more on Leslie-Hammond run-ins

[joek@apollo.hp.com]

Hi,

This mail triggered my memory:

> BTW, did anyone hear a segment on NPR a while back where Don Leslie was
> interviewed (at least a year ago)?  As I recall, it had some interesting
> anecdotes about the develoment of the Leslie speaker, as well as some
> run-ins he had with Laurens Hammond.  If anyone has a copy of this
> broadcast, I'd like to arrange a copy of my own.

There is a two-page article in the April 1990 Issue of Keyboard
Vintage Synths column called "Don Leslie: The whirl to success"
In it there is some mention of the run-ins.  Here is a quote from
the article that starts with a quote from Don Leslie:

----------- from April 1990 keyboard ----------------------------

"In 1940, I told Hammond that I had something that they should be
interested in and asked if they'd like to hear it.  I demonstrated
the speaker for them. The Hammond representative, Paul Owsley,
called in about 50 organists, and they all went sort of gaga over
the speaker. But I heard Paul going around whispering in their
ears "Don't let him know its any good". I told them, "In 30 days,
I'm going to start making and selling these.  You've got 30 days
to talk to me about it". Thank goodness they did the right thing:
they brushed me off.  I would have sold it for some reasonable
amount and they would have simply squashed it.  They didn't want
it.  They just wanted to get rid of me".

Hammond execs looked unfavorably on Leslie's efforts to improve
on their pride and joy organ.  In fact there was quite a battle
between these two companies for years....Hammond would release
a "Leslie-proof" organ that required their own speaker to power
up; a week later, Leslie's speaker would have an adapter so that
it would work with that organ.

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