Category: Historical

In the 1930s, manufacturers began connecting the cable to the microphone, so that the consumer could use the unit right out of the box. This was one of the early innovations in microphone technology. More than 50 years later, history reversed course, and wireless microphones began appearing on store shelves without cables again. The first modern wireless microphone system designed and manufactured entirely by Shure was the L Series, which debuted in 1990. This series used the VHF (Very High… -more-

In March 1999, Ian Anderson, of the rock group Jethro Tull, played his flute at the Frankfurt Music Fair in Frankfurt, Germany, to promote Shure Personal Monitors. Each member of the audience of 250 listened to the performance through Shure E1 Earphones and a PSM600 Personal Stereo Monitor, hearing the exact mix that Mr. Anderson heard. Ian Anderson, of Jethro Tull. Three years earlier, a prototype of the PSM600, had been sent to Mr. Anderson, and he was the first… -more-

In the early 1970s, the vinyl record industry was reaching its peak, with millions of albums and 45-rpm records sold every week. The music industry was issuing new albums in great numbers in a wide range of musical categories, from classical to country and jazz to rock and roll. People all over the world were beginning or adding to their record collections, and one of the most important components was the phonograph cartridge used for playing the records. These small… -more-

Starting in 1937, Shure advanced concepts that shaped the direction, curve, tilt, and angle of phonograph “record reproducer” design. In an article titled “A Record-Saving Pickup,” printed in the February 1937 issue of Electronics magazine, Shure Chief Engineer Ralph Glover discussed the importance of record wear in the design of a pickup. “Design…in the past seems to have been based on frequency response and output voltage requirements. The amount of wear on the record, however, is a highly important consideration.…… -more-

It was one of the most tragic events in American history—the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. As the news swept the world, people turned to television for live coverage of the developments. It was the first time that an occurrence of this magnitude was covered by television. The impact of the coverage demonstrated the enormous power of the medium to let people see events as they were happening. On November 10, 1960,… -more-

The popular Shure Unidyne and Uniplex Microphones, introduced in 1939, were based on a patented engineering achievement—the Uniphase acoustic system. The system was a great leap forward in addressing problems created by feedback, background noise, and reverberation, because it gave the user more control over the pattern of sound picked up by the microphone. In 1939, an announcer on a ferry boat shuttling visitors between San Francisco and the World’s Fair uses a Shure Uniplex when describing sights along the… -more-

On May 29, 1945, Personnel Director Maury Cope represented Shure as one of the speakers for the Chicago Conference on Home Front Unity, held in the Council Chambers of Chicago’s City Hall. The Conference was sponsored by Chicago Mayor Edward Kelly’s Committee on Race Relations. On the speakers’ platform were prominent representatives of the city, industry, labor unions, and the Urban League. In reporting on the Conference, Chicago Daily News columnist Howard Vincent O’Brien wrote: “Slowly, clumsily, we really are… -more-

Early in its history the Company began organizing teams to participate in sporting events. Even though Shure was located in downtown Chicago, nearby parks and sports fields provided facilities for recreation and games during lunch hours and after work. During the 1940s, softball was a popular activity for Shure employees. Each floor of the factory formed teams, and the competition was fierce. Members of the Shure Mikes softball team in 1943: (left to right, front row) Ed Klimala, Joe Morin,… -more-

Two men who played key roles in shaping Shure from the 1940s through the 1980s were Vic Machin and Ray Ward. Mr. Machin joined Shure in November 1942 as a Technical Sales Consultant. During World War II, he served as Government Sales Representative. After the A vital role in growing the Company war, he was instrumental in expanding the sales of mobile communications and hearing aid cartridges to the point where Shure dominated both markets. In February 1976, Ray Ward,… -more-

Sidney N. Shure often said he was building an organization of people, not an organization that built products. Early in the Company’s history, he established human relations as a cornerstone of Shure’s success. Mr. Shure approached such issues as individual growth and development, job satisfaction, morale, and productivity with the same discipline and innovation that defined the Company’s products. He studied management and sought the advice of experts in hiring, training, and team building. As in all of his other… -more-