Hammond Novachord (1939–1942)
A 72-note polyphonic electronic instrument using 163 vacuum tubes, first shown at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Overview
The Hammond Novachord was developed by the Hammond Organ Co and introduced at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Production ran from 1939 to 1942, and exactly 1,069 units were built. Laurens Hammond, John Hanert, and C.N. Williams designed it, and it is recognized as the world's first production synthesizer. It has 72-note polyphony and uses 12-semitone oscillators across a 5-octave range.
Specifications
| Tube count | 163 vacuum tubes |
| Capacitor count | Over 1,000 custom capacitors |
| Polyphony | 72 voices |
| Dimensions (WHD) | 52.25 x 38.25 x 36.75 inch / 1327 x 972 x 933 mm |
Design
The Novachord contains 163 vacuum tubes and over 1,000 custom capacitors. The circuitry allows dynamic control of tone and envelope. A service manual, *A Manual For The Service Technician (Second Edition)*, was published in 1939.
Context
The Novachord is widely regarded as the father of the modern synthesizer. It was the first electronic synthesizer produced in quantity, and it debuted at the 1939 World's Fair.
Similar items on eBay
No exact Hammond Novachord listings are live right now — these searches show current Hammond and similar vintage synth gear on eBay:
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.