1920s It all started in the roaring twenties. Times were good, and people were busy at work and at play. Invention and innovation impacted many industries, and America saw many firsts: Electricity, the Telephone, and, of course, advances in motion picture films. Entertainment in the early Twenties was typified by silent motion pictures shown in large, ornate theaters to the accompaniment of organ music. The absence of sound created a void that needed to be filled. This void became an opportunity for the Founding Fathers of Altec Lansing, whose creativity and scientific discipline lead to the first talking picture.

1927: This year marks the introduction of sound in movie theatres with the first "talkie", The Jazz Singer. This landmark event was made possible by engineers from the Western Electric® company (who would later form The All Technical Services Company, or Altec). This milestone in movie theatre entertainment was just one of the many firsts in sound that were made possible by Altec Lansing engineers throughout the company's rich history.

1928: Western Electric formed Electric Research Products, Inc. (ERPI), to manufacture, install and service the talking motion picture sound systems in studios and theaters. These leading products ushered in an era of sound that offered the necessary complement to early cinematic achievements combining the sensory experience of sight and sound.
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1930s

With the onset of the Great American Depression in 1929, a worldwide economic slowdown began that would last until the start of the Second World War. It was during this time that motion pictures provided us our window to the world, and Altec enjoyed dramatic growth as audio technology expanded into all facets of modern life.

1931: Western Electric® engineers developed the 3-way "wide-range" speaker system. It consisted of an 18" cone speaker on a flat baffle to reproduce frequencies below 300 Hz, the model 555 wooden horn for midrange sound reproduction and a newly designed model 596 tweeter mounted to a metal horn for high frequencies.

1936: The United States Supreme Court ordered Western Electric to divest its ERPI cinema speaker business. In a leveraged management buy-out, the engineers that developed the WE speaker products purchased the cinema service contracts. Later that year, the "All Technical Services Company" was incorporated in New York. The first multi-cell high frequency horn was introduced in 1936.
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1940s

The All Technical Services Company continued to grow through the end of the 1930's, and by 1941 the company decided to solidify its business and extend its manufacturing capabilities. The company purchased the Lansing Manufacturing Company, headed by James B. Lansing, and formed Altec Lansing Corporation. The first Altec power amplifier was born that same year. The Forties continued to usher in product innovations.

1941: The first Altec power amplifier, Model 142B was created. The Altec Corporation bought Lansing Manufacturing Company headed by James B. Lansing and formed Altec Lansing Corporation on May 1, 1941.

1943: The first duplex® 12" loudspeaker, Model 601 was created. Altec Lansing occupied offices in the Taft building in Hollywood and then established offices at Hollywood and Vine in 1944.

1942-1945: 97% of Altec's man-hours were spent on electronic military products, including the production of Anti-Submarine Detection equipment, Fire Control Radar (as sub-contractor to General Electric), and as prime contractor for practically all of the MAD Airborne Detection equipment for the Navy.

1945: Entered the home market with the term "high fidelity" to be coined later (about 1948). Products included Duplex™ loudspeakers, Power Amplifiers (to drive other manufacturer's tuners), and Television. (The latter was of too high priced for ready sales and was privately financed by Altec management into a new company, which later became Conrac.)

1947: Altec makes the first major contribution to high fidelity theater sound in 20 years - the famous "Voice of the Theatre" cinema speaker systems are introduced.

1948: First high-fidelity sound equipment specifically designed for home was introduced, and also the first Altec High Fidelity AM/FM Tuner, model 101.

1949: Altec Lansing introduced its first microphone, the model 21B condenser.
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1950s

The post war years ushered in good times once again. In addition to the movies, the 1950's generation began to purchase televisions to experience a new type of home entertainment. Altec responded through innovations in the 50's that addressed the unique needs in the home environment, and continued the company's history of professional product innovation.

1950: Moved to new facility in Beverly Hills. The company won the "Electrical Manufacturing Certificate of Award" for condenser microphones.

1951: Entered acoustical instrumentation market with 21BR condenser microphone.

