Lightning History

1963: Century Lighting sold to Progress Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia (parent company of Singer sewing machines)/Lighting Corporation of America (LCA) 1964: Ariel Davis Manufacturing Company purchased by Electro Controls 1966: Lighting Corporation of America (LCA) merges with Walter Kidde & Company 1967, Micro-Set by Electro Controls, developed by Jack Halvorsen (first installation in Banff, Alberta) 1967: The Rank Organisation buys Strand Electric Holdings 1968, Century Memo-Q by George Van Buren 1968, (UK) Thorn Q-File (sold by Kliegl Bros. in the US beginning 1970) 1969: Rank buys LCA and forms Century Strand, "A company within the Rank Organisation" 1969, Electro Controls Micro-Set MkII 1971, Van Buren Industries Sweet 16, First board to use solid state memory 1971, Van Buren Industries System 128, Larger version of Sweet 16 as chips got bigger 1972, Electro Controls Micro-Set MkIV 1973, (UK) Thorn Q-Level (sold by Kliegl Bros. in the US) 1973, (UK) Rank-Strand MMS 1974, Van Buren Industries Compuset 2000, developed by David Cunningham 1974, Skirpan AutoCue (used a "light pen" for setting levels) 1974: Altman introduces the axial 360Q ERS 1974: Century-Strand name changed to Strand-Century 1975, Electro Controls Micro-Set 96 1975, Electronics Diversified LS-8, developed by Gordon Pearlman and used on the Broadway production of A Chorus Line. 1976, (UK) Rank-Strand Lightboard 1976, Datacue manufactured by Marketronics - Sold to Teatronics in 1979 1977, Strand-Century Multi-Q 1977, Strand-Century Micro-Q (first microprocessor console?) 1978, Berkey-Colortran ChannelTrack (built by ETC and based on its MegaCue) 1978, Electro Controls Plexus 1000 1978, Kliegl Performance, developed by Steve Carlson and Gordon Pearlman 1979, Strand-Century Light Palette, developed by David Cunningham 1979, Strand-Century miniPalette 1979, Berkey-Colortran ColorTrack (a monochrome monitor with gels taped to portions of the screen, thus the first "color" monitor) 1979, Kliegl Performer (I) 1980, (UK) Strand Galaxy 1980, ETC ELC (Entertainment Lighting Console), proprietary product developed for use at Disney's EPCOT 1981, Kliegl Command Performance 1981, Strand-Century Mantrix with Memory 1982, MicroStar (on Apple IIe; a PC-version came later, called ProStar, then TechStar, all made by WestStar) 1982, ETC Concept (96) 125 1982, Kliegl Performer II 1983, Kliegl Performer III (the II indicated analog output, while the III used K96 protocol) 1983, Kliegl Entertainer 1983, ETC Idea (wood sides) 1983, Electro Controls Celebrity 1984, Berkey-Colortran DimensionFive 1984, Electro Controls Premiere (only console ever with a "heads-up" display) 1985: LEE Electric of the UK buys Colortran to form LEE Colortran 1985, Strand-Century Light Palette Two 1985, Strand-Century Mini Light Palette 1985, ETC Vision 1985, GAM Access.pdf (reportedly cost $140 to build, retailed for ~$1799) 1985, Colortran Prestige 1000, 2000, 3000 1985, Vari*Lite Artisan 1985, Strand-Century LightBoard M 1986: Strand-Century buys Electro Controls, keeps selling EC products for a few more years 1986: USITT publishes the DMX512-1986 and AMX192-1986 standards. 1987, ETC Expression (I) 1987, Kliegl Performer IV 1987, GAM AccessPro 1987, Strand-Century Light Palette 3 1988, LEE Colortran Scenemaster 60 1988, LMI Designer 1989: Strand-Century drops Century name, becomes Strand Lighting 1989, (AUS) LSC Precept 12 Precept 12 1989, Strand Light Palette 90 (over 700 are sold, more than all other LightPalettes combined) 1989, GAM Panache (a re-branded Performer IV) 1989, Strand Impact (another re-branded Performer IV) 1989, Martin 2032 Controller 1990: ETC buys dimmer manufacturer LMI (Lighting Methods, Inc.) 1990, ETC MicroVision 1990, ETC MicroVisionFX 1991: Kliegl Bros. ceases operations 1991, LSD (Light & Sound Design) Icon Console 1992, Flying Pig Systems Whole Hog (I) 1992, Compulite Animator 1992, ETC Obsession 1992, Strand Impact II (a