From the OHS Database Builders Listing editor, December 18, 2016. -

Henry 'Father' Willis (27 April 1821 - 11 February 1901) was a British organ player and builder, the founder of the firm Henry Willis & Sons. Four generations of the Willis family continued the family tradition of organ building until 1997, when Henry Willis IV retired and the first non-family Managing Director was appointed. The Willis firm developed an entire class of high pressure reeds.¹

United States Patents, filed from London, England.

• Patent #339,608; 6 Apr. 1886; pneumatic action
• Patent #427,209; 6 May 1890; pneumatic action

Sources:

1. Henry Willis, http://www.willis-organs.com/index.html, Accessed December 23, 2016.
2. Information taken from the text of one or more United States Patents.
3.