The young generation loves loud music. Especially Friday nights are all going to a club and dancing our hearts out. We have never realized that the speaker has become an integral part of our life. We never forget to carry earphones or headphones while traveling. And, we also cannot imagine a party without loud music. So, let’s take a moment and praise the inventor of the loudspeaker. Because without Peter L. Jensen our life would have been dull.
Peter L. Jensen
Peter L. Jensen was a famous Danish American engineer who invented loudspeakers in 1915. Previously, a scientist called Oliver Lodge invented a moving-coil loudspeaker in 1898. But, it was an experimental one. Peter was the first person to invent a practical moving-coil loudspeaker.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1886, Peter belonged to an island called Falster in Denmark. He went to a Danish high school and graduated in 1902. Peter attended Amherst College, Massachusetts and pursued liberal arts. He graduated in the year 1906.
Career
Peter’s career life began with a job in the laboratory of Valdemar Poulsen. This turned out to be a great opportunity for Peter as Valdemar was the inventor of magnetic recording. Peter got promoted as the assistant of Valdemar in 1905. In 1909, Peter fled to the U.S and assisted Valdemar to introduce the Poulsen Radio Arc System.
Peter was great at his job. After working for Valdemar, he started working as an engineer for the Federal Telegraph Company, California. The company also bought the Poulsen patent in November 1910.
First Business
After gaining experience in the professional world, Peter co-founded his first business. In 1911, Peter established Commercial Wireless and Development Co. with Edwin S. Pridham in Napa, California. Richard O’Conner provided financial support and Carl Albertus assisted in the department of engineering.
Magnavox
In 1917, Jensen and Edwin changed the name of the company to Magnavox. Jensen became the chief engineer of the company. Magnavox stands for “great voice”. The establishment of the company left the entire United Nations speechless.
It was for the first time in world history a person’s voice became audible across a huge area. Today, Magnavox is one of the famous companies in the U.S for its rich history. The main products of the company are Smart Televisions, Air Conditioners, Heaters, etc.
The Invention
With Edwin’s help, Peter invented the first-ever moving-coil loudspeakers in 1915. Peter used the electro-dynamic principle for designing the loudspeakers. The speakers were later termed as dynamic speakers. In 1916, Peter built the first complete electric reproducing phonograph and patented it.
In1915 Christmas Eve, Peter used the loudspeakers for the first time. A gathering of 75,000 people in San Francisco witnessed his magnificent invention. The entire crowd was able to hear every announcement and speech distinctively.
Under the name of Magnavox, it was used as a public address system. The product became famous overnight as no other companies in the world built something like this.
Other Inventions
In 1919, Peter designed a dynamic loudspeaker for the reception of radio broadcasting. Magnavox became the brand name leading the production. In 1917, Peter invented the world’s first anti-noise self-neutralizing microphone. Edwin played a big role.
The aviation industry used it for wireless communication between the aircraft and the receiver at ground level. During the first and the second world wars, the air force of the United Nations used it extensively.
Jensen Radio Manufacturing Company
Jensen stepped down from his position in Magnavox in 1925. After a couple of years, he founded Jensen Radio Manufacturing Company. Based in Chicago, the company gained huge popularity during the 1940s. When Fender Musical Instrument Corporation used Jensen speakers for their guitar amplifier, it earned a huge profit.
Fender, Ampeg and, Gibson became the topmost customers of Jensen Loudspeakers. The company also started producing Hi-Fi loudspeakers for home. In the late 1960s, Jensen Loudspeakers ceased production. Later, in 2008, SICA Altoparlanti started producing loudspeakers under the brand name of Jensen.
In the late 1990s, Jensen and SICA signed the legal agreement for designing and selling loudspeakers under their brand name.
Achievements
In 1955, Jensen became the honorary member of the Audio Engineering Society. He was also an Extraordinary member of the Danish Engineering Society. Peter was also knighted by the King of Denmark in the Order of the Dannebrog.
Peter passed away in 1961 at the age of 75.
Annasha Dey is an NIT student, who apart from studying engineering is also a content writer. She has a great interest in photography, writing, reading novels, and travelling as well. She is a foodie who loves socializing and hanging out with her friends. She is also a trained Kathak dancer and a big fashion enthusiast. Dey also loves watching TV series, which includes F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and Big Bang Theory. To be a better writer she prefers to read more