Free Downloads The Art Of Clairtone: The Making Of A Design Icon, 1958-1971
A fully illustrated, stylish look back at the story behind a Canadian design icon.For a decade, in the 1960s, Clairtone Sound Corporation captured the spirit of the times: sophisticated, cosmopolitan, liberated. From its modern oiled-walnut and teak stereos to its minimalist logos and promotional materials, Clairtone produced a powerful and enduring body of design work.Founded in 1958 by two young Canadians, Peter Munk and David Gilmour, Clairtone quickly became known for its iconic designs and masterful advertising campaigns. Its acclaimed Project G stereo, with its space-age styling, epitomized the Swinging Sixties. Famously, Hugh Hefner owned a Project G. So did Frank Sinatra. Oscar Peterson affirmed that his music sounded as good on a G as it did live. In 1967, suggesting how deeply Clairtone’s G series had come to be identified with popular culture, the G2 appeared in The Graduate with Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft.With 250 illustrations, including previously unpublished drawings, rare film stills, confidential memorandums, and original photography, The Art of Clairtone is a candid and in-depth look at the company’s skyrocketing success — and sensational collapse. Through the recollections of those who knew Clairtone best, from its founders to its designers, engineers, and salesmen, and with comments from Karim Rashid, Douglas Coupland, Tyler Brûlé, and Bruce Mau, among others, this elegant book, published on the 50th anniversary of Clairtone’s launch, celebrates an iconoclastic company that once seemed to represent the promise of Canada.
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart; y First edition edition (April 22, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0771065078
ISBN-13: 978-0771065071
Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 0.8 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #2,520,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #28 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Canadiana #664 in Books > Arts & Photography > Decorative Arts & Design > Furniture Design #1612 in Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Regional
This book is approximately 10" x 9" in size with an attractive dust jacket and 177 pages, co-written by the daughter of one of the two founders of the Company. It is filled with photographs (some full page) and lucid commentary. Also included are copies of hand-written initial design and specification sheets along with internal memos and advertising layouts.Most of the book is dedicated to the "Project G" which is one of, if not the most, innovative console stereos of the period and certainly the most famous of the Company's products. I lusted after this magnificent collection of components and cabinetry when I was young, but the $1,600 price tag was well beyond my means. The overall system engineering was first-rate and the sound was amazing for it's time. Another reason to purchase the product was use of well-known components such as DUAL, ELAC-MIRACORD and GARRARD record changers.The only small complaint I have is not including pictures of the entire product line. Even if you have never heard of this Company or it's products, you will be entertained by reading about a business that had a great impact within it's product niche but was ultimately driven into the ground by it's founders too-grandiose dreams: what a loss!
During the 1960s, the Clairtone Sound Corporation had a meteoric success in design and was known for its ability to reflect the spirit of those turbulent, sophisticated, cosmopolitan, experimental times. Founded in 1958 by two young Canadians, Peter Munk and David Gilmour, Clairtone was especially acclaimed for its iconic designs and masterful designs for everything from stereo cabinetry to television panels. Their advertising successes made Clairtone designs an integral part of the popular culture. Their rise to prominence was as dramatic as their sudden collapse and is provided with an insightful commentary by co-authors Nina Munk and Rachel Gotlieb. Enhanced with 250 illustrations (including previously unpublished drawings, rare film stills, confidential memorandums and original photography), this informed and informative corporate history is enhanced further with interviews with its founders, designers, engineers and salesman and is a fitting memorial to one of the most iconoclastic companies that Canada has ever produced. A fascinating read, "The Art Of Clairtone: The Making Of A Design Icon, 1958-1971" is highly recommended reading as a model corporate history.
I highly recommend purchasing "The Art of Clairtone: The Making of a Design Icon, 1958-1971". The authors, Nina Munk and Rachel Gotlieb, have revealed a fascinating behind-the-scenes tale of the rise and fall of Clairtone.I was initially drawn to the book due to my own fascination with electronic equipment, modern industrial design, and Canadiana (since I am Canadian). I have found this book to be very well written so that the reader is captivated from page to page and also beautifully illustrated which makes the book an excellent visual reference for those who either collect vintage Clairtone electronics or have an interest in industrial design in general.This book is chock full of lavish colour illustrations and photographs depicting initial designs, close-up details of Clairtone products, and the marketing campaigns of the era. I simply could not put down "The Art of Clairtone" once I started reading it and I congratulate the authors for producing this delightful gem of a book.
Rare look into one of the true icons of early upscale sound systems with heavy design effect. The last time I saw one for sale was in Palm Springs, Ca. at nearly $13,000! Solid and wonderfully researched.
Fascinating behind the scenes look at the rise and fall of a Canadian company way ahead of its time. LOVE the treasure of photographs.
The Art of Clairtone: The Making of a Design Icon, 1958-1971 Soap Making: 365 Days of Soap Making (Soap Making, Soap Making Books, Soap Making for Beginners, Soap Making Guide, Soap Making Recipes, Soap Making Supplies): Soap Making Recipes for 365 Days Jewelry Making: Jewelry Making Instructions to Easily Create Beautiful Pendants, Bracelets, Earrings, and Necklaces (Jewelry Making Books, jewelry making for dummies, jewelry making tools) Jewelry Making: 33 Tips and Advices For Making Unique Earrings (jewelry making, jewelry making books, jewelry making kits) Becoming Julia de Burgos: The Making of a Puerto Rican Icon Wine Making: Beginner Wine Making! The Ultimate Guide to Making Delicious Wine at Home (Home Brew, Wine Making, Red Wine, White Wine, Wine Tasting, Cocktails, ... Vodka recipes, Jello Shots Beer Brewing) Barbie: The Icon TV Guide The Official Collectors Guide: Celebrating An Icon Embracing an Icon: The Posters of Bernard Villlemot Che Guevara: Icon, Myth, and Message Nader: Crusader, Spoiler, Icon Charles Bukowski, King of the Underground: From Obscurity to Literary Icon (American Literature Readings in the Twenty-First Century) Introducing Fractal Geometry New Edition by Lesmior-Gordon, Nigel published by Icon Books Ltd (2006) Washington Quarter 1932-1958 Collector's Folder (Warman's Collector Coin Folders) SUPERMAN COLLECTOR'S GUIDE, VOL. 3: THE BRONZE AGE: Every Cover of "SUPERMAN" Comic Books 1971-1986 (SUPERMAN COMIC BOOK COVERS) Enjoy The Experience: Homemade Records 1958-1992 Volkswagen Official Service Manual Super Beetle, Beetle and Karmann Ghia 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 The Fall of America: Poems of These States 1965-1971 (City Lights Pocket Poets Series) Pacification in Algeria, 1956-1958 Visions of Power in Cuba: Revolution, Redemption, and Resistance, 1959-1971 (Envisioning Cuba)
