4 GENERATIONS OF SERVICE IN THE NY METRO AREA
1926
F. E. Schmitt
In 1926, F. Edwin Schmitt, fascinated by the emerging radio market, but much to his father’s consternation, dropped out of high school to start his own business – the F. Edwin Schmitt Company. Little could his father have imagined that FE would go on to be a very successful business man – an icon in the growing audio industry. Friends with Avery Fisher, Sidney Harman, Sidney Shure, and other audio luminaries, he would be sought out by the US government, toward the end of WWII, for his expertise in capacitors to assist in the Manhattan Project. FE became a self-taught electronics component expert. Our first line, acquired in 1926, was Sangamo capacitors - currently known as Cornell Dubilier. Sangamo was to form the cornerstone, of our then, OEM division. With customers like Western Electric, Lockheed, Boeing, Hewlett Packard, and Perkin Elmer, the OEM division was to become a mainstay of the Peter E. Schmitt Company until it was sold in the late 90s. Upon FE’s retirement in 1981 the company name was changed to the Peter E. Schmitt Company after his nephew - the second generation now to run the business.
1957
P. E. Schmitt
Our foray into the world of Professional Audio began in 1931 with the addition of Shure Brothers. While Shure Brothers initially made radio kits, it was not long before they moved into the world of microphones. The Professional Audio division truly took form with the addition of Peter Schmitt in 1957. Having recently retired from the Marine Corps as a Captain, his degree in Electrical Engineering and love of music made joining the family business an easy decision. During the next 25 years, Shure Brothers moved further into the professional world with the introduction of the SM line, wireless, circuitry, and speakers. In addition, The Peter E. Schmitt Company began to add lines such as Amphenol, Aphex, Omnimount, Rane, and Bose.
1980
Michael Schmitt
Michael Schmitt joined the company in 1980 with an Engineering degree from Lafayette College. By this time, the OEM and Audio divisions had grown sufficiently large that reorganization was in order. John Francis was brought in to manage the OEM division while Peter and Michael concentrated on the Professional Audio division. Over the next 25 years the company expanded into the video and lighting markets with such lines as Martin, Coemar, Roland, NSI and projectiondesign.
2013
Bryan Ottens
In 2013, Bryan Ottens, a veteran of Peter E. Schmitt, purchased the company. Passionate about the industry, Bryan has had the opportunity to work in all facets of the company. His extensive experience built a solid foundation for his transition into a management role. Bryan looks forward to continuing the Schmitt company legacy, fostering its continued growth and leading it into the decades to come.
Shure Brother's Representative Luncheon
Hotel Stevens, Chicago Il.
June 8, 1938
