Canton, now part of Germany

2010-2011 Canton catalogue

Founded in 1972, Canton is a German manufacturer of loudspeakers. The firms offers three ranges; "HiFi, Home Cinema, and Pro House".

When I saw the brand name I first thought the firm was from China. (The city now know as Guangzhou was once known to Westerners as Canton.) But Canton has a long tradition of manufacturing top quality products in Germany.

So, how do you get the name Canton for a company with forty-year old roots in Germany? According to the firm's website (canton.de), "the name Canton is a combination of the Latin word "cantare" (to sing) and the German word "Ton" (musical tone)". Thank makes some sense. Cantare as in Cantata.

But, the problem remains how to overcome the incorrect first impressions of people like me who don't know the history of the development of the brand name. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.