Toronto Piano
Tuning by Jamie Musselwhite
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Links! Piano Canada  Forums, Classifieds Ads, Piano Related Merchandise! Jamie in the Media! My entry into the C.B.C's Hockey Night in Canada Theme Song Challenge: "The Hockey Game Tonight!" An Interveiw by the C.B.C. (recorded in 1993) Rogers T.V. Program "Structures" on Heintzman (You may have to save this to your desktop and double Click it to open) Ontario Today Phone in Show Part 1 Ontario Today Phone in Show Part 2
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Piano BuildersCurrent | Past During the past three centuries, literally thousands of Piano Brand names have come and gone. Some names still survive, either as original builders or as an adopted name for a line of pianos from a "new" builder. In the following list, I have tried to include the dates of the builders. In some cases, such as "Boston", the builders have not stated the date of formation, possibly to obfuscate the fact that the piano is relatively new. Please note that the dates supplied below may refer to either the current manufacturer or the original manufacturers depending on which list the name is included. When searching for information on a specific piano, try to ascertain it's age. This can be obtained in most cases by finding the serial number (stamped or painted onto the top of the Piano's Plate) and the make, and then e-mail me with this information. If you have Google Earth installed on your computer you can see where in the world each company is (or was) located by clicking on the "Location" link after the name.  Current Builders During the "Golden age" of the Piano (1880-1929), Many builders made three lines of pianos: Their "A" line, Ex. "Mason & Risch", their "B" line ex. "Henry Herbert", and a "C" line, which could have any name on it a retailer could request (as long as the name wasn't already copywritten). This tradition remains to this day. There are many, many new piano brands which do not relate to an existing manufacturer. Having said this, it is probable that many current builders are not included in this list. A - G | H - K | L - P | Q - Z Baldwin Location - (1890 - ) Bought by Gibson Guitar Company in 2004 Bechstein Location (1853 - ) - Exceptionally fine Pianos from Berlin, Germany Bluthner Location (1853 - ) - Also exceptionally fine Pianos from Leipzig, Germany. (1853 was a good year!) Bosendorfer Location (1828 - ) A big name with some BIG pianos! Unique Rim Construction! Boston - (? - ) A Division of Steinway & Sons Steinway Designed, Built by Kawai. Broadwood Location (1774 - ) By appointment to her majesty the Queen - the makers of Beethoven's favorite piano. (It was the only one that didn't collapse under his fingers!) Chickering & Sons (1823 - ) Sold to Aeolian in the 1930's, the sold to Wurlitzer in the 1990's, built by Samick for a while. Now owned by Baldwin. Dongbei Location (? - ) Chinese Manufacturer of many brands, recently purchased by Gibson (Who also own Baldwin). Fazioli Location - (1978 - ) Paulo Fazioli set out to make the finest piano in the world. Now just over 25 years later, many say he succeeded. Feurich Location (1851 - ) One of the first European makers of the upright piano. Guangzhou / Pearl River Location (1956 - ) Chinese Manufacturer of many brands including Yamaha. Hazelton Bros. - (2003 - ) Made by Samick-Bechstein. Heintzman - (1989 - ) Not the Canadian Original, but the Chinese up-and-comer. Ibach Location (1794 - ) For over 200 years, fine German Pianos. (They also made Pipe Organs until 1906.) Kawai Location (1927 - ) The "other" Japanese Piano. Kemble Location (1930 - ) The best selling British Piano in the world. Knabe Location (2003 - ) Now made by Samick-Bechstein, Knabe is a very old and respected name in American Pianos. Kohler & Campbell Location ( 2003 - ) Now made by Samick-Bechstein. Mason & Hamelin Location (1996 - ) Now owned by Pianodisc, one of the finest pianos currently made in North America. (Which isn't saying much.) Petrof Location (1864 - ) Czech it out! Samick Location(2003 - ) Now, with the help of Bechstein Pianos, Samick is producing possibly the finest Pianos in the Orient. Sauter (1819 - ) Schimmel Location (1885 - ) Truly the most advanced Piano in the world. One of the finest makers in the world today. Seiler Location (1849 - ) Is there such a thing as a perfect piano? Seiler says they are trying to find out, at least. Sohmer Location (2003 - ) Now made by Samick-Bechstein, Sohmer is a very old and respected name in American Pianos. Steingraeber & Sohne Location (1852 - ) Possibly the most unusual piano factory in the world! Steinway Location (1853 - ) The "Instrument of the Immortals". Yamaha Location (1887 - ) My father was one of the first Canadian Dealers of Yamaha Pianos. He had to convince those early customers that the