List of piano manufacturers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a partial list of piano manufacturers. Most piano professionals have access to detailed information about these brands using a Piano Atlas to reference serial numbers, which are used to determine a piano's age using the year a piano was built. This information is often used in piano appraisals.

Active brands or companies[]

Company Place Years active Acquired by Notes
Atlas [1] Hamamatsu, Japan 1943-present
Apollo[2] Hamamatsu, Japan 1948-present incorporated "SSS system" in their upright piano.
August Förster[3] Löbau, Germany 1859–present
Baldwin Piano Company[4] Cincinnati, OH, US 1857–present Gibson Guitar Corporation Acquired in 2001. Upright models are being built in Baldwin factory in Zhongshan, China. Grand pianos are being built to Baldwin specifications by Parsons Music Group, Hong Kong.[5]
Becker Moscow, Russia 1841–present Nationalized in 1918 and renamed into the 'Red October' brand. Production stopped during Perestroika and relaunched later on under the Becker name.[6]
Belarus Minsk, Belarus 1935–present Only upright pianos of its own brand.
Beiijing HsingHai[7] Beijing, China 1949–present Also manufactures the Hardman brand.[7]
Blüthner[8] Leipzig, Germany 1853–present Also manufactures Haessler and Irmler brands.[8]
Borgato[9] Venice, Italy 1991–present Handcrafted concert grand pianos,
Bösendorfer[10] Vienna, Austria 1828–present Yamaha Acquired in 2007.[10]
C. Bechstein[11] Berlin, Germany 1853–present Also manufactures W. Hoffmann and Zimmerman brands.[5]
Cavendish Pianos[12] Bolton Abbey, UK 2012–present
Edelweiss Pianos[13] Cambridge, UK 1975–present All upright and grand piano come by default as player pianos.[13]
Estonia[14] Tallinn, Estonia 1950–present
Fazioli Pianos[15] Sacile, Italy 1978–present
Ferd. Thürmer[16] Bochum, Germany 1834–present
Feurich[17] Leipzig, Germany 1851–present Wendl & Lung Acquired in 2011.[5] The bulk of manufacturing is carried out in Hailun Piano Company factory in Ningbo, China except the upright piano 123 – Vienna made in Vienna, Austria.[18][17]
Gebr. Schulz[19] Wiesbaden, Germany 1888-present
Grotrian-Steinweg[20] Braunschweig, Germany 1835–present Parsons Music Group Acquired in 2015. A majority interest in Grotrian-Steinweg was purchased by Parsons Music Group.[5][18]Also manufactures the Wilhelm Grotrian brand.[5]
Hailun Piano Company[21] Ningbo, China 2002–present Also manufactures ''Cline'', ''Cunningham'' and ''Emerson'' brands and manufactures pianos for other piano companies.
John Broadwood & Sons[22] London, UK 1728–present Antique upright and grand pianos.[22]
Karl Rönisch[23] Dresden, Germany 1897–present Blüthner Acquired in 2009.[5]
Kawai[24] Hamamatsu, Japan 1927–present Also manufactures Shigeru Kawai grand pianos.[24]
Maene[25] Ruiselede, Belgium 1938–present
Mason & Hamlin[26] Boston, US 1854–present Has changed hands and factories many times in its history. See main article.
Parsons Music Group[27] Hong Kong, China 1986–present Also manufactures Yangtze River, Schönbrunn, Barrate & Robinson, and Brodmann brands.[27][5]
Pearl River Piano Group[28] Guangzhou, China 1956–present Also manufactures Fandrich, Kayserburg and Ritmüller brands.[5]
Petrof[29] Hradec Králové, Czech Republic 1864–present Also manufactures Ant. Petrof, Ant. Dalibor, Weinbach, Rösler, Scholze, Fibich and Akord brands.[29]
Pfeiffer[30] Stuttgart, Germany 1862–present
Samick[31] Incheon, South Korea 1958–present Also manufactures Kohler & Campbell, Pramberger and Wm. Knabe brands.[31][5]
Sauter[32] Spaichingen, Germany 1819–present
Schimmel[33] Braunschweig, Germany 1885–present Pearl River Piano Group Acquired in 2016. Also manufactures Wilhelm Schimmel and Fridolin Schimmel brands.[5]
Seiler[34] Kitzingen, Germany 1849–present Samick Acquired in 2008. Also manufactures Eduard Seiler and Johannes Seiler brands. [5]
Steingraeber & Söhne[35] Bayreuth, Germany 1852–present
Steinway & Sons[36] New York, US and Hamburg, Germany 1853–present Also manufactures the Boston and Essex brands.[36]
Stuart and Sons[37] Newcastle, Australia 1990–present
Walter Piano Company[38] Elkhart, US 1969–present Manufactures Charles R. Walter brand.[5][38]
Wilh. Steinberg[39] Eisenberg, Germany 1877–present Parsons Music Group Acquired in 2013.[5][18]
Yamaha[40] Hamamatsu, Japan 1887–present
Young Chang[41] Seoul, South Korea 1956–present Hyundai Development Company Acquired in 2006.[5] Also Manufactures Weber and Albert Weber brands.[5][41]
Zanta[42] Venice, Italy 1979–present

