Shure history

When the company first began, they made most of their business through selling radio parts via catalogs – one of only six radio parts catalogs at the time – but decided to change directions at the advent of the Great Depression in 1928.

By now, the company included Sidney's brother, Samuel J. Shure, and wasbrenamed the “Shure Brothers Company.” About a year later in 1929, the manufacturing of affordable radios had increased which forced the company to switch over to manufacturing small microphones instead.

Unfortunately though, by 1930, Samuel J. Shure had left the business, leaving Sydney N. to find a new business partner, which he did in engineer Ralph Glover.

By 1931, the pair had developed the first official Shure branded creation dubbed the Model 33N Two-Button Carbon Microphone.

The Shure Brothers released their first microphone, the Shure Two-Button Carbon Microphone, in 1932.

1933: Production of the Model 40D, the company's first high-end microphone.

The firm introduced its first high-end condenser microphone, the Model 40D, in 1933. It put a crystal microphone into production in 1935 and two years later brought out the world's first noise-canceling mic.

The Unidyne also had a striking Art Deco design based in part on the front grill of a 1937 Cadillac.

In 1939, Shure introduced the Model 55 Unidyne Microphone, which went on to become one of the world's most recognized microphones.

By 1942, their T-17B was the microphone most widely used by the United States Army and Air Force.

1946: The company is renamed Shure Brothers Inc.

In addition to its technical shortcomings, it was also extremely expensive, selling for about $800 in 1953.

In 1956, Shure gave up its production and office facilities just outside Chicago's Loop and moved into spacious new headquarters in suburban Evanston.

In 1958, it brought out the world's first stereo phonograph cartridge, the M3D. A year later, it changed the way microphones would look forever with the Unidyne III. Previously, microphones were designed to detect sound from the side.

By 1964, however, Shure announced it would no longer produce tape recording heads due to increased competition.

In 1965, Shure released the SM57.

1966: The SM58, the most popular microphone in Shure's history, is introduced.

Shure made a major contribution to television news in 1968 with the development of the M67, a battery-powered mixer that could be used outside a studio.

In 1981, James Kogen, Executive Vice President, Operations, was promoted to President and General Manager of Shure.

Shure Beta Series: Introduced in 1989, the Beta series of mics are essentially supercardioid versions of the SM series but with neodymium magnet structures for higher output.

In 1990, Shure entered the wireless microphone market with the L-Series.

By 1995, China was Shure's main export market, accounting for 22 percent of its total foreign sales.

1999: The company is renamed Shure Inc.

2000: Shure celebrates it 75th anniversary.

In 2001, Shure acquired the Popper Stopper brand of studio pop filters from Middle Atlantic Products Inc.

By 2003, Shure had lines of microphones for broadcasters, sound contractors, recording studios, live sound, two-way communication, and paging.

In 2008, Shure celebrated the opening of The S.N. Shure Theater and Interactive Display at their corporate headquarters.

More recently in 2009, Shure released the Super 55 Deluxe Vocal Microphone featuring high gain before feedback and excellent off-axis rejection, successfully bringing the Unidyne series into the 21st Century.

In 2016, Sandy LaMantia announced his retirement and Christine Schyvinck, Vice President of Global Operations, Marketing, and Sales and Chief Operating Officer, was promoted to President and CEO.

In 2018, Shure announced that they would exit the phonograph cartridge market.