foreword by Percy Wilson - world-famous authority on high fidelity.

Ever since the gramophone became something more than a toy the name of Imhof has been a significant signpost in the art and science of sound reproduction. Alfred and Kathleen Imhof, almost alone amongst their contemporaries, appreciated fully what the impact of this art would be on the understanding and dissemination of music.

They converted their music shop into the mecca for enthusiasts; they trained their staff to love music, to know the contents of record cataloaues bv practical plavinq experience; they communicated their own enthusiasm to both staff and customers; they kept in the forefront of all worth while developments.

Their son, Godfrey, has maintained and extended the family tradition of personal service into the more complex fields of radio and television and has strengthened the sense of responsibility and service in all the branches of the firm's activities.

The showrooms in New Oxford Street, the Service headquarters in Islington, the factory at Uxbridge, all exhibit that spirit of enterprise for which Imhofs are now known throughout the world.

I am happy to have this opportunity of paying my tribute to this spirit. For over 40 years I have been a well satisfied customer and in common with many others have come to look upon Imhofs as something fundamental to the industry and something on which one can rely.

Since the first edition was published in 1959, this little book has reached practically every country in the world. Indeed, friends of mine have found it quoted as a standard work of reference in places as far apart as Nigeria and New Zealand. This, I think, is only in part a compliment to the service we try to give; it is also a strong indication of the great need for an unbiassed assessment of hi-fi equipment, given in a form which makes comparison easy. A new edition of our book, therefore, seems essential and we have produced it.

Once more we have tried to compress between two covers the essence of our hi-fi department, describing for you fairly a selection of the equipment we stock and introducing some of my splendid staff (who have done so much to build up our hi-fi business). We have also detailed the ancillary services we offer. We have included a little of the history of the firm and brief references to other parts of the store so that, from this book, those who cannot visit us can yet "see" our hi-fi department in its context within this family business.

I wanted to show you something of our approach to design, to display, to demonstration facilities—all, I hope, in keeping with our times —and something, too, of our traditions, our belief in personal service and our conviction that courteous and efficient attention is not outmoded in this electronic age.

Although our business was started as long ago as 1845 you will find it is our aim to maintain a continual process of modernization to ensure that we are always able to offer you the best possible service. During 1961 we completed the installation of our new shop front; the hi-fi demonstration room has been sound-proofed, acoustically treated and air- conditioned; and to cope with the ever increasing growth of our export business, both the hi-fi assembly division at Islington and the export packing department have been enlarged.

If you can come to see us, to listen to equipment demonstrated with the Stereo Comparator, to discuss points with our technical staff, please do.