Estey Organ
| Industry | Musical instruments |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1850s |
| Founder | Jacob Estey |
| Defunct | c. 1961 |
| Headquarters | Brattleboro, Vermont |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
| Products |
Pump organs (Melodeon, American reed organ) Pipe organs, Theatre organs, Electronic organs |
| Subsidiaries | Estey Piano Company, Welte Mignon Corporation, Welte Organ Company, North American Discount Company, Estey-Welte Securities Company, Eswell Realty Corporation, Magna Electronics Company (Magnatone) |
|
Estey Organ Company Factory
|
|
| Location | Birge St., Brattleboro, Vermont |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°50′51″N 72°34′4″W / 42.84750°N 72.56778°WCoordinates: 42°50′51″N 72°34′4″W / 42.84750°N 72.56778°W |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| NRHP Reference # |
80000344 (original) 06001232 (increase) |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 17, 1980 |
| Boundary increase | January 9, 2007 |
The Estey Organ Company was an American organ manufacturer. Jacob Estey founded the company when, in 1852, he bought out a Brattleboro, Vermont manufacturing business that had begun in 1846. The company went on to become the largest organ manufacturer in the United States. At its peak, it employed more than 500 people, and sold its high-quality items as far away as Africa, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. Estey built around 500,000 to 520,000 pump organs between 1846 and 1955. Estey also produced pianos, made by the Estey Piano Company in New York City.
Jacob Estey (born 1814 in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, died 1890) 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. He soon bought the shop, beginning a long career as a successful businessman.
About 1850, Estey built a two-story shop in Brattleboro and rented it out to a small company that manufactured melodeons. When the renters ran short of cash, Estey took an interest in the business in lieu of rent, eventually becoming sole proprietor. Despite having no musical talent or skills as an inventor, Jacob Estey grew the company into a great success, giving up the plumbing business. In 1855, Estey organized the first manufacturing company to bear his name, Estey & Greene—followed by Estey & Company, J. Estey & Company, Estey Organ Company—and finally, Estey Organ Corporation.
Jacob Estey saw the manufacturing and sale of these instruments, later known as American reed organs, as a new business opportunity.
American reed organ
Chapel organ (1864-1882)
Parlor organ with top (1897)
Pipe-top parlor organ
Salon organ (late 19th century, a style)
Church Phonorium organ (late 19th century, a style)
In 1926 the company used the name, Estey-Welte Corporation. That year, it acquired the Hall Organ Company of West Philadelphia and a new built six-floor building at 695 Fifth Avenue as showrooms and salesrooms. This became the company's home, and the offices of the Welte Mignon Studios and the other subsidiary companies—including 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.
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