Sharma speaker
{{Unreliable sources|date=October 2012}}
The Sharma speaker was a rotary speaker, similar in design to the Leslie speaker, that was manufactured in the UK by Keith Hitchcock during the 1960s and 1970s.{{cite web|url=http://midiguru.net/hammond.htm|title=Hammond FAQ : Question 20|accessdate=8 October 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://forum.speakerplans.com/lesley-not-not-the-woman-the-speaker_topic31794_page3.html|title=Lesley not not the woman? the speaker!|accessdate=8 October 2012}}
History
The name "Sharma" came from Hitchcock's two children, Sharon and Mark.{{cite web |url=https://groups.google.com/group/alt.music.hammond-organ/tree/browse_frm/month/2002-05/35da1deab8323377?rnum=21&_done=%2Fgroup%2Falt.music.hammond-organ%2Fbrowse_frm%2Fmonth%2F2002-05%3F |title=alt.music.hammond-organ : Sharma}}{{verify credibility|date=October 2012}}
File:Sharma speaker controls.jpg
Hitchcock designed the speaker to directly compete with the Leslie, and consequently it contains similar features, such as a rotating horn for treble frequencies, a drum for bass frequencies, and the same nine-pin amphenol connector interface as contemporary Leslies then in production. However, unlike a typical Leslie, it includes a treble and bass control, and a line level input.
Also, in the Leslie units the horn and bass rotor moved in opposite directions, with a fast and slow motor on each. In the Sharma units, they both rotate in the same direction, with just a fast and slow motor shared. A clutch allows the top and bottom rotors to accelerate at different rates.
The amplifier boards were made for Sharma by HH Electronics.{{cn|date=September 2013}}
Some of the early Sharma speakers had an eight-pin connector. Some models of speaker also contained rotary and stationary speakers, with separate power amplifiers, which were used on non-Hammond organs such as Lowrey or Wurlitzer.{{cite web |url=http://www.organforum.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-19747.html |title=Organ Forum : Can I change the crossover frequency in my Sharma speaker? |accessdate=8 October 2012}}
Sharma speakers fell out of favour due to the introduction of low-cost electronics that could emulate the rotating speaker sound.{{cn|date=October 2014}}
References
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