Ace Tone

[1] Ikutaro Kakehashi began learning practical mechanical engineering as a teenager, and found there was a demand for electronics repair in Japan following the end of World War II.

After recovering from tuberculosis in 1954, he opened a goods store in Osaka and began assembling and repairing radios.

[3] In 1964, Kakehashi designed his first hand playing electronic drum, the R1 Rhythm Ace, constructed from transistor circuitry.

It was designed to be attached below the manuals on a home organ, and had six buttons that created a variety of percussion sounds.

It was commercially successful and led to partnership with the Hammond Organ Company, who added Ace Tone's rhythm units to its range of instruments.

Ace Tone TOP-1
Ace Tone unknown home organ model. (possibly Ace 3000 in the 1970s)
FR-2L / Hammond Auto
FR-3
FR-3S, sold under the Multivox brand. Note that it share several similarities with Korg Minipops. [ Note 3 ]
Hammond Auto-Vari 64
(based on Roland Rhythm 77 )
Roland Rhythm 77
(based on FR-7L)
An Ace Tone Mighty-5 Amplifier