1952: First Altec Lansing broadcast console, model 250, became broadcast standard and was used exclusively by Armed Forces broadcasting.

1953: After competitive tests, Altec's "Voice of the Theater" cinema speakers became the only motion picture speaker systems approved by the Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The "Voice of the Theater" speaker systems soon became the worldwide standard.

1953: Altec developed the first stereophonic theatre system for Warner Bros. "House of Wax", Fox's "The Robe" and " This is Cinerama". Altec engineers the first 4-channel amplifier for the motion picture industry to allow the showing of "3-D" pictures.

1955: Introduces the first "Voice of the Theater" home loudspeaker, model 820A.

1956: First public trading of Altec stock.

1958: Altec Lansing sponsors the first National Contractor Engineering Seminar, and begins a tradition of technical education in the professional audio industry. First complete Altec stereophonic home music system. All Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and New York locations are combined into a single, owned facility in Anaheim (30 miles South of Los Angeles) with 165,000 square feet of manufacturing space located on 14.5 acres of land.

1959: Altec Companies, Inc. merged with Ling Electronics, soon to become LTV. The first annual Altec Audio Clinic training seminar is held.
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1960s

In the 60's America entered the space age, with a whole range of new technologies that impacted the professional audio industry. Altec continued its tradition of innovation, expanding the company's product offerings in order to address the growing needs of the audio marketplace.

1961: Introduced the first transistorized compressor amplifier, and a new line of telephone products. Altec Lansing's new teleconferencing system was introduced at Disneyland. The company's total employment is 350 people.

1963: Altec Lansing introduces the first 100% solid-state amplifier. The multicellular high frequency product line is expanded with the introduction of the model 203B.

1966: The first battery operated solid-state condenser microphone is introduced. Altec's new 250,000 square foot plant employs 680 people.

1967: A first for the industry - Altec's modular, solid-state broadcast and recording console, model 9200A.

1968: Altec introduces the AcoustaVoice room equalization system, and trains the industry in its application. Certified contractors must purchase test and measurement equipment for acoustic room analysis. Altec starts its Musical Sound product line for the professional musician, which includes the new style model 650A microphone.
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1970s

The demand from the music and recording community continued as Altec upgraded its core power amplifier business, extended the company's recording equipment line and gained industry recognition for product design, engineering and performance.

1971: Altec introduced an active Acousta-Voice Equalizer, model 9860A and the model 8050A Real Time Audio Analyzer.

1972: Introduced the first low priced 100W Control Console for musicians, the model 1214A. LTV spins-off LTV Ling Altec; the new Altec Corporation is formed. The new company's stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol ALE.

1973: Billboard magazine reported that more Altec monitor loudspeakers used in recording studios than all other brands combined.

1974: The model 1220AC is the first portable 10-channel mixing console, starting a revolution in live music performances. Altec's annual sales exceed $57 million.

1975: Altec introduces the industry's first high output stereo power amplifier, the model 9440A, which is rated at 800 watts per channel. The company offers a five-year limited warranty on all professional speaker products, a policy that remains in effect to this day. The company passes the 1,000-employee mark.

1976: The industry's first automatic microphone mixing is introduced. The Model 19 monitor loudspeaker receives the Design and Engineering Excellence Award from EIA.
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1980s

Word spread about the quality and performance of Altec Lansing, as the company's sound systems were in high demand in prestigious facilities throughout the world.

1984: XXIII Olympic winter games in Sarajevo used Altec Lansing reinforcement products exclusively. The company consolidated all operations in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma manufacturing facility.

1985: Gulton Industries purchases the assets of Altec Corporation, and renames the company Altec Lansing Corporation.

1986: Altec Lansing sponsors the first Concertmasters incentive trip for top worldwide dealers. Gulton Industries is acquired by Mark IV Industries of Buffalo, New York. Altec Lansing products are brought to market under the Mark IV Audio corporate umbrella.

