Petrof is a Czech piano manufacturer founded in 1864. It is a leading European piano manufacturer, exporting to more than 60 countries.[2][3]
History
The company was founded in 1864 in Hradec Králové, Empor Österreich, by Antonín Petrof (d. 1915), who had apprenticed at Wenes companies such as Heintzman & Co., Friedrich Ehrbar and Schweighofer.
The owner Antonín Petrof was awarded an imperial and royal warrant of appointment to the court of Austria-Hungary.[4] In 1924 the company was exporting its pianos to Europe, Japan, China, Australia and South America.
At the World Exhibition 1934 in Brussels, the Petrof instruments won the gold medal.[5] At that time, approximately 400 people worked at their factory.
After the 1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état, the company was nationalized.
In 1991, the company was returned to the Petrof family.[6] Petrof is currently led by two sisters from the fifth generation of the Petrof family[7] and produces annually approximately 100 grand pianos and 500 upright pianos.[1] Petrof is known for several innovations, such as ways to adjust the mechanics and particularly pressure point through magnetic systems.[8][9]
After 1993, the piano company G. Rösler of Česká Lípa, Bohemia, was acquired.
Notable performers
Petrof pianos have been used by many famous musicians, including among others: Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Sviatoslav Richter, Count Basie, Richard Clayderman, Ennio Morricone, Renato Carosone and Mark Levinson.[2][10]
Models
Grand pianos
Current grand piano models:[11]
- Master series
- P 284 Mistral: 284 cm
- P 237 Monsoon: 237 cm
- P 210 Pasat: 210 cm
- Standard series
- P 194 Storm: 194 cm
- P 173 Breeze: 173 cm
- P 159 Bora: 159 cm
Upright pianos
Current upright piano models:[12]
- Highest series
- P 135 K1: 135 cm
- P 131 M1: 131 cm
- Higher series
- P 125 G1: 125 cm
- P 125 F1: 125 cm
- P 125 K1: 125 cm
- P 125 M1: 125 cm
- P 122 N2: 122 cm
- P 122 H1: 122 cm
- Middle series
- P 118 P1: 118 cm
- P 118 M1: 118 cm
- P 118 S1: 118 cm
External links
- Official site
- Jan Petrof Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2012)
- Martin Kobza Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2012)
- Zuzana Petrofová Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2012)
References
- Drnek Piana – Klavíry a pianina značky Petrof Pianos.cz, retrieved 9 December 2025^
- Northwest Pianos, Petrof^
- Petrof: Europe's largest maker of acoustic pianos Radio Prague International, 7 December 2022^
- Handbuch des Allerhöchsten Hofes und des Hofstaates Seiner K. und K. Apostolischen Majestät K.k. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, 1917^
- "Na Petrof hraje i Paul McCartney – mapa úspěchu" [Paul McCartney plays at Petrof – a map of success]^
- Neuveden. Petrof – Privatisierung Czech Radio, 1998-02-28, retrieved 2026-03-05^
- History, Petrof, spol. s r.o. Petrof.com^
- Petrof Company history Petrof.cz, Petrof, retrieved 2012-06-20^
- From a Koeniggraetz-based workshop to all over the world Prago Media, 2009-08-19^
- Petrof famous owners and admirers^
- Petrof Grand pianos petrof.com, retrieved 2020-12-11^
- Upright pianos www.petrof.com, retrieved 2020-12-11^