The Tradition. so far – so good
|
1928 Georg Neumann and Erich Rickmann establish the limited partnership Georg Neumann & Co. The idea behind this new company lies in manufacturing microphones following the capacitive transducer concept. An aim they manage to achieve for the first time in serial production with the condenser microphone
CMV 3.
|
![]() |
![]() |
1933 participation at the „Große Deutsche Funkausstellung” leads to a massive rise of sales within Germany and of exports. During this time, representations are set up in England, France, the USA and India. |
|
1936 the Olympic Games in Berlin provide the first live test for the classic M 7 electrode in a tube set-up as developed by Georg Neumann. It is still manufactured to this day. The so-called „Neumann bottle” can already be equipped with different capsules in order to change patterns. The path that the company has chosen since its founding proves to be the right one. Extensive practical experience leads to a continuous improvement of products.
1943 during the Second World War, the principal laboratory on Michaelkirchstraße in Berlin undergoes damage both by fire and bombs. To avoid further bombings, the entire company and the principal laboratory are transferred to Gefell.
1945/46 Germany is divided into four sectors after the surrender. Thuringia, initially occupied by the Americans is exchanged for a part of Berlin (Potsdam Treaty) and handed over to the Soviet Union, which changes the situation in Gefell completely.
1946 employees returning from Gefell establish a small workshop in Berlin (West) mainly for repair of microphones. This workshop becomes Georg Neumann GmbH, the second Neumann company, now owned by Sennheiser. |
![]() |
![]() |
1950 New condenser measurement microphones are developed and become part of the serial production.
1956 the centralist regime of the GDR forces private companies to accept state co-ownership. Like thousands of other companies, Georg Neumann & Co. becomes a so-called BSB („Betrieb mit staatlicher Beteiligung” – company under state participation). |
|
During the 1950s, radio stations in Berlin are rebuilt and production in Gefell continues, both of the known microphone types and of new ones:Tube microphone preamplifier CMV 563 With the microphone capsules M 55 (omni), M 7 (cardioid), M 8 (figure eight) and M 9 (omni) as well as M 7 S, M 8 S and M 9 S with short handles Tube condenser microphone UM 57, switchable patterns, omni-cardioid-figure eight
1961 the building of the Berlin Wall sets a seal on the division of the city. The socialist GDR also cuts off all communication that has existed to this point between Georg Neumann & Co. in Gefell and Georg Neumann GmbH in Berlin. During the three decades from the 1960s to the 1980s, production in the studio sector is mainly carried out according to the demands of radio applications. In close cooperation with „Rundfunk und Fernsehtechnisches Zentralamt RFZ" (central radio and television council) the following microphones are developed and produced until 1989: ZUM 64, M582, MV690, MV691, MV692, PM750 and PM860. |
![]() |
![]() |
1972 the limited partnership Georg Neumann & Co. in Gefell is expropriated and renamed VEB Mikrofontechnik Gefell. Further use of the Neumann trademark is prohibited by the GDR. Instead, products are now marked with the brand RFT.
1989 the Berlin Wall comes down. The Treuhandanstalt takes charge of the company in Gefell with the aim of reprivatising it. The expropriated limited partnership Georg Neumann & Co. files for restitution of its company. |
|
1993 the company Microtech Gefell GmbH is returned to the limited partnership Georg Neumann & Co.– now Georg Neumann KG. After more than twenty years of state imposed the company now produces under the new registered trademark. |
![]() |
|
|
|






