Hammond Advertising

[r_ruggiero <r_ruggiero@global2000.net>]

In the book *Rock Hardware* there is a reprint of an early Hammond ad, 
which claims the Hammond produces "the full, lovely tone range of the 
concert organ."  I have often thought about that quote, because on the 
one hand it is grossly exaggerated - and yet the Hammond is capable of a 
lot more expression than any spectrum analyzer or other measurement could 
indicate.

My conclusion is this:  the Hammond produces the full range of organ 
tones in much the same way a black and white photograph represents the 
full spectrum of color.  No one would ever really mistake a black and 
white photograph for reality, and few would really mistake a Hammond for 
a pipe organ.  However, like the black and white photo, the Hammond gets 
the whole message across, and sometimes the limitations of its sound are 
a key factor in the expression.

So, the Hammond produces "the full, lovely tone range of the concert 
organ. . ." in black and white.

Just a little late night philosophical babble. . .

Rick