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James Bullough Lansing – Story of Innovative Radio Engineer to JBL’s founder

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Today, JBL is a very famous brand for speakers and headphones. It has a huge electronic audio market. Whether it is simple consumer speakers, headphones or studio speakers; JBL is one of the demanding brands. It is founded by an audio engineer and a loudspeaker designer, James Bullough Lansing. He is one of the innovative engineers of America, who did remarkable work in the technical field.

In the middle of the 20th century, the whole world was mad over innovations. Also, many scientists were busy discovering new technologies. In such a challenging period, this audio engineer formed the base of the leading electronics company of the present era. 

Today, the world knows him as a pioneer and innovator. He inspires many entrepreneurs to be passionate about work, regardless of difficult situations.

Early life

James Bullough Lansing was born on 14 January 1902, in Greenridge, Illinois. He was the ninth of fourteenth kids of the Martini family. His father, Henry Martini was a coal mining engineer. Due to his father’s changing worksites, the family has to change their location simultaneously. Therefore, James spent childhood days in many different places.

JBL Founder
Image Source – Google

At his young age, James lives with the Bullough family for a short duration. Thereafter, he changed the name from James martini to James Bullough Lansing in 1927.

Education

James Lansing brought up in Springfield, Illinois at his teenage. Where he completed his primary schooling at Lawrence school. He was a talented student at Springfield High School.

Also, he attained some training courses at a small business college in Springfield. He was famous amongst his friends, for playing pranks with his innovative ideas. Once, he built a Layden jar to trick his friends. 

He was an innovative child. James’ schoolmates get flatten over his powerful enough radio transmitter’s design.

Career

In early days of career, he worked as an automotive mechanic. While working, he attended an automotive school at one of the dealers’ Detroit courtesy. Afterward, he worked as an engineer at the radio station, Salt Lake City. 

James Lansing’s career took a new turn when he joined Baldwin Radio company. He got the opportunity to meet Ken Decker, who turned out as a business partner in upcoming years. 

Personal Life

At the age of 21, he left home after his mother’s death. Later, he settled in Salt Lake City for his job. It was the period, where he met a beautiful lady Glenna Peterson, who became his wife in the future.

New Business 

On 9 March 1927, James Lancing and decker founded Lansing Manufacturing company. It was the loudspeaker manufacturing unit. 

After the death of Decker, the company’s growth was declined enormously. At that time, Altec Service Corporation bought the company in 1941. Afterward, Lansing manufacturing company renamed Altec Lansing. In the end, James left the company after his 5-year contract as VP of the engineering section had terminated.

Establishment of JBL

In the year 1946, he established Lancing Sound, Incorporated. Due to some trademark issues with Altec lancing, the company renamed “James B. Lancing sound, Inc.” Furthermore, the company name shortened as JBL for product branding. In the future, JBL became the official name.

D101, a 15inch loudspeaker was the first product of the company. After that, the company launched D130, 15inch transducer in the market. In fact, the model’s several versions remain in the production for over 55 years.

Later Life

No doubt, James was a hardworking innovative engineer. But, the lack of business skills results in faltering business conditions. As a result, JBL started losing the market and the investors’ interest. For a few years, Marquardt corporation offered modest investment to the JBL. But after the acquisition of Marquardt by General Tire company, they broke ties with JBL.

The degrading financial conditions became out of the reach for the compassionate innovator. Also, several personal problems worsen the situation. Unfortunately, James Bullough died on 24 September 1949.

Bottom Line

James, with his innovative mind, constructed a strong base for JBL. In the present electronics market, JBL is trustworthy for its advanced Loudspeakers, headphones, and amplifiers.

JBL’s car audio system used in Ford’s top vehicle. Currently, it is one of the most loved headphone brands in all ranges of customers.

Sennheiser Electronic: A Revolutionary Change in the World of Audio

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It is no wonder that earphones and wireless headsets have become such an integral part of our lives. Whether travelling on public transport and trying to avoid the unwanted noise or taking a long walk all alone, we always manage to carry one of these viable inventions. But with time we all expect some advancement of products especially when it comes down to gadgets.

Sennheiser Electronic is one such company which specializes in the production of far-ranging audio streaming products with latest designs and flawless modifications. The company mainly focuses on producing headphones, earphones, microphones and other such accessories which are useful to people on both personal and professional level.

