Estey Organ
Encyclopedia
The Estey Organ Company was founded by Jacob Estey
when he bought out a Brattleboro, Vermont
manufacturing business in 1852. The company went on to become the largest manufacturer of organs in the United States
. The original company had been founded in 1846. It employed more than 500 people and its high-quality items were sold as far away as Africa, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Around 500,000 to 520,000 reed organ
s, or 'pump organs' as some term them, were built between 1846 and 1955.
By the 1840s some of the earliest melodeon
makers in New England
had established themselves in Brattleboro, and Jacob Estey saw the manufacturing and sale of these instruments, later known as reed organ
s, as a new business opportunity. In 1855, Estey organized the first manufacturing company to bear his name, Estey & Green, which was followed by Estey & Company; J. Estey & Company; Estey Organ Company; and finally Estey Organ Corporation, until the company went out of business in 1960. In 1926 the company had the name Estey-Welte Corporation, it acquired in the same year the Hall Organ Company of West Philadelphia and a new built six-floor building at 695 Fifth Avenue as showrooms and salesrooms. This would become the new home of the company and the offices of the Welte Mignon Studios, as well of the other subsidiary companies. This were the Estey Piano Company, the Welte Mignon
Corporation, the Welte Organ Company, the North American Discount Company, the Estey-Welte Securities Company and the Eswell Realty Corporation. In 1926 Estey-Welte formed The Welte-Mignon Stuidos of Florida, Inc. in Palm Beach
.
There were also Estey pianos made by the Estey Piano Company in New York City
.
During these more than one hundred years, Estey became the largest and best known manufacturer of reed organ
s in the world, building more than 520,000 instruments, all of which carried the inscription of "Brattleboro, Vt. USA".
In 1901, Estey Organ Company embarked on the manufacture of pipe organs, becoming among the largest of USA pipe organ manufacturers, and built more than 3200 pipe organs across the USA, even shipping some abroad, before 1960. The company provided organs for many important locations, including New York City's Capital Theatre, the Sacramento, CA Municipal Auditorium, and Henry Ford
's home in Dearborn, Michigan
. Following World War II
, Estey undertook the development and manufacture of electronic organ
s, and thereby joined a limited number of companies which manufactured all three types of organs.
The Estey family had a long tradition of company leadership and community involvement, including residential development such as Esteyville; banking; town government; schools; fire protection; military units; churches; and Vermont
state politics and government. Estey Hall
on the campus of Shaw University
is named after Estey, who contributed to the construction of the building.
Jacob Estey
Jacob Estey was the founder of Estey Organ.-Biography:He was born in 1814 in Hinsdale, New Hampshire and ran away from an orphanage to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he learned the plumbing trade. He arrived in Brattleboro, Vermont in 1835 at age 21 to work in a plumbing shop which he soon bought...
when he bought out a Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
manufacturing business in 1852. The company went on to become the largest manufacturer of organs in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The original company had been founded in 1846. It employed more than 500 people and its high-quality items were sold as far away as Africa, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Around 500,000 to 520,000 reed organ
Reed organ
A reed organ, also called a parlor organ, pump organ, cabinet organ, cottage organ, is an organ that generates its sounds using free metal reeds...
s, or 'pump organs' as some term them, were built between 1846 and 1955.
History
In 1901, the company began manufacturing pipe organs, building over 3000.By the 1840s some of the earliest melodeon
Melodeon (organ)
A melodeon is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard. It differs from the related harmonium, which uses a pressure bellows. Melodeons were manufactured in the United States sometime after 1812 until the Civil War era...
makers in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
had established themselves in Brattleboro, and Jacob Estey saw the manufacturing and sale of these instruments, later known as reed organ
Reed organ
A reed organ, also called a parlor organ, pump organ, cabinet organ, cottage organ, is an organ that generates its sounds using free metal reeds...
s, as a new business opportunity. In 1855, Estey organized the first manufacturing company to bear his name, Estey & Green, which was followed by Estey & Company; J. Estey & Company; Estey Organ Company; and finally Estey Organ Corporation, until the company went out of business in 1960. In 1926 the company had the name Estey-Welte Corporation, it acquired in the same year the Hall Organ Company of West Philadelphia and a new built six-floor building at 695 Fifth Avenue as showrooms and salesrooms. This would become the new home of the company and the offices of the Welte Mignon Studios, as well of the other subsidiary companies. This were the Estey Piano Company, the Welte Mignon
Welte-Mignon
M. Welte & Sons, Freiburg and New York was a manufacturer of orchestrions, organs and reproducing pianos, established in Vöhrenbach by Michael Welte in 1832.-Overview:...
Corporation, the Welte Organ Company, the North American Discount Company, the Estey-Welte Securities Company and the Eswell Realty Corporation. In 1926 Estey-Welte formed The Welte-Mignon Stuidos of Florida, Inc. in Palm Beach
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
.
There were also Estey pianos made by the Estey Piano Company in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
During these more than one hundred years, Estey became the largest and best known manufacturer of reed organ
Reed organ
A reed organ, also called a parlor organ, pump organ, cabinet organ, cottage organ, is an organ that generates its sounds using free metal reeds...
s in the world, building more than 520,000 instruments, all of which carried the inscription of "Brattleboro, Vt. USA".
In 1901, Estey Organ Company embarked on the manufacture of pipe organs, becoming among the largest of USA pipe organ manufacturers, and built more than 3200 pipe organs across the USA, even shipping some abroad, before 1960. The company provided organs for many important locations, including New York City's Capital Theatre, the Sacramento, CA Municipal Auditorium, and Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
's home in Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
. Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Estey undertook the development and manufacture of electronic organ
Electronic organ
An electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
s, and thereby joined a limited number of companies which manufactured all three types of organs.
The Estey family had a long tradition of company leadership and community involvement, including residential development such as Esteyville; banking; town government; schools; fire protection; military units; churches; and Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
state politics and government. Estey Hall
Estey Hall
Estey Hall is a historic building on the campus of Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was the first building constructed for the higher education of African-American women in the United States...
on the campus of Shaw University
Shaw University
Shaw University, founded as Raleigh Institute, is a private liberal arts institution and historically black university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest HBCU in the Southern United States....
is named after Estey, who contributed to the construction of the building.