Latest news

February 2008

Taken just before Xmas
1 photo of Junior Walker signed to Tiny 1975
2 a programe 1975 Led Zep Earls Court

Both very personal and when I let you into our premises we trust you, they can't be put on dislay by any one as they are signed to Tiny. Please return, thank you

January 2008

New items added to our for sale page

November 2007

We have been a bit slow in updating the site but we are more concerend in actually doing the work that telling averyone about it . So just a few lines to let you know whats been keeping us so busy.

The 1959 white Hammond has been popular and the ever faithful Hammond A100 was playing understudy to a great and famous British Hammond player at Durham cathedral celebrating the University's 175th year. It was a great weekend but the big surprise was hearing the Hamond A100 in a cathedral: such a big amazing sound that stunned all around (even John was taken aback) and a true testament to Don Leslie as after the rehersal had finnished the Cathedral organ started playing I had to look around to see who was playing the Hammond as the slow Leslie was so convincingly accurate to the sound of the big pipes on slow.

We are still restoring the 1966 B3, a 1966 Vox Cont. MK 1 with perc and a fine Yamaha CS80. The service dept has been full of Fender Rhodes Stereo 73 AND 88: 9 in all and the Miles Davis Stereo Rhodes 73 was in for a good look over after a busy hire on 2 album recordings back to back

Coming Soon

The TRUE HAMMOND SPLIT - the Hammond B3/C3 that can go in the car, a true split TWG Hammond. We can turn your C3/A100 into a true split without using your cabinet and it can be reinstalled whenever you decide to.

Coming Features

We will soon be featuring a section on some of the most famous classic keyboards - including history and photos of the items at the Zoo (London). We intend to correct some of the myths about these instruments and help you buy good examples. They will be available to hire and for you to try out here in London.

  • VOX CONT MK1 - we have 5 examples from 1963 to 1967.
  • WURLITZER ELECTRIC PIANO - 1954 111 to 1881 300
  • FENDER RHODES - stage and stereo 73 and 88. Including the Miles Davis Stereo 73.
  • HAMMOND ORGAN TWG versions only - 1935 Model A to 1974 B3.
  • 1935 to 1974 HAMMOND B3 - Special order, all British original items.
  • LESLIE TONE CABINET 145, 147, 122, 122R, 122RV- without it would we be playing them today?

July 2007

We have added a 1970 Hammond B3 to our hire stock so now you can hire one from each or the different periods of real Hammonds
  • 1959 IVORY WIGHT
  • 1963 ROSEWOOD
  • 1966 RED WALNUT
  • 1970 AMERICAN WALNUT
  • 1974 TEAK AND WALNUT THE LAST UE B3 MADE
all are genuine 50 cycle eu items

June 2007

A great month once again
  • the Essex Hammond B3 restoration completed
  • Vox Cont Mk1 restoration completed
  • a black faced Odyssey added to our hire stock
  • an OB Voice added to our hire stock - this is the big white monster!
    • OB4 voice expander
    • OB 8 to be restored for our hire dept
It's also strange that one day you get all Wurlitzer pianos then Fender Rhodes. This month it was all Fender Rhodes for tune and setup.

May 2007

Mavis Staples tribute to Mahalia Jackson, Steve Smith on Hammond B3

Had a great day at Bath International Music Festival. Hammondhire was asked to supply a real B3 Hammond for Mavis Staples. We asked the production manager Geoff (who toured with the late Jimmy Smith) what year Hammond B3 did the artist prefer. He had a preference for 1974, so the light walnut 1974 Hammond B3 with matching 122 Leslie was supplied. Well Mavis put a lot of soul back into a lot of peoples hearts that night. A real privilege to be there and hear such a stunning voice in such a great venue the Art deco forum in Bath.

It's our birthday! 10 May 1974, we are into our 34th year.

March 2007

It just went mad. So many Wurlitzer pianos coming in for a service, tune and restoration all at one time.

The Essex HAMMOND B3 is nearly completed

On the hire side The Hammond organs set up in the ZOO Islington have educated many to how the difference in years makes a difference to the sound and character of the organ

  • THE 1963 Hammond B3 though a wax cap is so mellow but still bright, it makes a soulful recording
  • THE 1974 Hammond B3. Well it just sounds just like you would expect: articulate powerful

Soon you will be able to hire the 1959 white B3 and the restored 1966 B3

February 2007

We simply haven't stopped, except for Christmas lunch. In December:

  • a 1961 B3 was returned to the customer restored
  • a 1964 A100 was refitted with our own manufactured gold bussbars
  • work continued on a 1966 B3, American spec (Essex)
  • P.Nuts Clavioline
And that's just the restorations...

In January

  • customer PW's kit (Jennings Vox Univox,MiniMoog Model D, Fender Rhodes Stage 73, Clavinet D and a Wurlitzer EP200 electric piano)
  • work continued on the 1966 B3

October 2006

A 1959 ivory Hammond B3 has just come in for restoration - this is a genuine British item, and will go in the music room next year, and is available for hire.

Ivory Hammond B3 - this is a genuine British item

New additions to our Hammond restoration gallery: Essex B3 and a 1964 A100. In our Service Gallery, a Clavioline Concert has been added.

September 2006

What a year it has been, the workshop is just non-stop and this month's restorations are coming along well

All the Hammond organs are British items, nothing but the real thing!

We also have ready to hear before you hire: 2 Hammond B3 organs, one c1974 the other c1963. So if you are serious about classic Hammonds, Rhodes, Wurlies, come and see and hear at the Zoo, London

We are looking for a bigger workshop (2000 sq ft with living accommodation) for 6 months as the building work goes on in London. Ideally near London but subject to conditions would consider most areas.

August 2006

We are looking for a Farfisa organ compact or compact duo asap to purchase, very urgent. See our wanted page for more items.

June 2006

Elite Twister

Want something different for your party that our guests will be talking about for weeks? Then have a private air show flown by a British aerobatic champion. For more information visit http://www.yakuk.com/airdisplays.asp

May 2006

Another Hammond B3, a 1963 240V model has been added to our hire dept.

March 2006

We have three Hammond B3s in the workshop for major overhaul and restoration plus our own two: is this a record in England? Five B3 Hammonds in one spot!

How many British B3 Hammonds were there made? Some say 50, some say 150. For Europe no one really knows.

But we have five...

February 2006

Our latest restoration project at the Zoo in London is a Hammond B3 240V British item. This Hammond B3 will be a complete restoration to better than new, starting in the new year. It can be seen and heard in the new music room at the opening in September 2006, along with many other restorations: Wurlitzer EP200, Fender Rhodes Stereo 88/73, Hohner Clavinet D6, Hammond C3,/M102, Pro 5/T8, Roland 100 System, Mini Moog, Oberheim Voice, ARP. The list is being added to all the time. We will keep you updated here for the opening.

November 2005: The Hammond Tonewheel organ will never die

We have produced our own replacement busbars, so you no longer have to worry that your much loved Hammond organ is on its last legs.

We can replace your busbars and bring that Hammond organ back to life. We can also clean your internal keyboard contacts.

The difference is amazing.

June 2005: how to find a classic keyboard

Read our advice on buying an instrument.