As this year comes to a close, we want to acknowledge a remarkable milestone: Shure’s 100th anniversary. For a century, Shure has been at the center of sound — powering historic speeches, legendary performances, groundbreaking broadcasts, and everyday conversations around the globe.

To celebrate this milestone, we’re sharing a look back at the company’s extraordinary history. From its humble beginnings as a small Chicago radio parts supplier in 1925, Shure has grown into one of the world’s most trusted names in professional audio. Along the way, it has introduced technologies and products that not only defined industries but also gave voice to some of history’s most important moments.

(Historical content in this article is drawn from materials prepared by Shure Corporate Historian Michael Pettersen, July 2025, and is used with permission.)

In 1925, S.N. Shure founded a small radio parts company in downtown Chicago. What began as a modest mail-order business would evolve into one of the most influential names in professional audio. In 2025, Shure celebrates its 100th anniversary — a century defined by groundbreaking products, engineering firsts, and a lasting impact on music, broadcast, conferencing, and live sound.

From Radio Parts to Microphone Headquarters

Shure’s journey began not as a microphone manufacturer, but as a radio parts supplier. In early 1932, the company introduced the Model 44 condenser microphone for recording, followed not long after by the Model 33N Carbon mic, becoming one of only a few U.S. manufacturers in that emerging field.

In 1933, Shure launched The Shure Technical Bulletin, a series of educational resources designed to help customers, dealers, and engineers better understand microphone technology. This dedication to sharing knowledge reflected S.N. Shure’s belief that “an informed customer would be a loyal customer.”

By 1939, the introduction of the Unidyne® Model 55, the first single-element unidirectional microphone, transformed live sound and broadcasting by reducing feedback and isolating voices from surrounding noise.

The Model 55 was an instant hit with singers from Billie Holiday to Hank Williams, who appreciated its revolutionary sound quality and directional characteristics.

 

Shure Was There as World War II Concluded – 1945/1946

During World War II and after, Shure products played critical roles both in combat and in ceremonies of peace. In February 1945, S.N. Shure wrote in the company newsletter Shure Shots:

“Today, our so-called peace time, or commercial line, microphones are important in the war we are waging. Battleships, intercommunication systems on ships, hospital rehabilitation centers, U.S.O. camps, and training schools require Unidynes, Uniplexes, phonograph pickups, and other Shure products. While these needs do not call for as great a quantity of production [in comparison to the military transducers], they must be made in large quantities and still measure up to their responsibility in quality. In every sense, this production is war production today.”

Shure’s T-30V throat mics, M-C1 oxygen mask mics, and HS-38 helmet headphone drivers were deployed in Allied aircraft — including B-29 bombers involved in missions over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

On September 2, 1945, during the peace treaty ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, a Shure Unidyne I Model 55 microphone captured General Douglas MacArthur’s historic address and the voices of officials as the Allies and Japan signed the documents ending the war.

Admiral Chester Nimitz signs as Supreme Allied Commander during formal surrender ceremonies on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Note the Shure Unidyne Model 55 behind the desk. September 2, 1945

 

After the war, S.N. Shure made a farsighted decision: to continue applying MIL-SPEC standards in all commercial product manufacturing. This commitment cemented Shure’s reputation for durable and reliable products that endure to this day. In 1946, Shure devices were central to Operation Crossroads, the U.S. Navy’s nuclear weapon experiments at Bikini Atoll. Ninety-five ships were assembled to measure the effects of atomic blasts, and Shure products were at the heart of the scientific effort:

• Model 702L microphones measured sound levels.
• Models 60E, 61B, 62B vibration pickups tracked seismic tremors.
• Model 708A Stratoliner microphones carried crucial Command & Control communications.

Shure’s Shure Shots newsletter reflected proudly:

“Operation Crossroads was designed to take the mystery out of the power of the atomic bomb. The benefits to science and humanity are not yet known, but the store of knowledge is being increased daily. We may point with pride to our part in the production of Shure microphones which, in turn, had a vital place in the most elaborate scientific experiment ever to be carried out.”

Innovation that Shaped Generations

Through the decades, Shure introduced products that became industry benchmarks:

• 1937: Shure’s First Phonograph Cartridge — A foundation for high-fidelity audio reproduction
• 1939: Unidyne Model 55 — The world’s first single-element cardioid microphone, still recognized today as an audio icon
• 1953: Vagabond 88 Wireless Microphone — The first handheld wireless system, giving performers cable-free freedom long before wireless became common
• 1966: SM58® — An enduring standard for live vocals, celebrated for durability and consistent sound quality
• 2016: Axient® Digital Wireless System — Advanced features like interference detection and Quadversity™ set a new bar for wireless performance
• 2016: MXA910 — Popularized "invisible" ceiling array microphones in corporate, educational, and government, and set a new standard for audio quality and ease of deployment
• 2020: IntelliMix® Room — Innovative DSP software for AV conferencing, transforming modern meeting spaces

 

Product innovation through the years.

 

The Soundtrack of History

Shure products have carried the voices of history and culture for a century. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches, Elvis Presley’s performances, and Nelson Mandela’s addresses were delivered through Shure microphones. In 1965, The Beatles relied on Shure Unidyne III microphones during their U.S. tour. Shure’s guiding principle, expressed by S.N. Shure himself, was: “We know very well that absolute perfection cannot be attained, but we will never stop striving for it.”

Historical/Famous Shure Users

A Company Built on Principles

Beyond products, Shure’s identity has always been shaped by values. In his will, S.N. Shure wrote that Shure Brothers was “more than a business for earning a living or making money; it is an organization dedicated to performing services of the highest possible quality to its customers as well as its employees, shareholders, suppliers, the government, the community, and to all others with whom it has relations.” This philosophy is embedded in Shure’s structure today. In accordance with the wishes of Mr. and Mrs. Shure, the company is privately held and its operation supports humanitarian and educational causes worldwide.

S.N. Shure founds the Shure Radio Company in Chicago, Illinois, marking the beginning of a legacy in audio innovation. 

Looking Ahead: Shure’s Next Century

With more than 35 locations and products sold in over 120 countries, Shure continues to innovate at the intersection of acoustics and software. Today’s lineup spans wired and wireless microphones, conferencing systems, in-ear monitors, headphones, and AV management software. New platforms like ShureCloud offer networked device monitoring and management, while the Microflex® Ecosystem delivers best-in-class conferencing experiences. Shure’s global engineering centers — located in the U.S., Denmark, China, Scotland, and India — continue pushing boundaries in audio technology.

Microflex® Ecosystem in a conference room.

 

Conclusion

For 100 years, Shure has set the benchmark for sound. From pioneering the first single-element cardioid microphone to enabling modern networked conferencing, Shure has shaped the way the world hears.

As we celebrate this centennial milestone, we honor not only Shure’s past but also its future. The same drive for innovation that began in 1925 continues to guide the company today — ensuring that the next generation of performers, engineers, integrators, and creators will have the tools they need to sound extraordinary.

At Mainline, we’re proud to represent Shure and share this celebration of a century of sound innovation. Here’s to the next 100 years of history in the making.

Contact Mainline to explore Shure’s latest innovations and discover how these solutions can empower your next project.