Novachord

Object Details

Description

This Novachord was made by Hammond Instrument Co. in Chicago, Illinois, around 1939-1942. It is a model H, serial #1173, with 72 keys (F – e), 3 pedals (volume and sustain), and 1 swell pedal (sustain by either foot). Sounds are generated by 12 oscillators using frequency division. There are 14 control knobs which can be set to produce various sounds:

Deep Tone (off, 1, 2, 3)
First Resonator (off, 1, 2, 3)
Second Resonator (off, 1, 2, 3)
Third Resonator (off, 1, 2, 3)
Brilliant Tone (off, 1, 2, 3)
Full Tone (off, 1, 2, 3)
Balancer (soft bass to strong, bass)
Bright – Mellow
Attack ((1 (fast) – 7 (slow))
Combination – Percussion – Singing
Volume ((4 (high) - 1 (low))
Normal Vibrato (off/on)
Small Vibrato (off/on)
Starter (lift/release)

and an On/Off toggle

This instrument features the following patents:

U.S. Patent #RE20825, dated August 9, 1938 by Gilbert Smiley for producing musical sounds electronically.

U.S. Patent #RE20831, dated August 16, 1938 by Gilbert Smiley for an electronic musical instrument.

U.S. Patent #2117002, dated May 10, 1938 by Laurens Hammond for a keyboard for musical instruments.

U.S. Patent #2126464, dated August 9, 1938 by Laurens Hammond for an electrical musical instrument.

U.S. Parent #2126682, dated August 9, 1938 by Laurens Hammond for an electrical musical instrument.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of Russell K. Gernhofer

1939-1942

ID Number

MI.71.10

catalog number

71.10

accession number

292941

Object Name

novachord

Physical Description

wood (overall material)

metal (overall material)

glass (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 38 1/2 in x 53 in x 37 1/2 in; 97.79 cm x 134.62 cm x 95.25 cm

place made

United States: Illinois, Chicago

See more items in

Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Electronic Musical Instruments

National Museum of American History

Record ID

nmah_606057

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-cd81-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa