Don Albinson was involved in developing speaker enclosures for Stephens Trusonic, Inc. Albinson recalls "a number of different designs for speaker enclosure were made and most of them were on Herman Miller pedestal bases. This one was put on four cast legs because of its size and shape. The legs were of Nelson design but George ok'd the use on the speaker cabinet." Only one other example of this type is known, and was formerly in the collection of Don Albinson. Both are prototypes and never went into production.
Only one other example of this cabinet type is known.
In the development of a home speaker unit design, this study model is from the collection of Jack Klein, a former Herman Miller executive who would 'road test' new design prototypes and provide insightful feedback. This example was designed to include slide-out hi-fi equipment to the left of the speaker. Eames felt this left too much of the design and usage to the consumer’s taste. The Eames office felt it was best to drop the associated use of other hi-fi equipment and concentrate solely on a free standing speaker unit which added to the graphic clarity of the subsequent designs.
The vast influence of Charles and Ray Eames is immeasurable; Responding to the burgeoning attitudes and landscapes of mid-century America, they created an utterly unique and novel design world, born from their curiosity, industriousness, optimism and humanistic impulses.
In 1940, the Charles and Ray met at Cranbrook Academy of Art, where Charles was collaborating with Eero Saarinen on furniture designs and Ray was studying painting. The two married in 1941 and moved to Los Angeles soon after, establishing their highly influential design firm that, with the help of other talented designers they brought in, would re-shape modern design. Early explorations in plywood and mass-producing sturdy, livable and charming furniture brought them success and allowed them to extend their efforts into more diverse fields such as education, textiles, filmmaking, curating, architecture and industrial design.
The Eames Office operated for over four decades, exerting an enormous influence on modern and contemporary design through their limitless vision of the human spirit. Charles passed away in 1978 and Ray died ten years later to the day. Their contribution to the American ethos continues to inspire and influence contemporary design today.
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