For 100 years now, Ortofon has been a story of technological and aesthetic evolution. In 2018, the Danish company celebrated its century! Proof of prestige and know-how, this anniversary is also an opportunity to learn more about a success story that has never stopped to surprise us! Just a brief look back at the history of the famous Danish manufacturer…
Ortofon: time travel…
Tens of years ago… The 9th October 1918, the engineers Arnold Poulsen and Axel Petersen founded the “Electrical Phono Film Company”.
Avant-garde, they are going to rewrite the codes of silent cinema. Indeed, they worked for many years on system that synchronizes a soundtrack and a movie. The 12th October 1923, their project finally emerged and the first sound movie was shown at the Palace Theatre in Copenhagen.
The beginnings of Ortofon are nestled in this story; harbinger of a success that cannot be denied.
Indeed, everything happens very quickly and the demand is increasing. In 1947, Ortofon A/S is founded as a trade company. The name “Ortofon” comes from the Greek “orthós” used to create prefixes showing the idea of “righteousness” or “correctness”, and from the Greek “phôn ế” that means “sound”. Etymologies heavy in meaning since the brand has wanted, since its beginnings and still now, to get ever closer to sound perfection!
In the 1945s, the two engineers worked on the creation of phono cartridges. The first moving coil model was created in 1948. Then in 1953, the first Ortofon 121 tonearm is developed.
During many years, the company has become more important by offering flagship products such as the first SPU mono cartridge and the M-15 magnetic cartridge. Ortofon then becomes a reference! LM10, MC70 low magnetic mass cartridge, 7N very high pure copper cables… The manufacturer is always expanding its offer!
Ortofon: global development
In the 70’s, as a result of a program encouraging the opening of factories in remote regions of the country, the factory moved to Nakskov in southern Denmark. Then, Ortofon no longer only stands out as an innovative company, it is also recognized as a company that employs, and so develops the economy of the country. It does not know it yet, but 17 years later, the firm will be rewarded for being one of the most successful companies in Denmark!
Always pushing back the borders, the manufacturer developed itself in 1977 on the prestigious Japanese market as well as on all the other continents of the globe. Indeed, it reaches wider targets such as audio professionals or international DJs with its DJ cartridge and stylus.
Ortofon: products specially designed to celebrate the Century
In 2018, to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Ortofon wants to mark the occasion. It offers the most expensive cartridge ever produced: the Century MC cartridge. Equipped with a diamond cantilever, it costs €10.000!
That is not finished yet, the party goes on with the “Centenary Special” products! For example, the SPU Century or the Concorde Hi-Fi cartridge are limited editions specially designed for the manufacturer’s anniversary.
Don’t worry, for smaller budgets, the manufacturer has thought of everything! A wonderful book called “A Century of Accuracy in Sound”, written in English, beautifully illustrated and telling Ortofon’s story is also available. Throughout the pages, you will be lulled by the music history and travel through time.
By the way, know that currently, from €1.000 of purchase on our website by entering the code ORTOFON100 in your cart, we offer you this superb book! Nothing is too good for Ortofon’s century 🙂
Finally, from Copenhagen to Nakskov, and now to the 4 corners of the globe, Ortofon has won the hearts of the most expert audiophiles. For 100 years, the company has been striving to develop a heritage of know-how in an increasingly modern world.
The future shines bright for Ortofon, and will continue to be one of the leading manufacturers of phono cartridge for the next 100 years! And that is all we wish 😉