Estey Organ Company
Enrico Monaci loved to hear the stories of his uncle, who started the ORLA Company to make parts for accordions. The company expanded over the years and Enrico grew up helping in every element of the business. During the 1950s they began making reed organs and within a decade the company created...
Ned Phoenix of Townshend, Vermont, a reed organ player and restorer since 1970, is the founder of the Estey Organ Museum in Brattleboro, Vermont. Ned is fond of saying, "This may be the only museum in the world where every visitor, regardless of age or ability, is encouraged to play all the...
Dennis Waring has created his own line of musical products made out of cardboard. The harp and guitars are a fun way to get people playing a musical instrument, which is his main goal. He is also a historian and ethnomusicologist for the industry with the publication of his book on the history of...
Georg Steinmeyer was the factory supervisor at the Estey Organ Company in Brattleboro, Vermont. He joined the company in the years following World War II when he moved from Germany to the United States. He worked to streamline the product costs within the company while ensuring the orders were...
Les Nicholas was hired as an engineer to assist the famed electronic music inventor Harold Bode. Mr. Bode was given a lab within the Estey Organ Company In Brattleboro, Vermont in 1954. The company wanted to expand it's products to include an electronic organ. To assist with the task he hired...
David Estey is related to the Estey's who established the Vermont-based Estey Organ Company in 1846 as well as the Estey Piano factory in New York. Pianos must be in his blood as David became a piano technician before opening his own store in New Jersey. Along the way he decided to create a line of...
John Wessel was born in Holland and recalled with a stern face his World War II memories of running from the Nazi's. He was just one step ahead of the SS on several occasions. After the war he relocated to America where he found a sponsor in the Estey Organ Company. Before the war John had worked...