Laurens Hammond

Laurens Hammond
Laurens Hammond in 1940
Born(1895-01-11)January 11, 1895
DiedJuly 1, 1973(1973-07-01) (aged 78)
EducationCornell University
OccupationEngineer
SpouseRoxana Scoville
Parent(s)William Andrew and Idea Louise Strong Hammond
Engineering career
DisciplineMechanical engineering
ProjectsHammond organ, Hammond clock
AwardsJohn Price Wetherill Medal

Laurens Hammond (January 11, 1895 – July 1, 1973) was an American engineer and inventor. His inventions include the Hammond organ, the Hammond clock, and the world's first polyphonic musical synthesizer, the Novachord.

Youth

Laurens Hammond was born in Evanston, Illinois, on January 11, 1895[1] to William Andrew and Idea Louise Strong Hammond.[2] Laurens showed his great technical prowess from an early age. His father, William, took his own life in January 1897, ostensibly due to failure of the First National Bank of Illinois, which he had founded. Upon her husband's death, Idea, who was an artist, relocated to France with Laurens to further her studies, and the family spent the next eleven years in France and Germany.[2]

Early inventions

When the family returned to Evanston in 1909, Laurens, then 14, was fluent in French and German.[2] While in Europe, he had already designed a system for automatic transmission for automobiles. At his mother's suggestion, he submitted his designs to engineers at French automaker Renault, although they were not accepted.[3] His first patent, in 1912, was for a barometer that could sell for one dollar.[4]

University and military service

Hammond studied mechanical engineering at Cornell University, and was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He graduated with honors in 1916.[5] When the United States entered World War I, Hammond served with the 16th Regiment Engineers (Railway), American Expeditionary Force, in France. He rose to the rank of captain.[6]

Inventions

Hammond with his invention the Teleview, in 1923

Following the war, Hammond moved to Detroit, where he was chief engineer for the Gray Motor Company, a manufacturer of marine engines.[3] A partner in the company, Col. John H. Poole, with whom he had served in France, knew of his engineering skills, and paid him an extra $300 a week under the table to stay with Gray Motor. In 1919, he invented a silent spring-driven clock.[7][better source needed] This invention brought him enough money to leave Gray Motor Company and rent his own space in New York City.

In 1922, Hammond invented the Teleview system of shutter glasses in association with 3-D films. One feature was made for the system, The Man from M.A.R.S.. He premiered this show at the Selwyn Theatre in New York in December 1922 to critical acclaim, but the cost of installing the expensive machinery in the theater was prohibitive, and the process was never used again. A 2-D version of the film, renamed Radio-Mania, continued to screen.[8]

Hammond Electric Bridge Table
(Muzeum Hammonda in Kielce, Poland)

Hammond's work on the synchronous motor led him in 1928 to set up the Hammond Clock Company, with six workers, above a grocery store in Chicago.[6] Demand was high and the business soon grew into a large factory.[4] He was responsible for a number of other inventions, such as an electric bridge table.[9] A mechanism below the $25 table's surface shuffled the cards and dealt them to each of the four players.[10]

In 1933, Hammond bought a used piano, and discarded everything apart from the keyboard action. Using the keyboard as a controller, he experimented with different sound-generating methods, finally settling on one, the tonewheel generator. The company's assistant treasurer, W. L. Lahey, was the organist at the nearby St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, and Hammond consulted him concerning the quality of the new instrument's sound. Thanks to Hammond's prior manufacturing and engineering experience, the tonewheel generator was extremely well-engineered by the time the "Hammond Organ" finally went into production in 1935. Tonewheel organs are still in regular use in the twenty-first century, which is a testament to the quality of the design and execution of the product.

Hammond filed his patent application on January 19, 1934. At that time, unemployment was a major problem due to the Great Depression, and with this in mind, the Patent Office rushed to grant his application,[11] with the hope of creating jobs in the area.

Hammond was awarded the Franklin Institute's John Price Wetherill Medal in 1940 for the invention of the Hammond electric organ.

