Pierce Piano Atlas: Anniversary Edition, 2017 Our 70th Year. Contact Lindeblad today and let us show you how we can bring your piece of American history back to life. Known as the “poor man’s Steinway”, Sohmer pianos, and especially grands, are worth restoring. These features differentiate Sohmer pianos from other American-made pianos and continue to help set the instruments apart even today.īecause Sohmer pianos were built with such attention to detail and fine craftsmanship, many have stood the test of time and are still in use. One of the hallmarks of Sohmer pianos is the use of elaborate woodwork and design elements. After a few bit parts, he found a starring role on Ark II (1976), and was soon courted by The Young and the Restless (1973) to fill in. He had no problem finding work with his acting, singing, and piano playing. Sohmer produced both upright and grand pianos that are known for their unique “round, hollow, woody, and dark” sound, as well as squares and player pianos. Terry Lester began his acting career while in the Army, and upon completing his service, decided to move to Hollywood to pursue acting. This well-known piano manufacturer was the first to sell a five-foot baby grand, and they laid claim to many patents for designs such as the agraffe bars and actions, an agraffe for a quadruple strung reverberation scale, and bridge agraffes, among others. Continuity in quality is just one of the reasons that these fine pianos were, and are, so popular. has changed ownership many times over the last several decades, many consider the pianos made today under the Sohmer name to be high-quality and reminiscent of the Sohmer Pianos of old. The company also manufactures pianos for some. Steinhoven has a highly trained technical team, experienced engineers and skilled craftsmen who have perfected the art of piano building over the past twenty five years. In 2003, Korean-based Samick Music Company released a Sohmer piano line that is currently manufactured in Korea. Steinhoven pianos was established in Ireland in 2004 and have a modern purpose built factory on the outskirts of Shanghai, China.
When Mason and Hamlin declared bankruptcy, a company by the name of Music Systems Research purchased their assets. Falcone Piano Company, which was later absorbed into Mason and Hamlin Corp., purchased Sohmer from Robert McNeil in 1989. In 1986, Pratt Reed sold Sohmer to Robert McNeil, and the factory was moved to Elysburg, PA.
At the time, Pratt Reed was the largest American manufacturer of pianos, and the Sohmer offices and factory were moved to Ivoryton, CT. In 1982, Harry and Robert Sohmer sold the family’s company to Pratt Reed and Co. Hugo Sohmer’s son, Harry, took over the company and eventually passed it on to his sons, Harry Jr. was one of a handful of American piano manufacturers to survive the Great Depression, and remained family-owned through most of the Twentieth Century.
Most piano professionals have access to detailed information about these brands using a Piano Atlas to. Known for producing high-quality, long-lasting pianos, Sohmer was the piano preferred by President Calvin Coolidge and well-known composers Victor Herbert and Irving Berlin. This is a partial list of piano manufacturers. Sohmer and Company was founded in 1872 when Hugo Sohmer and Joseph Kruder bought out the Marshall and Mittauer piano factory located in Long Island, New York.