Avery Fisher
Encyclopedia
Avery Robert Fisher was an audio specialist who made numerous contributions to the field of sound reproduction.
, New York
. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School
and graduated from New York University
in 1929 and subsequently worked two years in the publishing industry. During this time, Fisher, an amateur violin
ist, began experimenting with audio design and acoustics
. By 1937, he established his first company, Philharmonic Radio. In 1945, Fisher sold the company and began his second audio company, called Fisher Radio
, which marketed products of extraordinary quality and performance under the name The Fisher
.
and the first stereo
radio
-phonograph
. These breakthroughs brought Fisher both fame and fortune. From 1959 to 1961, his company also made important improvements in AM
-FM
stereo tuner
design. In 1969, Fisher sold his company to the Emerson Electric Company
for US $31 million, which in turn sold the company to Sanyo
of Japan. Fisher was a consultant
for both Emerson and Sanyo.
Fisher was a noted philanthropist
during his life, sitting on the boards of the New York Philharmonic
and The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
.
Fisher died at age 87 in New York City
on February 26, 1994 from complications of a stroke.
Today, Avery Fisher is best known for the auditorium in the Lincoln Center cultural complex in upper Manhattan
that bears his name. Avery Fisher Hall
houses the New York Philharmonic
, among various other cultural performances and musical ensembles. The hall was named for Fisher in 1973 after he made a US $10.5 million donation to the Philharmonic.
Early life
Avery Fisher was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the Bronx, New York City, New York.-History:Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School, although this Boys High School was not related to the one in Brooklyn...
and graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1929 and subsequently worked two years in the publishing industry. During this time, Fisher, an amateur violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, began experimenting with audio design and acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
. By 1937, he established his first company, Philharmonic Radio. In 1945, Fisher sold the company and began his second audio company, called Fisher Radio
Fisher Electronics
Fisher Electronics is a US based subsidiary company of Japanese electronics conglomerate Sanyo specialising in the field of hi-fi electronics.-History:...
, which marketed products of extraordinary quality and performance under the name The Fisher
The Fisher
The Fisher was the brand name for hi-fi electronic equipment manufactured in New York by The Fisher Radio Corp. during the "golden age" of the vacuum tube, which was named after the company founder, Avery Fisher....
.
Later accomplishments
In the 1950s, Fisher invented the transistorized amplifierElectronic amplifier
An electronic amplifier is a device for increasing the power of a signal.It does this by taking energy from a power supply and controlling the output to match the input signal shape but with a larger amplitude...
and the first stereo
Stereophonic sound
The term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
-phonograph
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
. These breakthroughs brought Fisher both fame and fortune. From 1959 to 1961, his company also made important improvements in AM
Amplitude modulation
Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
-FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
stereo tuner
Receiver (radio)
A radio receiver converts signals from a radio antenna to a usable form. It uses electronic filters to separate a wanted radio frequency signal from all other signals, the electronic amplifier increases the level suitable for further processing, and finally recovers the desired information through...
design. In 1969, Fisher sold his company to the Emerson Electric Company
Emerson Electric Company
Emerson Electric Company is a major multinational corporation headquartered in Ferguson, Missouri, United States. This Fortune 500 company manufactures products and provides engineering services for a wide range of industrial, commercial, and consumer markets.Emerson is one of the largest...
for US $31 million, which in turn sold the company to Sanyo
Sanyo
is a major electronics company and member of the Fortune 500 whose headquarters is located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo targets the middle of the market and has over 230 Subsidiaries and Affiliates....
of Japan. Fisher was a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
for both Emerson and Sanyo.
Fisher was a noted philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
during his life, sitting on the boards of the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
and The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center is an American organization dedicated to the performance and promotion of chamber music. Its website states that it is "the nation’s premier repertory company for chamber music."...
.
Fisher died at age 87 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on February 26, 1994 from complications of a stroke.
Today, Avery Fisher is best known for the auditorium in the Lincoln Center cultural complex in upper Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
that bears his name. Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall is a concert hall, in New York City and is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex. It is the home of the New York Philharmonic, with a capacity of 2,738 seats.-History:...
houses the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, among various other cultural performances and musical ensembles. The hall was named for Fisher in 1973 after he made a US $10.5 million donation to the Philharmonic.