John L. Hinners began manufacturing organs in 1879, with the first workshop in an upstairs room at 341 Court Street. Over the years, business partners included J.J. Fink from 1881 to 1885 and U.J. Albertsen from 1895 to 1902. In 1902 the business was organized as a stock company and adopted the name Hinners Organ Company. In 1942 the company was dissolved after building over 3,000 pipe organs and over 20,000 reed organs that were sold in the United States and throughout the world.