Max Braun, a mechanical engineer specializing in audio equipment, opened his small engineering shop in Frankfurt am Main in 1921, and by 1923 was manufacturing parts for radio sets. Eight years after opening, Braun was among Germany's top radio manufacturers.

By the mid-1950s, the company was closely linked with the concept of modern German industrial design, boasting visionary designers like Dieter Reims and Reinhold Weiss as part of its team and offering a variety of household electronics. Its designs of this period--including the HL1 desk fan seen here--epitomize the movement's adherence to functionality through new technologies. By remaining true to this sensibility, Braun has been a leader in home appliances ever since.