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Hammond M-3

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Model Type Synthesis Manufactured Quantity Our Serial Polyphony Oscillators Filters Memory Keyboard Sound Good for Less good for Miscellaneous
Hammond M-3 Organ Tone wheels 1955-1964 Probably about 139197 Full organ 44xDrawbars for upper keyboard, 8 drawbars for lower keyboard No presets or memory 2 x 44 keys and 12 bass pedals Organ Organ - rock, soul, gospel. Use without Lesley Our M-3 is from 1959

BACKGROUND

1934 was the year when the Tone wheel Organ was patented of the clockmaker Laurens Hammond. April 15th 1935 there was a concert in the Radio Citys RCA building in New York City. Pietro A. Yon, organist of St. Patricks Cathedral, and Fritz Reiner, who later became conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra demonstrated the new instrument as well as George Gershwin. Gershwin felt in love with the new instrument and ordered one direct In June 1935
http://www.soundofmusic.se/synthsandmore/m3.htm

5/26/2010

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ordered one direct. In June 1935 Model A started to manufacture. From serial number 2501 a deeper cabinet was used and got the model B3.
Lawrence Hammond and Donald Lesley
Born January 11th 1895 in Evanston, IL. His patent for the Hammond organ was granted on 24 April 1934. Feuded with Donald James Leslie over his invention of the Leslie speaker. Died July 3rd 1973 in Cornwall, CT
The Hammond organs was built for replace pipe organs, as a cost effective option. But the Hammond organs was soon engaged with Donald Lesley's rotating speaker (Lesley). Lawrence Hammond never liked the Lesleys speaker, not based on the "bad sound" of his tone cabinets, but because "I never intended for my organs to sound that way". At the other hand the fact is that Lawrence Hammond could not play keyboards and was also tone death - he was an not a musician, but an inventor (with 110 patents when he died). And, with very few exceptions, no organ player today will chose anything else than a Lesley speaker to run the Hammond organ thru.

DESCRIPTION

After searched for a good Hammond deal for many years we finally found a Hammond M-3 on a Flee Market for $100. The M-3 is an easy to use spinet version of the tone wheel Hammond. Simple controls with 9 draw bars for the upper manual, 1 for the pedals and 8 for the lower manual. The M-3 has no chorus sound. It has a swell pedal with a sustain shift for the bass notes (on the swell pedal). Built in 11 Watt amp driven by two 6V6 tubes and 12" field coil speaker. It has a 6 pin Leslie connector. It is like a B3 with less notes and no presets.
When it comes to organs its impossible to not compare with the B3: Lack of presets and 3 less groups of draw bars, hampers it somewhat in convenience, but on the plus side, it's smaller, lighter and cheaper to purchase while still attaining a B-3 "like" tone. Once familiar with it's layout it's a breeze to operate. Pull the draw bars, select Vibrato and Percussion type and go. It also lacking the foldback at the upper register. The action and waterfall keys are the same as at the consoles.
For a Hammond organ youll need a Lesley (rotating speaker). Common models are for instance Lesley 122 and Lesley 145.

SPECIFICATIONS SPINET MODEL M, M2 AND M3

Model M In Production

November 1948 November 1951

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In Production Selling Price (1970) Model M-2 In Production Selling Price (1970) Model M-3 In Production Selling Price (1970) Manuals Pedal Keyboard Tonal Controls
November 1948 - November 1951 $1,285 - Walnut
Same as M, but with one additional tilting tablet to provide Selective Vibrato November 1951 - January 1955 $1,350 - Walnut
Same as M-2 but with four additional tilting tablets for Percussion Control January 1955 - January 1964 $1,350 - Walnut , $1,440 - oak, Ebony, Blond, Modern Walnut and Provincial
Swell and Great. 44 playing keys each 12 notes, attached One set of 9 adjustable harmonic drawbars for upper manual One set of 8 adjustable harmonic drawbars for lower manual One adjustable drawbar for pedal Tilting tablet controlling Volume, Pedal attack and Decay and Vibrato section Expression Pedal One, controlling all divisions with Side control for pedal legato Dimensions 45-5/8" wide; 25-3/8" deep; 42" high AC Input AC 103 watts Output 11 Watts I.E.A. Weight 249 lbs
SERIALS AND MANUFACTURE YEARS OF HAMMOND M-3
Serial Manufacture NumberYear

1956 1954

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157249 157341

1963 1963

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HAMMOND M-3 MANUAL
Hammond Organs Pre 1970 Direct link to www.keyboardmuseum.com and their original "Hammond Organ Introductory Section Service Manual"

HAMMOND PARTS

Organ Service Co

HAMMOND DEKTOP

Hammond Desktop

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Hammond Zone Harmony Central - Hammond M-3 Rumors, Myths and Facts about Leslie Speakers and Hammond Organs The Hammond Lesley FAQ
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