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- JBL MILESTONES:
-
- 1927: Lansing Manufacturing Company founded in Los Angeles. James B.
- Lansing and Ken Decker principal officers.
-
- 1934: Lansing works with Douglas Shearer of MGM to develop first
- commercial two-way theater system.
-
- 1937: Motion Picture Academy awards MGM and Lansing special technical
- award for furthering sound in the theater.
-
- 1939: Ken Decker killed in plane crash; Lansing forced to look for
- additional financial support; begins manufacturing products for Altec
- Service Corporation.
-
- 1941: Lansing Manufacturing Company acquired by Altec. Lansing begins a
- five year contract with Altec.
-
- 1946: At expiration of contract, Lansing leaves Altec and founds a new
- company, Lansing Sound Incorporated. Name soon changes to James B.
- Lansing Sound Incorporated.
-
- 1947: Lansing designs and builds D130, the first loudspeaker designed
- with a 100 mm (4-inch) voice coil diameter and high efficiency magnet
- structure.
-
- 1949: Lansing dies, and William Thomas assumes presidency. Company
- undergoes hard times; moves three times in as many years.
-
- 1950-53: Thomas establishes JBL as a quality, high-end company dedicated
- to excellence in engineering and industrial design. Bart Locanthi
- begins 20 year engineering relationship with JBL. Concept of acoustical
- lens commercially introduced.
-
- 1953: JBL adopts cast iron Alnico V magnet structures, the most
- efficient in the industry.
-
- 1954: JBL enters cooperative ventures with both Ampex and Westrex to
- manufacture components for theater use. The model 375 100 mm (4-inch)
- aluminum diaphragm compression driver was introduced. Marks beginning
- of JBL Professional products division.
-
- 1956: Hartsfield corner horn system introduced. Still manufactured in
- Japan.
-
- 1957: Ring radiator high-frequency compression tweeter developed.
-
- 1958: Paragon stereo system introduced. Arnold Wolf responsible for
- industrial design of Richard Ranger's patented reflecting system.
-
- 1961: Special monitor system developed for Capitol Records (later to be
- acquired by EMI of England). The system was adopted by EMI for
- worldwide use, thus beginning JBL's important role in the studio.
-
- 1962: First commercial use of the passive radiator in loudspeaker
- systems.
-
-
- 1965: JBL designs a family of musical instrument loudspeakers for Leo
- Fender of electric guitar fame. This marks the beginning of JBL's role
- in music reinforcement.
-
- 1968: JBL introduces 4310/4311 system, perhaps the best known three-way
- bookshelf system of all time.
-
- 1969: Harman acquires JBL from William Thomas. International market
- expansion begins through Harman distributing companies. L100 hi-fi
- version of 4311, introduced.
-
- 1972: JBL becomes largest domestic manufacturer of branded consumer
- loudspeaker systems.
-
- 1973: JBL introduces the four-way studio monitor concept with the 4350.
-
- 1974: JBL monitors dominate in U.S. recording studios.
-
- 1976: Giant sound system at California Jam marks JBL's rise to
- preeminence in the tour sound industry.
-
- 1977: JBL is acquired by Beatrice Foods as a result of Dr. Sidney
- Harman's appointment as undersecretary of commerce by President Carter.
-
- 1978: JBL develops SFG magnet structure in the wake of world cobalt
- shortage.
-
- 1979: JBL introduces Bi-Radial patented horn technology for improved
- pattern control, smoother response and lower distortion. Patented
- diamond surround introduced for compression drivers. Extends response
- of original 375 driver an additional octave to 20 kHz.
-
- 1980: Harman reacquires JBL.
-
- 1981: JBL introduces Bi-Radial Studio Monitors.
-
- 1982: JBL perfects titanium diaphragms for compression drivers, giving
- extended frequency response. World's largest sound system at US
- festival over 2,000 individual JBL transducers, marking JBL's dominance
- of the tour sound industry.
-
- 1983: JBL is reasserted as significant force in motion picture market.
- Lucasfilm adopts JBL components for their THX system.
-
- JBL introduces defined coverage horn for sound reinforcement use.
-
- 1984: JBL system chosen for installation in Goldwyn Theater of the
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Majority of film studio
- and new theater construction converts to JBL.