Braun

Max Braun, a mechanical engineer, opened a small engineering workshop in Frankfurt in 1921. From the mid-1950s the company became one of the names most closely tied to German modern industrial design, and its radios, record players and hi-fi equipment are now collected as much for their form as for their sound. The SK 4 radiogram of 1956, nicknamed "Snow White's Coffin", is the best-known early example; Dieter Rams, who worked on it as a young designer, later became Braun's head of design and stayed until 1995.

Gillette took a majority stake in 1967, the audio division was spun off in 1981 and built its last audio set in 1990, and Procter & Gamble acquired Gillette, and with it Braun, in 2005.

The archive's Braun page describes a private design collection of about a thousand pieces from 1955 to 1985.

Braun: quick answers

Did Braun make hi-fi equipment?

Yes: radios, record players and hi-fi components. The SK 4 radiogram of 1956, nicknamed "Snow White's Coffin", is the best-known early design.

Who owned Braun after the Braun family?

Gillette took a majority stake in 1967, and Procter & Gamble acquired Gillette, and with it Braun, in 2005.

How long did Dieter Rams work for Braun?

He worked on the SK 4 as a young designer, later became head of design, and stayed until 1995.