Schimmel Pianos - Houston Piano Company

Original Piano Maker(s)
Wilhelm Schimmel (1854-1946)

Date Established
1885

Original Location(s)
Leipzig, Germany

Notable Dates

May 2, 1885 — First Schimmel piano built.
1891 — Schimmel’s first factory was built.
1897 — Schimmel’s second and larger factory was built.
Named Court Builder for both the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimer and King of Romania
1913 — Recieved gold medal at the World Exhibition.
1914 — Recieved gold medal at the World Exhibition.
1915 — Developed Ducanola, a self-playing piano.
1927 — Schimmel retires and his son, Wilhelm Arno Schimmel takes over the company.
1929 — Moved headquarters to Braunschweig, Germany.
1960 — Schimmel celebrates the building of its 50,0000 piano.
1961 — Wilhelm Arno Schimmel passes away and his son, Nikolaus Wilhelm Schimmel assumes the leadership role, making him the third generation in charge of Schimmel Pianos.

Notable Dates (cont.)

1966 — First phase of factory expansion in a 6400 sq. ft. lot completed.
1975 — Second phase of the factory expansion completed.
2003 — A fourth generation takes over. Hannes M. Schimmel-Vogel (son-in-law to Nikolaus Wilhelm Schimmel) becomes president.
2016 — Alliance formed between Schimmel and Pearl River.

Current Management
Zhaoyin Chen is the new president of the company while Viola Schimmel (great-granddaughter of Wilhelm Schimmel) is the general manager.

Current Headquarters
Braunschweig, Germany