Defunct brands or companies[]


Company Place Years active Acquired by Notes

Ohio, US 1875–1985 Aeolian Company
[43] Boston, US 1837–1960
Berlin, Germany 1800
Chicago, US 1873–1930 Also sold as Clarion and Orpheus
Aeolian Company New York City, US 1868–1985 Merged with Ampico in 1932. Ampico rebranded as Aeolian in 1941.
Albert Fahr Zeitz, Germany 1887–1950
Boston, US 1848–1930
Sangerhausen, Germany 1803–1993
Alfred Knight, Ltd. London, UK 1936–2003
London, UK
Alpheus Babcock Boston, US 1810–1829
American Piano Company East Rochester, NY, US 1908–1941 Aeolian Company aka. Ampico
Salt Lake City, US 1959–1999

Stockholm, Sweden 1859
New York City, US 1895–1929 Factories located at Southern Blvd. and Trinity Ave. They built a full line of upright pianos, player pianos, and grand pianos. It was acquired circa 1910; went out of business in the Great Depression
Beale Piano Sydney, Australia 1893–1975
New York, US 1892–1940 They Also built pianos under the Bennington name, and player pianos under the Mellotone and Playernola name as well.
Behr Brothers & Co. New York, US 1880–1950
Bell Brothers Muncie, Indiana, US 1915–1930
Bogs & Voigt Berlin, Germany 1905–1939
Boisselot & Fils Marseille, France 1831–1908 The brand became Boisselot Fils & Co. in 1847, after the passing of his father Jean-Louis Boisselot.
Chicago, US 1906–1950
London, UK 1835–1921
Brødrene Hals Oslo, Norway 1847–1925
Chicago, US 1884–1942 Bought by Haddorff Piano co. in 1942

New York, US 1852–1936
Cable Piano Company Chicago, US 1880–1937
New York City, US 1879–1930
Carl Dörr Vienna, Austria 1817–1920
Carl Ecke Posen, Germany 1843–1930
London, UK 1804–1980
Chappell & Co. London, UK 1811–1980 Kemble
Philadelphia, PA and Long Island, NY, US 1789–1887 One of the earliest pianos made in America. The first known piano by Albrecht is located at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.[44]
Charles Stieff Baltimore, US 1856–1951 Often referred to as "The poor man's Steinway"
Boston, US 1930
Chickering and Sons Boston, US 1823–1983 American Piano Company Acquired in 1908
Zweibrücken, Germany 1740–1816
Clementi & Company London, UK 1767–1929
Collard & Collard London, UK 1767–1929
Cunningham Piano Company Philadelphia, US 1891 Pianos are made in China by Hailun Pianos
Currier Piano Co. Boston and Marion, NC, US 1823–1969 Acquisition details

Danemann Pianos London, UK 1893–1994 Also made a Waldberg brand however 'Waldberg Berlin' may be a different company
Decker Brothers New York, US 1862–1900

