Category: Historical

The scene was the annual “grand finale” concert by the internationally acclaimed Continental Singers. After a globe-spanning 1973 touring season, the six groups that comprised the Continental Singers met in the El Camino College Auditorium near Los Angeles, California. Each group came with its own Shure Vocal Master Sound System, which it planned to use during its individual performance at the concert. However, in part of the program, all 140 vocalists performed together, and the Vocal Master proved its versatility… -more-

How would you go about developing a microphone that will become the most popular microphone of all time? To begin with, you would have to break a few rules and change some expectations. In the 1950s, microphones fell into a couple of categories. Public address system microphones were rugged, reliable, and designed to minimize the background noise that could interfere with what the performer had to say. Broadcast and studio microphones were more delicate instruments, designed to capture a greater… -more-

In the early years at Shure, employees took the opportunity at Company parties to poke fun at the men and women in management. “Shure Shenanigans” were elaborate productions, fully scripted and performed by employees, featuring skits and musical numbers. For a twist on the usual format, one year the executives of the Company performed the employee-written skits. One act featured a group of employees trying to get in to see an executive, only to be told he was “in conference.”… -more-

“In 1950 we developed a print ad that dramatically illustrated the dominance within the industry that the Unidyne held around the globe,” recalled former Shure Marketing Manager Howie Harwood in 1999. “The ad was titled ‘Used the World Over More Than Any Other Microphone.’ The subhead read simply ‘The Microphone That Needs No Name.’ Underneath the headings we ran a large photo of the Unidyne. The name or model of the microphone didn’t appear anywhere. “One of the reasons we… -more-

The first known patent awarded to Shure was for a ring support for microphones that was considered “new, original, and ornamental.” The patent was applied for by Sidney N. Shure on December 9, 1935, and was granted on August 18, 1936. In developing the stylish and functional support, Shure had an accessory that would complement the dramatic styling of its carbon microphone, introduced in 1932. The Shure carbon microphone set new standards in design with its elegant chrome plating and… -more-

Starting in the 1940s, Shure began developing a source for an inexhaustible supply of valuable ideas for improvements throughout the Company. This source was employees. In 1943, Sidney N. Shure organized a Labor-Management Committee, bringing together representatives from various departments in the Company to “manage suggestions; to make recommendations; and to handle any and all ideas employees have to improve production, morale, and working conditions.” In announcing the program, Mr. Shure wrote: “This is your committee. Let’s make this a… -more-

In the early 1960s, Shure initiated another eventful program: Shure Family Day, “a day-long program to educate and entertain.” In 1964, more than 1,500 people attended the Family Day, which was held in and around the Evanston plant. In addition to employees and their families, Shure invited city officials and people who lived in the immediate vicinity. A fire engine provides rides for guests at Shure Family Day in Evanston, 1969. Tours were offered throughout the day, allowing guests to… -more-

As the Company expanded, night shifts became a necessity, and there was a concern that this development would diminish the sense of family nurtured by Sidney N. Shure over the first 15 years of the Company. Mr. Shure took many steps to address this issue, including an employee newsletter, service pins, Company-sponsored sporting events, and touring the factory every Friday to converse with each employee. The results of the pie-eating contest at the first Shure Picnic, held at Caldwell Woods… -more-

From 1925 to 1928, the Company grew from one person to more than 75 employees. The first department Mr. Shure set up was the Service Department, and Harry Lea was named the first Service Manager. In recalling the importance of service in the early years of the Company, Mr. Lea wrote in 1943: “The founder of Sears, Roebuck began by selling watches to railroad workers, one at a time. Shure began with a Service Department. The idea of service was… -more-

Within a few years of its opening, Shure had built a thriving wholesale catalog business, but factory-built radios were starting to replace radio parts kits; and larger manufacturers were pressuring parts wholesalers, like Shure, to reduce prices. In 1931, Ellis Electrical Laboratory had a line of microphones and accessories that were marketed nationally by Shure. The line included microphone Models 10N, 12N, 20N, 29N, and 30N, along with transformers, stands, and cables. The 12N was a two-button carbon model for… -more-