Hammond Organ Company

The Hammond Organ Company was founded by Laurens Hammond, an American inventor and businessman. While not a musician himself, Hammond was fascinated by electronic sound synthesis. In 1934, he designed and built the Hammond organ, an electronic keyboard instrument that used tonewheel generators rotated by a synchronous motor. This motor, which revolved in phase with the electric alternating current, was a key component in both his earlier electric clock and the organ. The Hammond organ allowed for the mixing of millions of different tones, leading to a unique sound that was distinct from traditional pipe organs. The company later became known as the Hammond Organ Company and also produced other electronic instruments like the Solovox and the chord organ.12