Jacob Estey
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Estey's advertisement circa 1866–1872.
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| Industry | Musical instruments |
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| Founded | 1850s |
| Founder | Jacob Estey |
| Defunct | c. 1961 |
| Headquarters | Brattleboro, Vermont |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
| Products |
Pump organs (Melodeon, American reed organ) Pipe organs, Theatre organs, Electronic organs |
| Subsidiaries | Estey Piano Co., Welte Mignon Corp., Welte Organ Co., North American Discount Co., Estey-Welte Securities Co., Eswell Realty Corp., Magna Electronics Co. (Magnatone) |
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Estey Organ Company Factory
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Old Estey Organ Factory (Brattleboro, Vermont)
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| Location | Birge St., Brattleboro, Vermont |
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| 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 in Brattleboro, Vermont was the largest organ manufacturer in the United States for a century. In 1852 Jacob Estey founded the company and bought out another Brattleboro, Vermont manufacturing business that had begun in 1846. At its peak, the company 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, ran away from an orphanage to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he learned the plumbing trade. In 1835 he arrived in Brattleboro, Vermont at age 21 to work in a plumbing shop. He soon bought the shop, beginning a long career as a successful businessman. He died in 1890.
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.
Portable melodeon by Estey & Green (1855-1863)
Piano style melodeon (1867)
American reed organ (Cottage organ style)
Chapel organ (1864-1882)
Parlor organ with top (1897)
Pipe-top parlor organ
Boudoir organ with pipe-top (1882, a style)
Salon organ (late 19th century, a style)
Church Phonorium organ (late 19th century, a style)
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Wikipedia