[Syan25]

I know Beyerdynamic was established in 1924, Shure in 1925 and Denon was in 1910. Are there any older companies?? 

 

[Mikey99]

Phillips was founded in 1891.

 

[SDBiotek]

On a related note:http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/recording.technology.history/loudspeaker.html

 

[zazex]

  I know Beyerdynamic was established in 1924, Shure in 1925 and Denon was in 1910. Are there any older companies?? 

Maybe General Electric - Edison invented the phonograph in 1877,
then at some point that patent (among many others) went to GE

 

[zazex]

Actually, it's arguably Columbia Records, which has been around since 1888.
(Originally American, and linked to Bell [yes, that Bell; invented the telephone],
today owned by Sony.)

 

[Syan25]

Interesting. I know this is the wrong forum for it...but I did want to know more...

 

[billybob_jcv]

I think there's a difference between an old company that eventually made headphones versus companies that made the first headphones.

It also depends on your definition of "headphone" - does it include only devices worn on the head that include transducers to convert electrical signals into sound waves? Or does it include all devices worn on the head that convey sound waves to your ears? I think that even before Nathanial Baldwin built his headsets in 1910, there were other people creating listening devices.

This was an Alexander Graham Bell device ca 1880:




This little baby was made in 1810...

 

[Syan25]

I guess it is an unanswerable question but it bring to light a lot of interesting facts...I did intend to mean a company specifically intended for audio manufacturing purposes...clearly, it goes deeper than that...

 

[wuwhere]

Its answerable, your question is vague.

 

[RadioWonder737]

I used to think it was "Victor Talking Machine Company"... But after reading here I know better...  

 

[xkonfuzed]

I don't know the oldest company, but I do know that the first headphone ever made was a Beyerdynamic.

 

[Syan25]

True.