A Very Brief History

The Schimmel company has been making pianos in Germany since 1885, when Wilhelm Schimmel, at the age of 30, founded Hof-Pianofortefabrik Wilhelm Schimmel. The company started in a small workshop near Leipzig and enjoyed rapid growth. Two years later it moved from its original 13 sq m premises to one of 4000 sq m!

Following years of further growth, in 1958 Schimmel became the bestselling resident German upright piano manufacturer in the world.

In 2016 Schimmel entered into a strategic alliance with China’s Pearl River Piano Group (arguably the world’s largest piano manufacturer). Pearl River is now a majority shareholder in the company. Pianos continue to be made in Braunschweig, as well as at Schimmel’s Polish factory in Kalisz, and also in China.

The Schimmel C121 includes several new design innovations—but most notable is the bridge. This has been replaced with the reduced-mass bridge found on Schimmel’s premium Konzert models. The new bridge transmits the strings’ vibrations more efficiently, resulting in greater sustain, and a richer timbre.

Schimmel offers the C121 in five different model variants: Tradition, Elegance Manhattan, Royal, Royal Intarsie Flora and Tradition Marketerie. Each is available in a selection of veneers and finishes. Intarsie is a woodworking technique similar to marquetry.

The Schimmel Classic range consists of three grands and four upright pianos. All are made at the company’s Braunschweig facility in north-central Germany.

Dimensions (cm): 121(H) x 150 (W) x 59 (D) [x 62(D) Tradition] Weight (kg): 249

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