) 1891 map from
Sanborn Map Company Jacob Estey Jacob Estey (1814–1890) born 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. In advertising copy the company claimed to have been building organs since 1846. Jacob Estey saw the manufacturing and sale of these instruments, later known as
American reed organs, as a new business opportunity.
Estey reed organs in the 19th century Estey started production in 1850 with about 75 instruments per year. File:Estey Perfect Melodeon, Piano Style - 1867 Estey catalogue (Waring 2002 p.24, Fig.7).jpg|Piano style melodeon (1867) File:Estey pump organ & Stradivarius copy from the 17th century - Duet (HDR).jpg| American reed organ (
Cottage organ style) File:Harmonium in St Peter's Church, Normanby by Spittle (geography.org.uk 2622275 2ed0d039).jpg| Chapel organ (1864-1882) File:Parlor organ, Estey Organ Company, Brattleboro VT, c. 1882, walnut, pine, steel, painted and gilt with ivory and ebony keys - Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT - DSC09091.JPG|Boudoir organ with pipe-top (1882, a style) File:Estey Salon Organ (late 19th century) clipped from trade card 2.jpg| Salon organ (late 19th century, a style) File:Estey Phonorium. (front).jpg| Church Phonorium organ (late 19th century, a style) File:Estey Cathedral Organ with pipe top - 1890 Estey catalogue (Waring 2002 p.25, Fig.8).jpg|Cathedral organ with pipe-top (1890, a style)
Estey in the early 20th century Over its more than one hundred years, the Vermont Estey company became one of the largest and best known manufacturer of
reed organs in the world. It made more than 520,000 instruments, all labeled
Brattleboro, Vt. USA. In 1901, Estey Organ Company began making
pipe organs, and became one of the largest American pipe organ manufacturers. They built and sold more than 3,200 pipe organs across the U.S. and abroad. The company provided organs for many important locations, including New York City's Capital Theatre, the Sacramento, CA Municipal Auditorium, and
Henry Ford's home in
Dearborn, Michigan. Also during the era of
silent films, Estey made over 160
theatre organs.
Estey Organ after World War II Following
World War II, Estey developed and manufactured
electronic organs, joining a limited number of companies that manufactured all three types of organs—reed, pipe, and electronic. In the 1950s,
Harald Bode joined Estey. He had been a pioneer in the research and development of
electronic musical instrument since the 1930s, and had developed the
Bode Organ in 1951. then served as a chief engineer and a vice-president of Estey during the late 1950s. == Estey Organ Company Factory ==