Radio and television gain popularity, heralding the electronic age. What would become of reed organs?
Research electronic organs!
1952
Research into electronic sound sources
Yamaha's research into electronic instruments began in 1952. In 1958 Yamaha began analyzing a range of sounds and researching sound circuits and oscillation methods in cooperation with the NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories and NEC.
1959
The Birth of the Electone
In 1959 we released the D-1 Electronic Organ, the first organ made in Japan to utilize transistors instead of the vacuum tubes common at the time. Its name, “Electone” was a combination of “Electronic” and “Tone.”
![[Image] D-1](/en/about/history/innovation/episode-05/images/1959-1.jpg)