Petrof is a Czech piano manufacturer founded in 1864. It is the leading European piano manufacturer, exporting to more than 60 countries.[2][3]
History
The company was founded in 1864 in Hradec Králové, Kingdom of Bohemia, by Antonín Petrof (d. 1915), who had apprenticed at Viennese 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 and produces annually approximately 2,000 grand pianos and 12,000 upright pianos.[7][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 (9'4")
- P 237 Monsoon: 237 cm (7'9")
- P 210 Pasat: 210 cm (6'10")
- Standard Series
- P 194 Storm: 194 cm (6'4")
- P 173 Breeze: 173 cm (5'8")
- P 159 Bora: 159 cm (5'3")
Upright pianos
Current Upright Piano Models:[12]
- Highest Series
- P 135 K1: 135 cm (53 1/8")
- P 131 M1: 131 cm (51 1/2")
- Higher Series
- P 125 G1: 125 cm (49 1/4")
- P 125 F1: 125 cm (49 1/4")
- P 125 K1: 125 cm (49 1/4")
- P 125 M1: 125 cm (49 1/4")
- P 122 N2: 122 cm (48")
- P 122 H1: 122 cm (48")
- Middle Series
- P 118 P1: 118 cm (46 1/2")
- P 118 M1: 118 cm (46 1/2")
- P 118 S1: 118 cm (46 1/2")
References
- ^ a b c "Drnek Piana - Klavíry a pianina značky PETROF". Pianos.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ a b 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., Vienna: K.k. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, 1917, p. 517
- ^ NA PETROF HRAJE I PAUL MCCARTNEY - MAPA ÚSPĚCHU
- ^ Neuveden (1998-02-28). "Petrof – Privatization". radio.cz. Český rozhlas. Archived from the original on 2013-02-10. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ^ "History, PETROF, spol. s r.o." Petrof.com.
- ^ "PETROF Company history". Petrof.cz (in German). Petrof. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ^ "From a Koeniggraetz-based workshop to all over the world", Prager Zeitung (in German), Prag: Prago Media, 2009-08-19
- ^ Petrof famous owners and admirers
- ^ "PETROF Grand pianos". www.petrof.com. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
- ^ "Upright pianos". www.petrof.com. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
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)
50°11′31.75″N 15°51′3.33″E / 50.1921528°N 15.8509250°E
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