How it all began - 1949
In the 1940's, Rufus L. Grason worked in and later took responsibility for the electronics shop at the Psychoacoustic Laboratory at Harvard University in Cambridge. It was there that behavioral psychologist B. F. Skinner was changing the face of psychology. As these research scientists left Harvard, they needed new reliable instruments to continue their research at other laboratories and looked to Mr. Grason to provide them. Steve Stadler was a Harvard student/technician who was building psycho-acoustic instruments (testing how humans perceive sound). Both Grason and Stadler realized the need for these specialized instruments and in 1949 they formed a partnership to manufacture and standardize this equipment. A third partner, Paul W. Dippolito soon joined the group as chief engineer. The company originally manufactured electronic medical instruments for behavioral and pharmaceutical research but in 1952 introduced its first audiometer, the model 160-A speech audiometer to be followed in 1953 with the model 160-B. With his background from the Harvard Psychoacoustic Lab and his strive for quality and perfection, Grason-Stadler instruments were soon recognized as the cadillac of the industry.
The partnership originated in Peg Grason's sewing room but soon relocated to a 200 sq. ft. facility on Washington St. in Somerville, MA (1950), I think it was a garage and the only source for heat was a kerosene stove. During this period the price of instruments was based upon the number of vacuum tubes times $25.00. By 1952 more operating space was needed so Grason-Stadler Company was formed and moved to Hampshire St. Cambridge (700 sq. ft) with 2 engineers and about 8 employees. In 1955 the operation was moved to a 3,000 sq. ft. facility in West Concord. In 1958 there was 9,000 sq. ft. added to the building and Dick Vanderlippe and Greg Andrews joined the team. In 1959 the company became incorporated and in 1964 a third addition to the building brought the total to 18,000 sq.ft..