repackaged version) 1992, Strand Mantrix MX 1992: ETC introduces the Source Four ERS, Sensor dimmer 1992, EDI EnAct 1993, LEE Colortran Gold Medallion 1993, LEE Colortran Encore 1993, Strand GSX 1993, ETC Expression2X 1994, Horizon Controls (software to allow any Win3.1 computer to control lighting) 1994, Strand 430 and 520 1994, FPS Wholehog II 1994, High End Systems Status Cue 1994, Martin 3032 Contrroller 1995, Strand LBX 1995, Strand 530 1995, ETC Express 1995: ETC introduces the Source Four PAR EA 1996: NSI buys the assets of Colortran, forming NSI/Colortran 1996, Strand 550i 1997, ETC ObsessionII 1998, ETC Expression3 1998, Rosco/ET Eclipse (dedicated control surface for Horizon Controls) 1998, Martin LightJockey 1998, Vari*Lite Virtuoso 1999: Leviton buys NSI/Colortran 1999, Strand 300 1999: HES buys FPS 1999: ETC introduces the Source Four PARNel 2000, MA Lighting grandMA 2000, Vari*Lite Virtuoso DX 2001, HES HogIII 2002, ETC Emphasis, (an add-on to extend the feature set of the Express/Expression line) 2002, Martin Maxxyz 2003, ET/Horizon Marquee 2003: ETC buys AVAB TranstechnikNone of the previous are still in production. 2004, Jands Vista 2004: PRG (Production Resource Group) merges with/purchases VLPS (Vari*Lite Production Services) 2005, ETC/AVAB Congo 2005, HES Hog iPC 2006: Genlyte buys Strand, Vari*lite, ET 2006, Strand Light Palette Classic/Live/VL; Basic/Classic/Preset/Sub Palette (ALL using HorizonOS on Strand hardware) 2006, ETC Congo jr 2006, ETC Eos 2007, ETC Ion 2007, HES Road Hog, Road Hog Full Boar 2008, Strand Palette VL 2008: Philips buys Genlyte 2008: HES discontinues Hog iPC (a dual-boot II/3 console), and ceases support of Hog2 software. 2008: Jands ends production of Hog 500 and Hog 1000, which also used Hog2 software. 2008: ETC discontinues Emphasis, Expression, Express, (reportedly the most popular console line ever, with 19,000 units sold; 14,000 of which were Expresses). 2008, MA Lighting grandMA2 series 2008, PRG V676, the successor to the Vari*Lite Virtuoso DX2 2008, Strand Palette II (family) 2008: Barco buys HES 2008, Martin Maxxyz Compact 2009, ETC Element 40, 60 2009, Zero88 ORB 2009, Martin MaxModules 2010, Martin M1 2010: Philips/ET Marquee discontinued 2010: Barco/HES ceases repair support for Wholehog II consoles 2010, PRG V476, a smaller version of the V676 2011: Cooper Controls closes Hillsboro, OR facility of Electronics Diversified (EDI) 2011, ETC Congo Kid 2011, ETC GIO 2011: Acuity Brands acquires Horizon Controls, Pathway Connectivity 2012, Jands Vista L5 2012, MA Lighting MA onPC command wing and Martin M2PC. Both systems require a user-supplied personal computer. 2012, Martin M2GO 2012, Pathway Connectivity Cognito 2012: Lighting & Electronics, Inc. (L&E), in business since 1960, announces plans to cease operations. Some product lines sold to Apollo Design. Discussion thread. 2012, Barco/High End Systems Hog4, Full Boar4, Road Hog4, Nano Hog4 2012, PRG V276 On Mac, a playback/programming wing for use with a user-supplied Apple Mac computer. 2013, Martin M6. 2013, ETC Eos Ti (Titanium), replaces original Eos. 2013: Wybron announces closure. Reborn under new ownership as Gel Services, Inc. Discussion thread. 2013, Jands Stage CL 2013, ETC Cobalt 2014, ETC Nomad software 2014, Strand Lighting NEO 2014: Osram buys Clay Paky 2014, ETC Nomad Puck 2015, MA Lighting dot2 2015, Pathway Connectivity, Cognito2 2015, ChamSys MagicQ MQ80 Compact Console 2015: Syncrolite of Dallas TX buys assets of Strong Lighting, including Super Trouper™ 2016: Osram acquires ADB with intent to merge it with previously owned subsidiary Clay Paky. 2020: An arson factory fire in December 2020 (plus COVID) forces the discontinuation of a number of Apollo products, including ApolloGel, Right Arm, Apollo Color Scrollers, DMX cable, Crushed Dichroics, gel frames, and donuts. 2022: Strand Lighting LLC files for bankruptcy link. 2022, ETC releases EOS APEX console line. 2023: Robe Acquires Avolites link.