Later life and death

Hammond left his position as president of his company in 1955, and retired from the company in 1960, at the age of sixty-five. During his life he held 91 patents.[5] He was married to Roxana Scoville, and had one daughter.[6] He died in Cornwall, Connecticut on July 1, 1973, aged 78.[6]

In 2017 the Laurens Hammond Museum was founded in Kielce, Poland as a division of the Museum of Toys and Play.[12]

Notes

  1. ^ Hellmann, Paul T. (2006). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 284. ISBN 1135948593. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Lee, Laura (2001). The Name's Familiar II. Gretna: Pelican Publishing Company. p. 154. ISBN 145560917X. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Clocks Were Not the Only Thing". NAWCC Bulletin. 43. National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors: 167. 2001. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Lee (2000), p. 155
  5. ^ a b c d "Laurens Hammond Dies at 78; Invented Electric Organ in 30's". New York Times. July 3, 1973.
  6. ^ U.S. patent 1,345,766
  7. ^ Soister, John T.; Nicolella, Henry; Joyce, Steve (2013). American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913–1929. McFarland. p. 383. ISBN 978-0786487905. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  8. ^ Shearer, Benjamin F. (2007). "Hammond, Laurens (1895-1973)". In Shearer, Benjamin F. (ed.). Home Front Heroes: A Biographical Dictionary of Americans During Wartime. Vol. 2. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 379. ISBN 978-0313334221. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  9. ^ "An electric bridge table that shuffles and deals [Hammond Clock Company advertisement]." Photoplay, December 1932, 15.
  10. ^ US1956350A, Laurens, Hammond, "Electrical musical instrument", issued 1934-04-24 
  11. ^ "Wyborcza.pl".

Further reading

The most comprehensive source on Laurens Hammond's life and inventions is the book by Stuyvesant Barry, Hammond as in Organ: The Laurens Hammond Story. This book was never published, but is available on the web at The Hammond Organ Story.

Read other articles:

يفتقر محتوى هذه المقالة إلى الاستشهاد بمصادر. فضلاً، ساهم في تطوير هذه المقالة من خلال إضافة مصادر موثوق بها. أي معلومات غير موثقة يمكن التشكيك بها وإزالتها. (ديسمبر 2018) 1882 في الولايات المتحدةمعلومات عامةالسنة 1882 1881 في الولايات المتحدة 1883 في الولايات المتحدة تعديل - تعديل م...

 

Het centrum van Parijs Hieronder volgt een lijst van bezienswaardigheden in Parijs. Per hoofd worden de bezienswaardigheden genoemd in de volgorde van het nummer van het arrondissement van Parijs waar ze zich bevinden. Parijs, de hoofdstad van Frankrijk, is de stad in de wereld, die het meeste door toeristen wordt bezocht.[1] In 2013 zijn meer dan 32 miljoen toeristen in Parijs geweest. Bekendste bezienswaardigheden zijn de Eiffeltoren, de Notre-Dame en de Arc de Triomphe. Kenmerkend ...

 

Ne doit pas être confondu avec Le Bal du comte d'Orgel. Le Bal de la comtesse Adler Auteur Gérard de Villiers Pays France Genre Roman d'espionnage Éditeur Plon Collection SAS Date de parution 1971 Chronologie Mission à Saïgon Les Parias de Ceylan modifier  Le Bal de la comtesse Adler est le 21e roman de la série SAS, écrit par Gérard de Villiers et publié en 1971 dans la collection Plon (Presses de la Cité). Comme tous les SAS parus au cours des années 1970, le roman a été ...

1990 studio album by Joan ArmatradingHearts and FlowersStudio album by Joan ArmatradingReleased4 June 1990RecordedBumpkin StudiosGenrePopLength39:02LabelA&MProducerJoan ArmatradingJoan Armatrading chronology The Shouting Stage(1988) Hearts and Flowers(1990) Square the Circle(1992) Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingNew Musical Express8/10[1] Hearts and Flowers is the twelfth studio album by British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading. The album was written, arrang...

