This organ was made by Walter Holtkamp in Cleveland, Ohio, around 1934-1936. It has a single keyboard, with a compass of G - g3. The organ's disposition is as follows:
8' Copula 4' Principal III Mixture
This little chamber organ of three stops may be the first mechanical-action organ to be made in an American shop in modern times, although it is not known for sure that Holtkamp made the windchest. It is thought to be the first of approximately seven such instruments made in 1935 and 1936, and apparently remained in the Holtkamp shop until its acquisition by the Smithsonian, in 1981.
This organ was made by Hammond Clock Co. in Chicago, Illinois, in 1934. It is an electric organ, Model A, serial #1, made of walnut. This organ has two manuals, swell and great, with 61 keys each. 25-note, radiating, detachable pedal keyboards. 9 preset keys and 2 sets of adjustable harmonic drawbars for each manual, 2 adjustable drawbars (16’ and 8’) for pedals. 1 expression pedal controlling swell, great, and pedals. One tone generator, one tremulant affecting both manual and pedals equally. Accessioned with model A-20 tone cabinet and bench.
The original owner of this first Hammond was the Paseo Methodist Church in Kansas City, which bought it in 1935. Shortly after Laurens Hammond had his electric organ patented in 1934, Hammond salesmen took the instrument around the country for demonstrations and to stimulate sales. One of the first stops was Kansas City, Missouri.
J. W. Jenkins, president, Jenkins Music Company, Kansas City, Missouri indicated in museum correspondence, “we were the first franchised Hammond Organ dealer in the world, that is why we came in possession of this organ. We sold the organ to the Paseo Methodist Church, Kansas City, Missouri, in 1936, after using it for a number of months as a demonstrator. Since this was the first and only one we had, we couldn't sell it until the factory was able to supply us with more organs. In 1947 the Paseo Methodist Church moved and built a new and bigger church. At that time, they traded in Hammond Organ Serial #1 for a new and bigger church model. Ever since then this organ has remained in our possession and has literally traveled coast to coast on exhibition and promotions for other dealer friends of ours.” The organ was donated to the Smithsonian in 1968.
This instrument features U. S. Patent #1956350 dated April 24, 1934, by Laurens Hammond for an electrical musical instrument.
Location
Currently not on view
Currently not on view (bench; broken lightbulb pieces; cord; felt circle; metal bracket; organ; screw; spring)