Japanese knew what they were doing. Imagine that now! Past Builders This is a partial list, containing only the names of builders whose instruments are still relatively common, or that have historical significance. Acrosonic - A division of Baldwin Aeolian - (1932 - 1985) Aeolian manufactured pianos under the following piano names: Aeolian, Duo Art, Gabler, Stuyvesant, Acoustigrand, Ellsworth, Haines Bros., Pianola, Ampico, Knabe, Stratford, Brewster, Foster Armstrong, Laffargue, Stroud, Chickering, Marshall - Wendell, Normandie, Vose, A. A. Chase, Mason and Hamlin, Lindeman, Weber, Franklin, Primatone, Washburn and Wheelock. See also Aeolian Organ and Music Company and Aeolian Weber Piano and Pianola Company. One of the earliest Piano Conglomerate Corporations. Aeolian bought many companies which collapsed during the depression, and many of their "Brand Names" still survive today under new ownership. Bell Location - (1864 - 1925) High quality Pianos made in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Bought by Lesage Pianos in 1934. Chickering & Sons Location (1823 -1932) Bought by Aeolian during the depression, later sold to Baldwin. Erard Location (1800 - 1981?) Famous piano and Harp maker. Partnered with Gaveau, and by Schimmel in 1971. Gaveau ( 1847 -1981) See Erard. Gerhard Heintzman Location (1877 -1927) Made by a nephew of THE Heintzman. Bought by THE Heintzman, and used as a second-line until the early 1980's. Before Gerhard Heintzman opened his own company, he worked for Lansdowne, and then A & S Nordheimer. Gourlay, Winter & Leeming (1912 - 1924) Bought by Sherlock-Manning. Disc. in 1968. Haines Bros. (1851 - 1942) Hamilton (1801 - 2000) Made by Baldwin. Hazelton Bros. (1849 - 1957) Bought by Kohler & Campbell in 1957, the Trade name bought by Samick-Bechstein in 2003. Heintzman & Co. Location 1 Location 2 Location 3 Location 4 (1870 - 1985) The Premiere Canadian Piano, and one of the best Upright Piano Manufacturers in the world. Bought by Sklar-Pepplar in 1985, sold to The Music Stand, made for a small period of time by Kimball, then made in limited numbers in Eastern Europe. Still Canadian owned, they are now made in China. Karn (1868 - 1924) Location At one time, one of the Canadian largest builders - also made Pump Organs. Kimball Location 1 Location 2 ( 1865 - ? ) Originally specializing in making Square Pianos, Kimball gradually broadened out to uprights and small grands in the early 20th century. Bought by the Jasper Corp. in 1959, eventually owned by the Habig Corp. who also bought Bosendorfer. Made a large number of mass-produced entry-level pianos culminating in providing 100 pianos for the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. Today Kimball is no longer in the piano business, speciallizing instead on furniture and office equipment. Knabe (1837 - present) Originally located in Baltimore, Knabe was once one of Steinway closest competitors. Bought by Aeolian during the deppresion. Now made by Samick Music Corp. in S. Korea. Kohler & Campbell Location (1896 - present) Made over fifty different brands of pianos at their N.Y. Location which now is in the middle of Central Park. Now made in Indonesia by Samick. Lesage Location (1942 - 1981) One of the last Canadian builders. Lesage bought out two other well-known makes (Bell & Willis) One of the Lesage family (Jean) was premier of Quebec during the 1960's. Mason & Hamelin Location (1865 - present) Made Pianos and Organs in New York. Bought by Aeolian in 1924, most recently owned by Gary and Kirk Burgett, the founders of Pianodisc. Mason & Risch (1871 - 1985) Large and well known Canadian builder of pianos. Bought out by Aeolian. For the last decade or so of it's existance, M&R's were built in the U.S. and assembled in Scarborough, ON. Nordheimer Location (1840- 1928) A & S Nordheimer started out as a music store, selling other peoples pianos. Eventually, they started building there own, and very good ones at that. Nordheimer Ravine in the city of Toronto is named after them, and marks the path of a stream that used to flow into their estate. In 1928, Heintzman bought Nordheimer and used the name for its' lesser priced instruments. Sherlock-Manning Location (1875 - 1985) The last of the Canadian Builders, S-M was run for many years after the Second World War by the Heintzman family. In 1981 it was bought by Draper Brothers Reid ltd. Sohmer Location (1872-1971) Another of the many NY builders, the name is now owned by Samick. Steinway Location (1853-present) See my Piano History page. Weber Location (1862-1968) Many pianos were named Weber. The Canadian version, made in Kingston was taken over by Sherlock-Manning in 1938, and the name was used on many of their pianos until 1968. Willis (1871-1960) Built (very well) in Montreal. Bought out by Lesage. |
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