Plaque

Alan Blumlein

Abbey Road Studios Alan Blumlein

Erection date: 1/4/2015

Inscription

IEEE Milestone in Electrical Engineering and Computing
Invention of Stereo Sound Reproduction, 1931
Alan Dower Blumlein filed a patent for a two-channel audio system called "stereo" on 14 December 1931. It included a "shuffling" circuit to preserve directional sound, an orthogonal "Blumlein Pair" of velocity microphones, the recording of two orthogonal channels in a single groove, stereo disc-cutting head, and hybrid transformer to mix directional signals. Blumlein brought his equipment to Abbey Road Studios in 1934 and recorded the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
April 2015
IEEEE

This is the most technical plaque we've ever transcribed - and we are none the wiser.

Site: Abbey Road Studios (2 memorials)

NW8, Abbey Road, 3, Abbey Studios

Abbey Road Studios were opened in November 1931 by EMI. The Blumlein plaque is to the right, Elgar to the left.

A live webcam has been set up on the boundary wall pointing at that pedestrian crossing. Londonist posted this lyrical short film about the crossing.

We've read that when George Harrison died members of the studio set up huge speakers at the front and played 'All Things Must Pass' to the crowds of mourners.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Alan Blumlein

Subjects commemorated i

Alan Blumlein

Electronics engineer, notable for his many inventions in telecommunications, ...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Alan Blumlein

Created by i

IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

This is a professional association for electronic engineering and electrical ...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Alan Blumlein

Also at this site i

Sir Edward Elgar - Abbey Road Studios

Sir Edward Elgar - Abbey Road Studios

Sir Edward Elgar, composer, 1857 - 1934, opened and recorded in these studios...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Michael Balfe

Michael Balfe

W1, Seymour Street, 12

L.C.C. 1911 Michael William Balfe (1808 - 1870), musical composer, lived here.

1 subject commemorated
Sir William Bowman

Sir William Bowman

NW11, North End Way, Ivy House

In 2018 a high fence removed the Pavlova plaque from view. But at about the time the Bowman plaque was erected in 2019 the height of the ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Geoffrey Darke

Geoffrey Darke

TW1, Montpelier Row, 25

This house was listed in the 2017 Open House event but disappointingly, by 2019, this link has died. We've taken this opportunity to gat...

1 subject commemorated
88 Arlington Road

88 Arlington Road

NW1, Arlington Road, 88

88 Arlington Road This building stands on the site of the Bedford Tavern (1807) famous for the balloon ascents from its Tea Gardens. He...

3 subjects commemorated
Military Hospital

Military Hospital

WC2, Endell Street, Dudley Court

Site of Endell Street Military Hospital, 1915 - 1919. Established in former workhouse buildings during the First World War under the comm...

4 subjects commemorated