The Hammond Organ takes its name from its “father,” the brilliant engineer and inventor Laurens Hammond, who, at 14 years old, approached Renault with a design for an automatic gear mechanism he had developed. Although the French automaker rejected his proposal, Hammond was undeterred, fully aware of his extraordinary abilities. Laurens Hammond can undoubtedly be described as a true genius.

Throughout his life, the Illinois-born engineer from Evanston conceived, designed, and created numerous inventions across various fields, from cinema—where he was a pioneer in 3D technology with the development of the Teleview stereoscopic system (the first, albeit rudimentary, system for viewing three-dimensional moving images)—to military technology, where he developed guidance controls for guided missiles and infrared and light sensors for bomb targeting.

Laurens Hammond’s career was diverse and versatile, filled with brilliant insights and inventions that changed the world. Yet, his most famous and successful contribution is undoubtedly linked to the electric instrument bearing his name: the Hammond Organ.

“Bringing Music to Everyone,” Laurens Hammond’s Dream

Although Laurens Hammond was not a musician, he was a passionate admirer of music and dreamed of making sophisticated instruments like the piano more accessible to everyone. The engineer from Evanston wanted to “do his part” to enable as many people as possible to enjoy the benefits of music, bringing them closer to one of the most emotional art forms humanity has ever conceived. For someone like Hammond, “doing his part” meant inventing—observing, thinking, tinkering with gears and tools, making calculations, and reflecting. And that’s exactly what he did.

In 1933, he began studying how to achieve this dream. To start, he bought a used piano, discarded everything except the keyboard mechanism, which he used as a sort of controller for the instrument, experimenting with various sound generation methods. Eventually, he developed what he deemed the most functional method: the tonewheel.

Throughout the production process, Hammond was greatly assisted by his company’s accountant, W.H. Lahey, who was also the organist at St. Christopher Episcopal Church. Lahey provided critical feedback on the sound quality of the “new” instrument. His musical expertise, combined with Hammond’s engineering prowess, were instrumental in creating the first models of the electric organ. The excellence of their work is evidenced by the many original Hammond organs still in use today.

1934: The Hammond Organ is Patented

In early 1934, on January 19 to be precise, Laurens Hammond filed for a patent for his latest invention. The United States was in the throes of the Great Depression following the infamous Black Thursday stock market crash on October 24, 1929. In this economic and social context, the patent office, recognizing Hammond as a renowned figure, approved the application swiftly, hoping that his invention would help create new jobs, vital for battling the crippling crisis.

The Success of the Hammond Organ

The new instrument debuted in April 1935, and the first model, the Model A, became available in June that year. The launch featured a performance by Milt Herth at radio station Wind. Herth, an early adopter, played a key role in its success, helping Hammond refine the instrument.
The Hammond Organ rose to prominence during World War II, becoming the mainstay in U.S. military chapels where soldiers gathered to pray. It symbolized faith, spirituality, and hope during one of history’s darkest times. This association likely fueled its growing popularity even after the war ended.

The Spread in the 1950s and 60s

In the 1950s, many jazz musicians embraced the Hammond’s new sounds, and by the following decade, it had become a staple in pop music. The instrument was frequently featured in easy listening albums, becoming one of the most beloved and well-known instruments among the general public.

During this time, the Hammond sound was enhanced by inventor Donald Leslie, who introduced the Leslie speaker system, adding spatial and tonal variety.

The Zenith of the 1970s and 80s

The 1970s and 80s marked the peak of the Hammond Organ’s illustrious history. During these decades, numerous renowned rock artists and bands incorporated the distinctive, powerful Hammond sound into their hits.

Notable users include John Lennon, Tony Banks, Rick Wright, Jon Lord, and many others.

The Hammond Organ in Italy

The Hammond Organ also enjoyed great success in Italy, especially during the 1970s, when many progressive rock artists used it in their music: Vittorio Nocenzi from Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Flavio Premoli for Premiata Forneria Marconi, and even Franco Battiato, who featured it in his song Il Silenzio del Rumore. Roby Facchinetti also used the Hammond extensively with Pooh.

How the Hammond Organ Works

The Hammond Organ generates sound through additive synthesis of harmonic waveforms. Building on the work of Thaddeus Cahill’s Telharmonium, it uses tonewheels driven by a synchronous motor, whose rotation speed is constant and stable, linked to the power grid frequency. The varying proximity of the tonewheel’s teeth to the pickups creates changes in the magnetic field, akin to how electric guitars operate.

Since its waveforms are produced mechanically rather than electrically, original Hammond Organs are considered electrical, electromechanical, or electroacoustic, rather than fully electronic.
A unique feature of the Hammond is its drawbars, allowing musicians to customize harmonic mixes to suit their needs. Popular models featured 38 drawbars divided into four groups of nine, plus two for pedal volume control.

Famous Models

Hammond Organs, produced for over 50 years, fall into two main categories: console and spinet models. Console organs have two 61-note manuals. Noteworthy models include the original Model A, the sought-after B3, and the C3, famously used in The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.

Spinet models, smaller with two 44-note manuals, include the iconic L100, famously abused by Keith Emerson, who would tilt, shove, and even stab it during performances.

Hammond Organ Prices

Excluding variable secondhand prices, modern Hammond Organs range from €1,500 to €6,000 for standard versions.