Ed. Westermayer Berlin, Germany 1863
Cincinnati, US 1893–1930 Upright and grand pianos.
Boston, US 1849–1945
Érard Paris, France 1777–1971
Ernst Kaps Dresden, Germany 1858–1930
Estey Piano Company New York, US 1846–1961
New York, US 1820–1930

New York, US 1866
[45] Haverhill, MA, US 1982–1993
New York, US 1871–1933

G. Rösler Česká Lípa, Bohemia 1878–1948 Petrof Acquired in 1993
G. Schwechten Berlin, Germany 1854–1902 The name "Schwechten" is used in China by Shanghai Piano Co.
New York, US 1851–1866
Gaveau Paris, France 1847–1994
Schwerin,Germany 1871–1989 The Perzina name was revived as "Yantai Perzina" in China.
George Steck New York, US 1857–1985
George Wilkinson London, UK 1811–1835
Detroit, Michigan, US 1902–1960 In the 1990s, the Grinnell name was revived in a limited number of pianos built by Samick.
Gulbransen Chicago, US 1904–1969

H. Kohl Hamburg, Germany 1855–1909
Rockford, IL, US 1902–1960 Maker of Steinbach, Clarendon & Dreher, Bush & Gerts
New York, US 1851–1945
Boston, US 1835–1985 The brand are made in China by Beijing Hsinghai Piano Group, Silbermann Piano Co., and Parsons Music for the importer, North American Music Inc.
Hardman Peck New York, US 1842–1990 The name "Hardman" is used in China by Beiijing HsingHai.
Chicago, US
Heintzman & Co. Toronto, Canada 1866–1929
Hobart M. Cable La Porte, Indiana, US 1900–1960
Hornung & Møller Copenhagen, Denmark 1827–1972
Dresden, Germany 1880–1990

New York, US 1840–1985
J. B. Cramer & Co. London, UK 1824–1964
J. G. Irmler Leipzig, Germany 1818–1950 Blüthner
[46] Brussels, Belgium 1845–1960
Chicago, US 1925
St. Louis, MO, US 1910–1964
Ljubljana, Trieste, Italy 1790–1813
Chicago, US 1857–1930
Kemble & Co. London, UK 1911–2009 Yamaha
New York, US
[47] New York, US 1894–1985 Samick Acquired the name
Krakauer Brothers New York, US 1869–1980
New York, US 1864–1985
New York, US 1848–1938

Newark, NJ, US 1862–1930
[48] Quebec, Canada 1884–1911 Willis & Co. Acquired in 1907
[49] Lester, PA, US 1888–1960 Also manufactured brands Channing, Alden, Bellaire, Schubert and Leonard
Lindeman & Sons New York, US 1836–2003
Ludwig & Co. St. Louis, MO, US 1889–1933

Chicago, US 1869–1930 Company manufactured and sold pianos under the names of M. Schulz, Walworth, Bradford, Irving, and Maynard, and Aria Divina. They were also sold under the names Brinkerhoff (from teens until about 1950s) and Schriver & Sons.
New York, US 1875–1953
Ontario, Canada 1871–1972
Mathushek Piano Co. New York, US 1852–1879
New York, US 1853–1960
DeKalb, IL, US 1900–1940 Baldwin Piano Company Purchased by Baldwin in 1919
Toronto, Canada 1870–1960
Monington & Weston London, UK 1858–1975
London, UK 1900–1920
Muir, Wood and Company[50] Edinburgh, Scotland 1798–1818 Wood, Small and Company was formed at John Muir's Death in 1818
Edinburgh, Scotland 1903

Chicago, US 1880–1930
Toronto, Canada 1844–1960

P. A. Starck Piano Chicago, US 1891–1965
Pape Paris, France 1817–1875
Petzold Paris, France 1806
New York, US 1822–1855
Pleyel et Cie[51] Paris, France 1807–2013 At the end of 2013, the company announced it would cease manufacturing pianos in France[52]

Stuttgart, Germany 1831–1998
R. Görs & Kallmann Berlin, Germany 1877–1990
R. S. Williams & Sons[53] Toronto, Canada 1856–1931 Manufactured mandolins, banjos, melodeons, organs and pianos
St. Paul, MN, US 1883–1935
Chicago, US 1842–1920
Robert Wornum & Sons London, UK 1811–1900
Rud. Ibach Sohn Düsseldorf, Germany 1794–2007