 

1934 film by Michael Curtiz British AgentPoster of British AgentDirected byMichael CurtizWritten byLaird Doyle Roland PertweeBased onMemoirs of a British Agent1932 memoirby R. H. Bruce LockhartProduced byHenry BlankeStarringLeslie HowardKay FrancisWilliam GarganCesar RomeroCinematographyErnest HallerEdited byThomas RichardsMusic byBernhard Kaun Heinz RoemheldProductioncompanyFirst National PicturesDistributed byWarner Bros.Release date September 15, 1934 (1934-09-15) Running ti...

 

Alat inkubator untuk mikrob Inkubator adalah alat yang dipanasi dengan aliran listrik pada suhu tertentu yang dipakai untuk memerami telur, mikrob dan menghangatkan bayi yang lahir prematur.[1][2] Alat ini dilengkapi dengan tombol pengatur suhu waktu untuk memudahkan pengaturan suhu yang dikehendaki.[2] Saat menggunakan inkubator untuk pengeraman mikrob sebaiknya tidak terlalu penuh atau overload karena hal itu dapat memperbesar risiko kontaminan.[2] Hal pertam...

Season of television series Big Brother 1Season 1Presented byNiki KanchevEvelina PavlovaNo. of days92No. of housemates15WinnerZdravko VasilevRunner-upSvetlozara Trendafilova Country of originBulgariaReleaseOriginal networkNova televisionOriginal release18 October 2004 (2004-10-18) –17 January 2005 (2005-01-17)Season chronologyNext →Season 2 Big Brother 1 was the first season of the Bulgarian version of Big Brother and it's the first reality show in Bulgaria. The show w...

 

Dutch artist Folke HeybroekBorn(1913-09-02)2 September 1913Amsterdam, NetherlandsDied28 February 1983(1983-02-28) (aged 69)NationalityDutchOther namesFolke Marius HeybroekSpouseBrita Horn-Heybroek Folke Heybroek (September 2, 1913 – February 28, 1983)[1] was a Dutch expressionist artist, monumental sculptor, illustrator, textile designer and stained-glass designer who spent his professional life in Sweden where his monumental works decorate more than 70 public spaces, chur...

 

Japanese professional wrestler For the fictional character, see Masashi Takeda (My-HiME). Masashi TakedaTakeda in June 2020Birth nameMasashi Takeda (竹田 誠志, Takeda Masashi)Born (1985-08-13) August 13, 1985 (age 38)[1]Machida, TokyoProfessional wrestling careerRing name(s)Masashi Takeda[2]Billed height173 cm (5 ft 8 in)Billed weight87 kg (192 lb)Trained byJun Kasai[1]DebutJanuary 20, 2007[1] Masashi Takeda (竹田 誠志, Tak...

Song co-written and recorded by American country music group Little Big Town BoondocksSingle by Little Big Townfrom the album The Road to Here ReleasedMay 2, 2005Recorded2005GenreCountryLength4:32 (album version) 3:59 (radio single)LabelEquitySongwriter(s)Karen FairchildKimberly RoadsPhillip SweetJimi WestbrookWayne KirkpatrickProducer(s)Wayne KirkpatrickLittle Big TownLittle Big Town singles chronology Everything Changes (2002) Boondocks (2005) Bring It On Home (2006) Music videoBoondocks at...

 

Провулок Княжий КременчукРайон АвтозаводськийЗагальні відомостіПротяжність 550 мКоординати початку 49°05′40″ пн. ш. 33°25′13″ сх. д. / 49.094556° пн. ш. 33.420415° сх. д. / 49.094556; 33.420415Координати кінця 49°05′55″ пн. ш. 33°25′00″ сх. д. / 49.09854...

 

American politician (1877–1947) Howard Gore17th Governor of West VirginiaIn officeMarch 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929Preceded byEphraim F. MorganSucceeded byWilliam G. Conley8th United States Secretary of AgricultureIn officeNovember 22, 1924 – March 4, 1925PresidentCalvin CoolidgePreceded byHarry WallaceSucceeded byWilliam Jardine Personal detailsBorn(1877-10-12)October 12, 1877Harrison County, West Virginia, U.S.DiedJune 20, 1947(1947-06-20) (aged 69)Clarksburg, West ...

