You’ve heard countless speeches through their microphones, concerts and even radio news reports.
This week’s Made in Chicago visits Shure Incorporated, an audio electronics manufacturer for more than a century.
Shure Radio Company started in Chicago in 1925, when radio hobbyist Sidney Shure began selling radio parts.
Company historian Michael Pettersen explains Shure and his brother moved to selling radios, then microphones.
Shure Archives
In the company museum at its Niles headquarters, Pettersen shows us the Unidyne, a model with a birdcage cover that was the first single-element directional microphone.
Shure’s production really took off during WW2 and Pettersen says those tough military specs remain.
Shure innovations include a wireless microphone - made back in 1953.
Before mic drops became a thing, technicians in the quality assurance lab were doing them.
We visit the anechoic chamber that is dead quiet - another place to test microphones.
Over 100 years, Shure has grown into a billion-dollar company with more than 30 locations worldwide.
anechoic chamber
Nancy Harty