Schiedmayer Stuttgart, Germany 1809
Schiller Piano Company[54] Oregon, IL, US 1890–1936 Cable Company
Schweighofer Vienna, Austria 1792–1938
Sears, Roebuck & Company[55] Chicago, US 1900–1930 Also manufactured/sold brands Beckwith, American Home, Maywood, Beverley, and Caldwell
Chicago, US 1886–1901
Sherman, Clay & Co. San Francisco, US 1853–2013
Woodbridge, CT, US 1850–1938
New York, US 1850–1965
Albuquerque, NM, US 1940–1990 Simpson & Son was the only piano manufacturer west of the Mississippi during that time. They specialized in custom spinet upright pianos.
Sohmer & Co. New York, US 1872–1996
Copenhagen, Denmark 1893–1921 sponagle
Starr Piano Company Richmond, IN, US 1872–1950 Originally named the Trayser Piano Company, after one of its founders, George Trayser. They also produced a more affordable, yet exceptional quality, piano line, the "Richmond Piano Company", which was sold alongside theirs in showrooms. Also known for founding Gennett Records.
Chicago, US 1879–1959 "Steger & Sons is one of the few American manufacturers to survive the Great Depression without being absorbed into a larger conglomerate. "[56]
Rockford, IL, US 1902–1960 Actually made by Haddorff Piano company.
Sterling Piano Company Derby, CT, US 1866–1967 Founded in 1845 as The Sterling Organ Company by Charles A. Sterling, the company merged with the Winter Piano Company after the Great Depression. They also produced the cheaper, but reputable, Huntington Piano.
Chicago, US 1884–1993
Straube Piano Company Downers Grove, IL, US (1895–1904)
Hammond, IN, US (1904–1940)
Chicago Heights, IL, US (1940–1942)
Rockford, IL, US (1942–1949) 		1895–1949 C.G. Conn Manufactured Straube, Hammond, Gilmore, and Woodward; receiver's sale in 1934; bankruptcy in 1937 – remaining assets, including name and patents continued in 1937 in the newly formed Indiana corporation, Straube Pianos Inc.
Strich & Zeidler[57][58] New York City, US 1889–1930 Also manufactured Homer brand
New York, US 1886–1930

Th. Mann & Co. Bielefeld, Germany 1836–1942
Galveston, TX, US 1866–1915
Timothy Gilbert Boston, US 1829–1868

Uebel & Lechleiter Heilbronn, Germany 1872–1987
New York, US 1860–1880

Boston, US 1851–1985 Aeolian Company

W. Ritmüller & Sohn Göttingen, Germany 1795–1933 Pearl River Piano Group in China use the brand name "Ritmüller" for their pianos
W. W. Kimball and Company Chicago, US 1857–1996 see Kimball International
Weber Piano Company[48][59] New York, US 1852–1985 Young Chang Young Chang acquired the Weber name in 1985.[5]
[48] Kingston, ON, Canada 1865–1961
London, UK 1925–2003
Wendl & Lung[60] Vienna, Austria 1910–2021 Wendl & Lung piano models were renamed Feurich. The company was renamed Feurich Pianoforte GmbH in 2021.
Wertheim Piano Melbourne, Australia 1908–1935
Toronto, Canada 1888–1969
Wilhelm Spaethe Gera, Germany 1858–1920
Willis & Co.[61] Montreal, Canada 1889–1979 Acquired in 1907. Also manufactured Newcombe
Wm. Knabe & Co. Baltimore, US 1837–1982 Samick Acquired the name in 2001
Wolfframm Dresden, Germany 1872–1930 Started out under brand name Apollo
Wood, Small and Company[62] Edinburgh, Scotland 1818–1829 Successive firms were Wood and Company, J. Muir Wood Company, and Small, Bruce and Company. Continued until Andrew Wood's Death in 1829
Wurlitzer Cincinnati, OH, US 1856–1988 Baldwin Piano Company Also sold under the names Apollo, De Kalb, Julius Bauer, Farney, Kingston, Kurtzman, Merrium. Schaff Bros. and Underwood.

