Coles

Coles Electroacoustics Ltd. is a British audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1964, specializing in the production of high-quality ribbon microphones. The company was established by two former employees of Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd. (STC) - Colin and Les (hence 'CoLes') - who had worked as toolmakers for the British telecom company. In 1972, Coles Electroacoustics acquired the microphone patents and production rights from STC, including the rights to manufacture the famous BBC-designed microphones. Their most renowned product is the Coles 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone, originally designed by BBC engineers in the 1950s and initially known as BBC PGS/1. This microphone gained legendary status for recording drums at Abbey Road Studios during the Beatles' recording sessions. The company operates complete metal and plastic production facilities for sound equipment and precision components. Beyond microphones, they also manufacture speaker drive units, sound pressure units, flooring products, and microphone accessories. Coles has maintained the original design specifications and hand-builds their microphones, making them globally recognized for exceptional quality in professional recording and broadcasting applications.