Indian-born actor and writer Firdous BamjiBamji in 1997BornFirdous Esadvaster Bamji (1966-05-03) 3 May 1966 (age 57)Bombay, IndiaEducationSt. Christopher's School, Bahrain, Kodaikanal International School, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, University of South CarolinaOccupation(s)Actor, writerSpouse Erin Thigpen ​ ​(m. 1990; div. 1995)​Partner(s)Hayley Mills(1997–present) Firdous Bamji is an Indian-born actor and writer. Early life...

 

For other people named George Yates, see George Yates (disambiguation). This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (September 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) George Wilhelmus Mancius Yates[1]George YatesBorn(1843-02-26)February 26, 1843[1]Albany, New York[1]DiedJune 25, 1876(1876-06-25) (aged 33)[...

 

Historic house in New Hampshire, United States United States historic placeDr. Solomon M. Whipple HouseU.S. National Register of Historic Places Show map of New HampshireShow map of the United StatesLocationMain St., New London, New HampshireCoordinates43°24′48″N 71°59′5″W / 43.41333°N 71.98472°W / 43.41333; -71.98472Area0.6 acres (0.24 ha)Built1850 (1850)Architectural styleGreek RevivalNRHP reference No.85002187[1]Added to ...

Indonesian Navy hospital ship KRI dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat (992) Class overview Namedr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo class BuildersPT PAL, Surabaya, Indonesia Operators Indonesian Navy Preceded byKRI dr. Soeharso Built2019–2023 In commission2022–present Planned2 Active2 General characteristics Class and typeHospital ship Displacement7,290 t (7,170 long tons) Length124 m (406 ft 10 in) Beam21.8 m (71 ft 6 in) Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)...

 

BMW IIDescrizione generaleCostruttoreBMW GmbH Tipoin linea Numero di cilindri6 Schema impiantoCilindrata10,8 L CombustioneRaffreddamentoa liquido UscitaPotenzacirca 120 CV (89 kW). voci di motori presenti su Wikipedia Il BMW II era un motore aeronautico raffreddato a liquido a sei cilindri in linea, progettato dall'ingegnere Max Friz e prodotto dalla tedesca BMW GmbH. Introdotto nel 1918, era una versione ridotta del precedente IIIa ed andava ad occupare la fascia di potenza di 110 - 120 CV (...

 

Example Elliot John Gleave i september 2013FöddElliot John Gleave20 juni 1982[1] (41 år)Fulham, StorbritannienAndra namnExampleMedborgare iStorbritannienUtbildad vidAshcroft Technology AcademyRoyal Holloway, University of London SysselsättningSångare, musiker, rappare, singer-songwriterMakaErin McNaught(g. 2013–)Webbplatstrythisforexample.comRedigera Wikidata Elliot John Gleave (mer känd som Example), född 20 juni 1982 i London, är en brittisk sångare och rappare. Han...

Questa voce o sezione sull'argomento calciatori è priva o carente di note e riferimenti bibliografici puntuali. Sebbene vi siano una bibliografia e/o dei collegamenti esterni, manca la contestualizzazione delle fonti con note a piè di pagina o altri riferimenti precisi che indichino puntualmente la provenienza delle informazioni. Puoi migliorare questa voce citando le fonti più precisamente. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Questa voce sull'argomento calciatori i...

 

Paramashiva redirects here. For the 2014 film, see Paramashiva (film). Hindu deity Upper part (oval stone) of Shiva lingam represents Parashiva Part of a series onShaivism DeitiesParamashiva(Supreme being) Shiva Sadasiva Bhairava Rudra Virabhadra Shakti Parvati Sati Durga Kali Ganesha Kartikeya Forms of Shiva Others Scriptures and texts Vedas Agama-Tantras Shivasutras Tirumurai Vachanas Svetasvatara Philosophy Three Components Pati Pashu Pasam Three bondages Anava Karma Maya other aspects 36 ...

 

Strategi Solo vs Squad di Free Fire: Cara Menang Mudah!