Zimmermann Seifhennersdorf, Germany 1884–2011 C. Bechstein Acquired in 1992

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Atlas Malaysia Distributor". Atlas Malaysia. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  2. ^ "APOLLO | TOYO PIANO MFG.Co., LTD". toyoapollo.com. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  3. ^ August Forster website
  4. ^ Baldwin website
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Piano Buying Guide | The Successor To The Piano Book | Piano Buyer". PianoBuyer. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  6. ^ "About the Company Becker". Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "北京星海钢琴集团有限公司-官方网站". www.xhpiano.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Blüthner website
  9. ^ Borgato website
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Bösendorfer website
  11. ^ C. Bechstein website
  12. ^ Cavendish Pianos website
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b Edelweiss Pianos website
  14. ^ Estonia website
  15. ^ Fazioli website
  16. ^ Ferd. Thürmer website
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b Feurich website
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b c Berlin, Derek Scally in. "Facing the music: how China is buying Germany's piano industry". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  19. ^ "Piano-Schulz Wiesbaden - Über Uns". www.piano-schulz.de. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  20. ^ Grotrian-Steinweg website
  21. ^ "Official Hailun Piano Co Website". hailunpianoco.com. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b Broadwood and Sons website
  23. ^ Rönisch website
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b Kawai website
  25. ^ Maene website
  26. ^ Mason & Hamlin
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b "柏斯音乐集团 Parsons Music Corporation". www1.parsonsmusic.com. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  28. ^ Pearl River website
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b Petrof website
  30. ^ "Pfeiffer Pianos - Home". www.pfeiffer-pianos.com. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b Samick website
  32. ^ "Sauter Piano Manufaktur". www.sauter-pianos.de. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  33. ^ website
  34. ^ "Seiler Pianos". Seiler Pianos Com (in German). Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  35. ^ "Steingraeber & Söhne - the premium manufacturer for upright and grand pianos". Steingraeber. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b Steinway and Sons website
  37. ^ Stuart and Sons piano website
  38. ^ Jump up to: a b "Charles R. Walter Piano Company - Grand Pianos - Studio Pianos - Console Pianos". www.walterpiano.com. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  39. ^ "首页 Wilh. Steinberg". www.wilhsteinberg.de. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  40. ^ Yamaha Pianos website
  41. ^ Jump up to: a b Young Chang Piano America website
  42. ^ ZANTA Pianos website
  43. ^ "Antique Piano Shop, McPhail".
  44. ^ Bob Pierce, Larry Ashley Pierce Piano Atlas, 10th Edition, September 26, 1996
  45. ^ "Falcone, The Handmade American Piano".
  46. ^ "Antique Piano Shop, Gunther".
  47. ^ Kohler & Campbell website
  48. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Antique Piano Shop, Weber".
  49. ^ "Lester Piano Company". Archived from the original on 2012-06-06.
  50. ^ Palmieri, Robert (2003). The Piano: An Encyclopedia. New York City, NY, US: Taylor & Francis. p. 243.
  51. ^ Pleyel website
  52. ^ "Chopin's Favorite Piano Factory Plays Its Final Chord". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  53. ^ "R.S. Williams & Sons". The Canadian Encyclopedia, by Helmut Kallmann, Carl Morey, and Florence Hayes, February 7, 2006
  54. ^ Novak, Alice (29 November 2012), NRHP Nomination: Oregon Commercial Historic District (PDF), Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2015
  55. ^ The Antique Piano Shop. "Sears, Roebuck & Company". Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  56. ^ "Steger & Sons". antiquepianoshop.com.
  57. ^ "Antique Piano Shop, Strich & Zeidler".
  58. ^ Dolge, Alfred (1913). Pianos and Their Makers: Development of the piano industry in America Since the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, 1876; Volume II. Covina Publishing Company.
  59. ^ Weber pianos website
  60. ^ "Wendl & Lung". Wendl & Lung. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  61. ^ "The Canadian Encyclopedia, Willis & Company Ltd". Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  62. ^ Palmieri, Robert (2003). The Piano: An Encyclopedia. New York City, NY, US: Taylor & Francis. p. 435.

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