
Skinner for launching Beyer Microphones in the UK.
He then came to Audio & Design as Sales director and brought
into the country Toa Public Address and sold A & D their own
name brands namely the Titanium Cone Speaker, Mercury Contact Tone
arm with the late John Wright and Mike Beville.
It was at Maidenhead that he first saw an idea by the then editor
of 'Gramophone' Percy Wilson develop into a record cleaning machine.
Only 5 were made, before they went into liquidation.
The suppliers and staff suggested that Keith form his own company
and take over the products.
Meanwhile, Keith bought out a company who were making the tone arms
and TCL's and in the new factory took over production of the Record
Cleaning Machine.
Sales increased and the Company appointed agents to most markets
in the Audio World.
Products also increased with a. range of cable drums and microphone
stands mainly for the audio professional market, a powered loudspeaker
developed for the B.B.C. known as the LS1-8, a phase and impedance
tester, and a range of Hi-Fi accessories including a trailing brush
with metal fibres to discharge static off the surface of the record.
The corner stone of sales was the export market, the company having
a stand at most Hi- Fi & Professional Audio shows, including
17 successive Japanese Hi-Fi shows and 4 audio shows in the USA
every year.
The percentage of exports rose over a 20-year period from 10% to
85%.
Not only was the company selling its own products but also in the
Public Address field they specialized in the installation of sound
and loop systems in churches and had a very active division with
the hire of Public Address systems.
They carried out many installations not only in the UK but also
across North West Europe.
They were pleased to provide the Public Address for the four cemeteries
in Normandy when members of the Royal Family were involved in the
Memorial Services.
Keith has visited some of the Royal Palaces and the company have
installed sound systems in both Buckingham and St. James's Palaces.
Keith and his wife Sheila were honoured as Entrepreneurs of Industry
in particular for their success in the Japanese market.
Keith, on behalf of the company, has been presented with many awards
including one the U.S.A. with the Record Cleaning Machine being
awarded the accessory of the decade!
Keith and Sheila were invited to, Downing Street in recognition
of their export success and were introduced to the Prime Minister,
Margaret Thatcher.
Keith has served on many committees including 27 years on the Council
of the Association of Public Address Engineers, serving as Treasurer
and President.
In addition he served on the Federation of British Audio and served
as Treasurer and Chairman. He represented the British Audio industry
as official spokesman in Japan and the United States.
At 71 years of age he is still working, enjoying running his company.
He lives in Fowey in Cornwall and is involved in the Lions and still
does lots of fund raising and Chairs a Committee that fund raises
for his local Church.
When he has time he plays Bowls both indoor and outdoor.
Keith attributes most of the success to the help of his wife Sheila.
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