1986: The 1986 NSCA Show in New Orleans marks the introduction of the new 1715A mixer/amplifier, 9444B stereo power amplifier, 299-series high frequency compression driver and 9872 speaker system. Altec Lansing Consumer Products is established in Milford, Pennsylvania to design, engineer and introduce a new line of home and car high fidelity loudspeakers.

1987: The 9446A and 9442A stereo power amplifiers are introduced, completing the family. The 1400-series mono amplifiers are brought to market, along with the 920-8B Duplex™ twelve-inch ceiling speaker.

1989: The A10 Voice Of The Theater speaker system is THX® approved.
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1990s

During the decade of the 1990's, the professional audio industry evolved away from separate component loudspeaker clusters towards package loudspeaker systems. Recognizing the laws of physics and their application to package loudspeaker systems, Altec introduced speaker systems that utilized the company's trade-mark technologies - vented bass horn cabinets for extended low frequency control and Duplex® point source speaker components.

1990: The A700 was the first of the Alpha-series package loudspeaker systems that incorporated bass horn low frequency control, making them an excellent choice for highly reverberant spaces. In collaboration with Altec Lansing Consumer Products, the M55, M200 and M300 near-field pro speakers are introduced in 4W and 70V versions.

1991: The high-powered A800 system was introduced, along with the A700XLF dual 15" subwoofer system.

1993: The highly flexible 1684A automatic microphone mixer allows the sound contractor to purchase individual automixer channel cards to expand the four channel chassis. The PS-series of portable speakers are introduced.

1993: The 9864 ENGINE loudspeaker is introduced, with a revolutionary dual-magnet structure high output Duplex™ speaker component loaded into a bass horn cabinet. This speaker is the ideal choice for Houses of Worship and Auditoriums, and soon becomes Altec's best selling speaker system. The 9800-series "beige" speaker family is introduced.

1994: The trapezoidal DTS-series speakers are introduced to allow for arraying of the 12" and 15" ENGINE Duplex components. The 9894, 9264 and 9294 complete the ENGINE loudspeaker family. The model 4024A is Altec's first DSP speaker processor.

1994: Altec Lansing provides the speaker systems for all nine sports facilities used in the Lillehammer Winter Olympics.

1997: Mark IV Industries announces its intention to sell the Audio Group, including Altec Lansing.

1998: Greenwich Street Capital Partners of New York City purchases the Mark IV Audio Group, and renames the collected companies the EVI Audio Group.
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2000s

The dawn of a new century brings about a new beginning for Altec Lansing's professional business.

2000: Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. of Milford, Pennsylvania purchases the worldwide rights to the Altec Lansing brand name.

2001: Altec Lansing Technologies decides to enter the professional audio industry.

2002: On February 1st, the Altec Lansing Professional division of ALT is established to serve the professional audio industry. The company makes its debut at the 2002 NSCA Show in Denver, Colorado.

2002: The company introduces premium, high output model CD912 Twelve-Inch Duplex® Ceiling Speakers, CD408 and CD308 Eight-Inch Duplex® Ceiling Speakers, CF404 and CF204 Four-Inch Full Range Ceiling Speakers.

2002: A full line of ceiling speaker grilles, enclosures and tile bridges is added to the product line.

2003: The DS912 Flyable 12" Duplex® Ceiling Speaker is introduced.

2004: Altec introduces the industry's first 2.1 Powered Speaker System for plasma screens - the high fidelity model SLS6221.

2005: Altec's 12" Duplex® Ceiling Speaker product line is completed with the introduction of the model CD1012. The CD1012 uses a unique single magnet structure to deliver
point-source performance. The large format high frequency driver (2.8" diaphragm / 1.4" exit throat) delivers robust performance from a high ceiling.

2005: Expanding the powered audio sector under the theme"Audio Anywhere", the SLS5220 is a powered 2.0 speaker system that offers both plasma screen and wall mount
brackets.

2006: The CommStar™ Digital Speaker System revolutionizes commercial sound performance. Altec's Digital Power Link™ uses standard Cat5 cables to carry two channels of digital audio and low voltage power. The combination of this Plug+Play system architecture and the Freehand™ Installation system means faster installations with fewer wiring errors.
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