An electronic organ, many models of which have been manufactured by the Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. since 1946. The original models were designed by Dr Winston E. Kock (1909–82), the company's director of electronic research from 1936. Baldwin organs normally have two manuals and pedals; the earlier models were mostly church, cinema and concert organs, but the company has subsequently manufactured a wide range of instruments, including many for home use, especially ‘spinet’ organs in which two shorter manuals are staggered by one octave. Advances in electronic technology around 1970 made possible several new devices that are now widespread: rhythm and ‘walking bass’ units, arpeggiators, memories and a choice of chord systems. Baldwin introduced microcomputer organs around 1981; current models, like Baldwin's Pianovelle digital pianos, are based on sampled timbres.
HUGH DAVIES