It was 1929 when a microphone first appeared in a catalog issued by Shure Brothers Company.
Your author was puzzled when initially viewing this listing, “How could a microphone be universal?”
The answer emerged when I discovered the existence of the Universal Microphone Company Limited, 1163 Hyde Park Boulevard, Inglewood, California. Founded in 1928 by James Fouch, Universal was established to meet the growing demand for high-quality microphones and audio equipment.
Research has failed to reveal how S.N. Shure convinced Mr. Fouch to appoint Shure Brothers Company as a distributor, particularly as Mr. Shure had no experience in selling microphones. Nevertheless, this partnership undoubtedly altered our Company’s history.
The 1929 Shure catalog listed just two Universal microphones: the Model BB and the Model KK.
As the 1930s loomed, the fad of building radios from kits waned as prices for manufactured radios declined. Mr. Shure needed to find a new market to serve and decided to pursue public address equipment, then known as sound projection. He re-positioned the Company as an expert in the fast-growing market for P.A. systems.
1930 marked the final appearance of Universal Microphone products in a Shure catalog.
In the same year, Shure Brothers announced an exclusive nationwide distribution agreement with Ellis Electrical Laboratory whose carbon microphones were manufactured in Berwyn, Illinois. With this new partnership, Shure and Universal terminated their distribution agreement as Ellis was direct competition.
In late 2025, a Universal model QRQ carbon mic was acquired for the Shure archive collection. Though our Company did not sell this specific model, it is a fine example of a Universal carbon mic element with its external protective housing. Unhappily, the carbon granules are tightly compacted so the unit will not produce a useful audio signal.
Like Shure Brothers, Universal garnered government contracts during World War Two to manufacture microphones and acoustic transducers for the Allied Forces. Below is a 1943 ad touting Universal that appeared in Radio News.
Universal was sold in 1945, making James Fouch even wealthier. The new ownership faltered, and in the 1950s the doors of Universal Microphone closed permanently.
Related information: Tech Tip #431: Shure’s First Microphone Catalog
1933 Universal Microphone Company catalog
Arcana – mysterious or specialized knowledge
Here is Mr. Shure sitting at his office desk in 1930. On the desk is what appears to be a Universal Microphone model in a protective housing and two mic support rings with desk stands.
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Still the one…our SM81 condenser microphone, released in 1978, remains a bestseller and was recently named the top pick for recording acoustic guitar by Guitar Player magazine. Not bad for a 48-year-old microphone.
https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/best-acoustic-guitar-microphones
Your author’s favorite mic for archtop guitar is the KSM137…not that anyone asked.
