We about us

Over 100 years -

of unmistakable sound

A company that manufactures grand and upright pianos cannot be founded like just any other trade. Karl and Hermann Niendorf were fascinated by their idea when they called Gebr. Niendorf Pianoforte Fabrik AG, Luckenwalde, into being in 1896. Whereby, today it is not easy to use the term "factory" in connection with this highly sensitive, artistically discerning craft. After all, a grand piano is one of the most sophisticated and complex musical instruments there is. A world of knowledge and experience is needed in all questions concerning wood, which, as an individually grown natural product, largely eludes standardization.

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The Niendorf Bros. were ambitious. As the company history attests, they brought the highly respected constructor, Schröder, specially from Berlin and, what is more, used only the most experienced carpenters available in the region. Grand pianos were built in five different sizes – ranging from the baby grand to the concert grand. As is the case today, the majority of pianos were destined for export. The instruments were highly esteemed throughout the whole of Europe and overseas. The main value of a long tradition lies in the accumulation of experience, which is passed on from one generation to the next. The drying and maturing process alone requires many years of careful attention. It is this continuity in particular that lies at the heart of a company involved in the construction of upright and grand pianos.

In 1937, Riese, Hallmann & Co took over the company. This was followed shortly afterwards by the great decline, as experienced by all companies not involved in arms production and the war effort.

In 1946, when Germany rose from the ashes, production was resumed in Luckenwalde – whilst on a small scale, the people had been able to preserve their knowledge throughout the chaotic war years and the will to start over again constituted a 'grand' incentive, in the true sense of the word.

In 1950, the first uprights and grands were exported to the former Soviet Union. Production grew rapidly and, as early as 1957, the old business contacts could be resumed. The good sound of a name associated with quality had survived. Finland, Holland, the Lebanon, South Africa, India, Australia, and Venezuela – they were all back again.

In 1972, the company was nationalized and centralized by force. The small but distinguished Luckenwalde-based company was now a part of the Deutsche Piano-Union Leipzig.

In 1989, the wall came down. The company, which was held in trusteeship, became the Märkische Pianofortefabrik Luckenwalde, but soon afterwards changed its name to the now privatized Leipziger Pianofortefabrik GmbH: the staff set their hopes on a stable new beginning – unfortunately in vain. Closure loomed. Apparently the company was not supposed to experience its 100th anniversary.

In 1996, the company was bought by Regina Rotsch, a long-serving employee. Since then, she has been running it together with her husband, Michael Rotsch. Over 50 % of the staff have been working for the company for more than 20 or 30 years. In other words: the substance is still there. Even if modern manufacturing methods are applied to assist production, the audible difference has remained. This is due to the sure instinct and the experience of the specialists, who, with the help of their hands, eyes and ears, cater for the uncompromising quality that one has come to associate with both the old and the new name Niendorf.

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