Professor Fritz Sennheiser was the head of an engineering team of
German scientists assembled right after World War II to improve the
function of the electronic microphone. Using his innovative designs,
Fritz developed the first product line and formed a company called
Sennheiser. Since its beginning in 1945, the company grew to develop a
wide range of products in addition to the microphone, including
speakers and headphones. When he was interviewed in his office in 2005
he could not have been happier with the 60-year old company that bears
his name, yet his family was clearly of what he was most proud of,
including his son who now runs the company. Professor Sennheiser
noted, =93Family is number one and this is how it should always be.=94
Throughout the growth of the company, Professor Sennheiser continued
to teach and lecture on electronics well past his retirement age. He
passed away just a few days after his 98th birthday having made a
valued contribution to the music industry.
A video clip from his 2010 interview has been posted on the NAMM
website:
http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/professor-fritz-sennheiser
Having lost the Shure Brothers, Electro-Voice Founder Al Kahn and now
Prof. Sennheiser, it is clear we are seeing the end of the era of
microphone pioneers who helped create the current industry of these
pro-audio products.
Bernie Krause
Wild Sanctuary
POB 536
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
707-996-6677
http://www.wildsanctuary.com
Google Earth zooms: http://earth.wildsanctuary.com
SKYPE: biophony
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