Electric church organ
Alternate name(s)
- Electronic organ
Maker
Jubal Organ Co.
Date1957, rebuilt 1971-1973
Place MadeMinneapolis, Minnesota, United States, North America
ModelJubal
DescriptionThis is the first electric organ ever made to employ transistors for tone generation. Gulbransen claimed the same thing when they introduced their transistor organ in July 1957, but this Jubal organ was contracted in January 1957, according to paperwork provided. The owner indicates that the initial order took place in late 1956. Moreover, Frederic Cesander, the developer, co-patented an electro-magnetic organ in 1929, applied for in 1928. This very early patent was intended for a purpose similar to the Jubal organ, but employed some technology similar to the choralcelo. This invention took the idea a step further and coverted the vibrations of metal tuning forks back into electric signals to be sent through loudspeakers. Surprisingly, he did not patent the technology employed in the Jubal organ. As of the date of his patent he was living in Strandburg, SD!
The Jubal Organ company was originally called Haygren Organ Company, but the name was changed when Cesander bought it. He bought Haygren from Richard Peterson, who patented the technology employed in the Gulbransen organs, and who had been building tube oscillator organs previously. Peterson is also the developer of strobe tuners. There is reference in accompanying paperwork of this organ to "generators ordered from Peterson, 1/21/-1957" AND "Will also use one Leslie speaker cabinet. Ordered from Peterson 1/21-1957....No speaker in this cabinet. We will furnish the speaker." ed to continue to use the technology after Gulbransen began marketing it.
ProvenanceRebuilt by Edgar Magney, 1971-73.
Credit LineGift of Edgar Magney, 2008
Object number13576
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