1st Generation: Foundation and growth
The history of Schimmel Pianos began on 2 May 1885 as Wilhelm Schimmel founded his own workshop in Leipzig, Germany.[3] His slogan "Quality prevails", proved to be right as his business succeeded and his instruments grew popular for their advanced technique, excellent sound and contemporary design.[7]
In May 1894, Wilhelm Schimmel produced his 1000th instrument.[6] The company had moved to bigger workshops due to the increasing production. In 1897, Wilhelm Schimmel built his own state-of-the-art factory in Leipzig-Stötteritz on 4000 m2 large grounds.[6] Due to the outstanding playability, the highly developed mechanics and the tonal quality the brand Schimmel soon belonged to the circle of renown pianoforte factories in Leipzig, which used to be, besides Berlin the centre of piano manufacturers in Germany.[6]
Schimmel Pianos soon developed an international reputation as their instruments were exported to Russia, Italy, France, the U.S., Switzerland, and many other countries. Schimmel received the title of purveyor of the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and the purveyor of the King of Romania.[8]
At the World Exhibition in 1913 and 1914, the instruments received first gold medals.[8] An outstanding technical innovation was the development of a self-playing piano, called Ducanola in around 1915.
2nd Generation: 1927 to 1961
At the age of 73, Wilhelm Schimmel passed the company's management to his son, Wilhelm Arno Schimmel.[8] Due to the economic situation the new manager was faced with difficulties concerning the production as well as the sales of pianos.[8] The Hyperinflation in 1923 was followed by the great depression with the Great Stock Market Crash on Black Friday in 1929.[8] The piano industry also had to compete with the radio and the gramophone.[8]
A number of German piano manufacturers united their businesses in December 1929 to the corporation "Deutsche Piano-Werke-AG" with the aim to overcome the challenging situation by unifying certain operations.[6] The production of the cooperation was located in Luckenwalde and Braunschweig in Germany.
3rd Generation: 1961 to 2003
In 1961, Wilhelm Arno Schimmel died unexpectedly. His son, Nikolaus Wilhelm Schimmel (*1934), who was trained as a piano builder as well as businessman took over the company's management.[3] As the 1960s were also marked by a boom in the piano industry, the factory in Braunschweig soon became too small for the expanding production. In 1966, a new factory was built on larger premises in the south of Braunschweig.[9] Over 7.500 instruments left the factory in 1975. In the 1980s, the production and sales had increased to annually 10.000 instruments (including the series Pleyel pianos, produced 1972 to 1996).
In 1985, the company was considered as leading German piano manufacturer. Two-thirds of the production was exported in the European Union, to North America and the Pacific regions.
4th Generation: 2003–today
In 2003, Nikolaus W. Schimmel gave the management to the next generation. His son in law, Hannes Schimmel- Vogel.[10]
Regarding the transforming market the company expanded their product line and developed the new product series "Schimmel Konzert" for the premium section. Over the next 10 years, 6 new grand piano and 3 upright piano models were developed. The newly developed and patented method of construction based on the construction of a grand concert piano, which is used for all instruments.
Furthermore, the company invested in research and development and founded another production plant in Kalisz in Poland. Here the series "Wilhelm Schimmel" is produced, which competes with Asian instruments regarding the price, but is produced in Europe.
The 2008 financial crisis had a large impact on Schimmel Pianos. In 2009, the company filed for self-administered insolvency, ending successfully on 30 March 2010.[11] In the following years Schimmel expands on the Asian market, focusing especially on China, the world's largest piano market. To enter the Chinese market successfully the company founded a strategic alliance with the Pearl River Piano Group