The glorious past of the company

Sennheiser Electronics was founded in 1945 by Fritz Sennheiser, and with only seven engineers the company created their first product, a tube voltmeter. Initially, the name of the company was Labor W, where W was the shortened form for Wennebostel, the village, where they formed the laboratory and built their first product. In 1946, the company started producing microphones with DM 1, followed by developing microphones with DM 2 in 1947. The company manufactured their first geophysical equipment in 1949, along with geophones and the first noise compensated microphone.

Fritz Sennheiser
Image Source: thetimes.co.uk

In 1950, the company, then known as Lab W, manufactured their first microphone transformers, mixing amplifiers and pre-amplifiers. The company excelled in designing their products in such a way that it attracted audience throughout the world. And by the time their products were in huge demand, and they started focusing on miniaturization which led to the designing of magnetic miniature headphones in 1952. In 1953, they started building miniature transformers used in hearing aid which was followed by the launching of classic MD 21 microphone. By the end of the first decade since the establishment of Lab W, they created the first interference tube microphone for the television industry and also hired 250 employees. This was just the stepping stone towards something way bigger and innovative!

In the next decade, the MD 83 microphone was built with a reversible transducer that was used as both microphone and loudspeaker. In 1956, they invented a wireless system in association with German Broadcaster NDR. And it was in 1958 that the company was renamed as Sennheiser Electronic from Labor W. In the following years the company built stereo microphones, first answering machine, baby monitor and active loudspeakers.

In 1968 the company built the world’s first open headphones which marked one of the huge successes in the history of Sennheiser Electronics. In 1973, the company got transformed into a limited partnership (KG). The company also built a lot of accessories for wireless transmission and started using infrared technologies from 1975. Till date, the company has developed innumerable technologies to enhance the level of the sound system, especially, the new shotgun microphones which have truly set some new standards in the world of audio transmission.

Achievements of Sennheiser Electronic

Well, the exceptional achievements of the company are truly phenomenal. Starting from a small group of seven engineers to producing more than 10 million units of a product to quench the need of customers is a real success indeed!

Though it is next to impossible to mention all the achievements of Sennheiser Electronics because they are uncountable, here are a few majestic triumphs that are worth mentioning:

• In 1959, Fritz Sennheiser was made an honorary professor of Hanover Technical University.

• In 1977, the company formed a second production plant Burgdorf.

• In 1982, the company was handed over by Fritz Sennheiser to his son Jörg Sennheiser.

• In 1987, Fritz Sennheiser received a prestigious award from 59th Academy Awards for manufacturing MKH 816 shotgun microphone.

• In 1988, the foundation of Sennheiser France took place followed by Sennheiser UK in 1990, Sennheiser Electronic Corporation, USA, Sennheiser Canada and Sennheiser Belux in 1991.

• In 1990, a third production plant was built in Tullamore, Ireland. This is a very vivid example of how rapidly the company was growing.

• In 1991, they launched the best headphones in the entire world, the electrostatic Orpheus.

• In the following years founding of Sennheiser Asia (1992), Sennheiser Nederland (1995) and Sennheiser Mexico (1995) took place.

• In 1996, the company was awarded Emmy Award for reaching the pinnacle in wireless technology. The company was also transformed into a private limited company in this year (GmbH & Co. KG).

• In 1997, the second unit of R&D was opened in Burbank, California.

• In 1999, Georg Neumann GmbH was awarded Technical Grammy of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the company received German Industry Innovation Award for the optical microphone.

• In 2000, the company built its fourth production plant in Albuquerque, USA.

• In 2015, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the company, it opened its innovation campus, which has the most modern technologies in the entire world of communication technology.

These are just a few grand achievements among the arsenal of glories it received from the entire world.

The moral foundation of the company

Sennheiser believes in strong passion, curiosity, dedication, and a clear vision to mould a perfect tomorrow. They believe in fulfilling the need of their customers, which truly is the most important hack to grow an industry. Ever since the company has been founded, it has only witnessed the sweet success or that is what it appears to be. The company believes in sustainability, cooperative work, maintaining ethics, and respecting human dignity. And, their strong belief and dedication, have helped them reach where they are today, to set a perfect example of a grandiose foundation.