Loewe (electronics)

Lore & Background

Loewe was started in 1923 in Berlin as Radiofrequenz GmbH. Siegmund Loewe promoted public broadcasting in Germany, and his work with physicist Manfred von Ardenne in 1926 led to the Loewe 3NF, an early attempt to combine several functions into one electronic device, similar to the modern integrated circuit. This became the basis for the broadcast receiver OE 333, of which several hundred thousand sets were sold in Germany. Television development began in 1929 in cooperation with John Logie Baird, and in 1931 von Ardenne presented the world's first fully electronic television on the Loewe stand at the 8th Berlin Radio Show. Between 1930 and 1935, Loewe registered the most television patents worldwide. Under Nazi rule, Siegmund Loewe emigrated to the US in 1938, and from 1939 Loewe mainly produced radio technology for the German Luftwaffe. Siegmund regained possession in 1949. In the 1950s, Loewe produced the Optaphon, an early cassette tape recorder with auto-reverse, and began successful radio and television production in Kronach. In 1961, the Optacord 500 became the first European video recorder for professional use. After Siegmund's death in 1962, Philips subsidiaries held majority shares until 1985, during which Loewe specialized in televisions, launching the portable Optaport in 1963 and Europe's first stereo sound television in 1981. A management buyout in 1985 restored independence, and the Art 1 television, designed by Heinz Jünger, established Loewe as a premium brand. In 1998, Loewe launched the Xelos @Media, a television with internet access, and the Spheros, its first flat-screen television. Financial hardships led to bankruptcy protection in 2013 and self-administration. In 2019, Skytec Group Ltd took full ownership, creating Loewe Technology GmbH. In 2021, Loewe acquired land in Kronach and introduced the sub-brand We.by.Loewe. French football star Kylian Mbappe bought a stake in Loewe on 30 September 2024.

Reader's Guide

Loewe's significance lies in its pioneering role in both radio and television technology from the 1920s onward. The company's early work with Manfred von Ardenne on the Loewe 3NF represented an early conceptual step toward integrated circuits, and its demonstration of the first fully electronic television in 1931 was a landmark event reported internationally. Loewe's patent leadership in television between 1930 and 1935 underscores its technical influence during the formative years of the medium. After World War II, the company successfully transitioned to television production, becoming a premium brand known for design, exemplified by the Art 1 television and a systematic design management approach. Loewe's legacy includes the first European professional video recorder (1961), Europe's first stereo sound television (1981), and early internet-connected televisions (1998). Despite financial difficulties and changes in ownership, including periods under Philips and later Matsushita, Loewe maintained its identity as a German manufacturer of high-quality electronics. The company's survival through bankruptcy and its recent acquisition by Skytec Group, along with investment from Kylian Mbappe, indicate ongoing efforts to sustain its brand in the consumer electronics market.

Did You Know?

• Loewe's 1926 Loewe 3NF was an early attempt to combine several electronic functions into one device, similar to the modern integrated circuit.
• The world's first fully electronic television was demonstrated on the Loewe stand at the 8th Berlin Radio Show in 1931.