“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”  – Eleanor Roosevelt.

 

Dr. Fritz Sennheiser, audio pioneer, inventor, entrepreneur, and founder of the German audio electronics giant bearing his name, died May 19, 2010.   A full biography is available from Sennheiser’s website.

 

After the War

After World War II, Dr. Sennheiser relocated a laboratory destroyed by bombings.  Occupied by British troops for some time, then marked with a sign labeled entry “on penalty of death,” Dr. Sennheiser and his associates eventually removed the sign and manufactured vacuum tube devices for Siemens, whom had been barred from using their own factories.  Enamored by the quality of his vacuum tube devices, Siemens commissioned Dr. Sennheiser to replicate a Siemen’s design for a dynamic microphone.  After Sennheiser created the replica, he continued developing the device, and created the Sennheiser MD 2—a microphone prized by the radio communications industry and the innovation that propelled him to success.

A Passion for Innovation

Dr. Sennheiser continued research and development, inventing many “game-changing” microphones, including the MD 3, a slim, flexible-shaft microphone design we still see used on podiums and at conferences.  His 1950s work resulted in innovations such as the shotgun microphone, the wireless microphone system, the tiny lapel microphone, and reporting microphones—some so popular that their unchanged designs are still produced and sold today.

“There was some nice free publicity for us on television involving a sketch by the famous German TV presenter Peter Frankenfeld. He had a wireless microphone with a long cable attached. While he was telling his jokes, he kept getting tangled up in the cable. So he picked up a pair of scissors and cut the cable – and carried on with the show! Of course, everybody was talking about this new microphone afterwards, and that helped us a lot.” – Dr. Sennheiser on the first wireless microphone.”

Sennheiser’s Legacy

A quick search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office shows that Sennheiser’s company holds over 65 United States Patents and Published Applications.  Though none of these patents bear his name, they all bear his innovative concepts and inventive spirit.

Today, invention is the means for corporate success and growth in high-tech companies.  And that is only logical.  But for Dr. Sennheiser, who owned his company and didn’t have investors to whom he had to answer, invention was simply the result of independence. 

Sennheiser is an inspiration for all inventors—independent or corporate.  His “independence” seemed to be synonymous with passion.  Given the ability to follow one’s passion within a supporting environment has resulted in some of the most remarkably life-changing inventions: NutraSweet®, microwave cooking, stainless steel, and even the telephone.

Here is to an inspiration: Dr. Sennheiser, his independence, and his passion.