Established in 1961 in Silicon Valley, Memorex started by selling computer tapes, then added other media such as disk packs. The company then expanded into disk drives and other peripheral equipment for IBM mainframes. During the 1970s and into the early 1980s Memorex was worldwide one of the largest independent suppliers of disk drives and communications controllers to users of IBM-compatible mainframes, as well as media for computer uses and consumers. Memorex entered the consumer media business in 1971 and started the ad campaign, first with its "shattering glass" advertisements and then with a series of famous television commercials featuring Ella Fitzgerald. In the commercials she would sing a note that shattered a glass while being recorded to a Memorex audio cassette. The tape was played back and the recording also broke the glass, asking "Is it live, or is it Memorex?" This would become the company slogan which was used in a series of advertisements released through 1970s and 1980s. In 1982 Memorex was bought by Burroughs. Over the next six years, Burroughs and its successor Unisysshut down, sold off or out the various parts of Memorex. The computer media, communications and IBM end user sales and service organization were spun out as Memorex International. In 1988 Memorex International acquired the Telex Corporation becoming Memorex TelexNV, a corporation based in the Netherlands, which survived as an entity until the middle 1990s. The company evolved into a provider of information technology solutions including the distribution and integration of data network and storage products and the provision of related services in 18 countries worldwide. As late as 2006, several pieces existed as subsidiaries of other companies, see e.g., Memorex Telex Japan Ltd a subsidiary of Kanematsu or Memorex Telex Ltd. a subsidiary of EDS Global Field Services. Over time the Memorex consumer brand has been owned by Tandy, Handy Holdings and Imation. As of 2016 the is owned by .
Timeline
1961 - Memorex is founded by Laurence L. Spitters, Arnold T. Challman, Donald F. Eldridge and W Lawrence Noon with Spitters as President.
1962 - Memorex is one of the early independent companies to ship computer tape.
May 1965 - Memorex IPO's at $25 and closes at $32.
Oct 1996 - The U.S. operations of Memorex Telex NV filed for bankruptcy and with court approval were sold November 1, 1996.
Jan 2006 - Imation acquires Memorex brand for $330 million.
Jan 2016 - Imation closed on the sale of its Memorex trademark and two associated trademark licenses to DPI Inc., a St. Louis-based branded consumer electronics company for $9.4 million.
