Hammond OrganIn 1934, the first pipeless organ was patented by Laurens Hammond (No. 1,956,350). It used no vibrating parts, neither pipes nor reeds. It had a 37-note upper manual, 68-note lower manual and a 20-note pedalboard. His application only a few months earlier (19 Jan 1934) was expedited to help create jobs during the Depression. He did not call his "Electrical Musical Instrument" an "organ" until his third patent (1939). In fact, in 1936, he was prosecuted by the FTC (but won) for advertising his instrument as an "organ." Manufactured by the Hammond Clock Co., Chicago, Ill, it was first shown at the Industrial Exposition in New York City, NY, on 15 Apr 1935. Overall, Hammond had 110 patents issued or assigned to him.« |
