SPRINGFIELD — In episode 47 of their podcast “That’s One for the History Books,” Springfield resident Marty Cohn and his colleague Hugh Ryan of Westerly, R.I., featured the remarkable life and legacy of Jacob Estey, a Brattleboro pioneer in the world of musical instruments.
Jacob Estey, born in 1814, was a visionary entrepreneur and inventor who revolutionized the music industry. Although his name may not be widely recognized today, his contributions are undeniable. Estey began his working life as a plumber’s apprentice at the age of 17 and, before the age of 35, was a partner in plumbing, lumber, slate, and marble businesses.
Sensing a business opportunity, Estey took over a share of a small melodeon business in 1852 in Brattleboro, Vermont. A melodeon is a type of 19th-century reed organ. In 1855, Jacob Estey and partner H.
P. Green took over the company and manufactured what was marketed as the Perfect Melodeon. Jacob Estey became sole owner of the business in 1863 and introduced a line of Cottage Organs for homes and smaller churches.
Specializing in reed organs, Estey transformed the small town of Brattleboro, Vermont, into a hub for musical instrument manufacturing. The "Estey Organ" became renowned for their superior sound and durability, captivating musicians and audiences alike, became synonymous with quality and craftsmanship. What set Jacob Estey apart was his visionary approach to business.
He implemented innovative marketing strategies, including the in.