About Tektronix
About Tektronix
Tektronix was founded in late 1945 by C. Howard Vollum, Melvin "Jack" Murdock, Miles Tippery, and accountant Glenn McDowell. The company incorporated on January 2, 1946 as Tekrad before quickly changing its name to Tektronix, and was headquartered in Portland, Oregon before relocating to Beaverton, Oregon in 1956.
Vollum invented the world's first triggered oscilloscope in 1946, which Tektronix refined into the model 511 produced from 1947 to 1953. In 1961, the company introduced the model 321, believed to be the world's first practical fully portable oscilloscope, and by 1969 Tektronix controlled roughly 75 percent of the global oscilloscope market as net sales grew from $1.2 million in 1950 to more than $31 million in 1959.
Tektronix passed the $1 billion sales mark in 1981 and continued expanding its test and measurement product range before Danaher Corporation acquired the company in November 2007 for approximately $2.8 billion. The brand remains a leading name in oscilloscopes, signal generators, and measurement instrumentation, and ChatMRO indexes the Tektronix catalog so buyers can search by instrument type, bandwidth, or model series.
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Frequently asked questions
Who founded Tektronix and when?
Tektronix was founded in late 1945 by C. Howard Vollum, Melvin Murdock, Miles Tippery, and Glenn McDowell, incorporating in January 1946. The company was headquartered in Portland, Oregon before moving to Beaverton, Oregon in 1956.
What was Tektronix's most important early invention?
Tektronix is best known for inventing the world's first triggered oscilloscope in 1946, developed by co-founder C. Howard Vollum. This technology was refined into the commercially successful model 511, produced from 1947 to 1953.
How dominant was Tektronix in the oscilloscope market?
By 1969, Tektronix controlled approximately 75 percent of the world's oscilloscope market. The company's sales grew from $1.2 million in 1950 to over $31 million in 1959, reflecting rapid adoption of its instruments.
Is Tektronix still an independent company?
No, Danaher Corporation acquired Tektronix in November 2007 for approximately $2.8 billion, making it a Danaher subsidiary. Tektronix continues to operate as a leading test and measurement brand under that ownership.
What products does Tektronix currently manufacture?
Tektronix manufactures oscilloscopes, signal generators, probes, and a broad range of test and measurement instrumentation. These products are used across electronics design, manufacturing test, and research applications.