SCHIMMEL
EACH NOTE A CONCERT EXPERIENCE
In the world of pianos, the 128 year-old Schimmel Piano Company has no peers. As Germany's number one selling piano, Schimmel combines research, constant innovation and sophisticated technologies, with traditional highly developed human skills, to make extraordinarily musical grand and upright pianos.
Fridolin is the new range of affordable upright pianos from the highly regarded German piano company Schimmel.
Named after the brother of founder Wilhelm Schimmel, these instruments are completely designed by Schimmel in Germany and made by their strategic partner, Pearl River, in China. Every instrument is fully checked and prepared by the factory in Braunschweig to ensure their excellent quality before being despatched to the dealer.
It may come as a surprise to learn that Pearl River is the world’s largest piano manufacturer by far; producing approximately 140,000 pianos per year. Their brand new ‘State of the Art’, climate controlled and highly automated production facilities are where the Fridolin range is produced, overseen by senior Schimmel technical staff. Every detail of these uprights has been designed by Schimmel piano engineers, including the action, acoustic assembly and casework.
The result is a piano that is not only great value for money, but clearly belongs to the Schimmel family of sound and touch. The action is accurate and responsive, and the sound is big, rich and full; in true Schimmel style it belies the instrument’s physical size.
History of Fridolin Schimmel – German Craftsmanship in North America
The focus on quality and technical genius are talents that both brothers, Wilhelm and Fridolin Schimmel, enjoyed on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In 1893, Fridolin Schimmel pianos became a synonym for quality and craftsmanship in Northern America. Today, Schimmel keeps this heritage alive with care.
The second half of the 19th century saw many talented piano craftsmen in Europe and America starting their own business. Among them were the two brothers Wilhelm and Fridolin Schimmel. Both had the entrepreneurial spirit and both were dedicated to craftsmanship and quality.
Wilhelm Schimmel, the older brother, founded Schimmel Pianos in Germany in 1885. The family company and the famous brand Schimmel became synonymous with first class grands and uprights made in Braunschweig | Germany.
Fridolin Schimmel, the younger brother, founded modern piano production in 1893 in the United States of America, where he had emigrated not long before. Under the name “Schimmel & Company”, Fridolin Schimmel’s grand and upright pianos gathered an excellent reputation.
On October 1893 he reports in a letter to his family from his new hometown, Faribault in Minnesota: "Things go well in our new company. I have already made two technical drawings for a small and a higher upright. As soon as I have time I will design a grand. Our pianos are well respected."
The creative and talented piano-maker, Fridolin, also studied furniture for a long time and had numerous patents in furniture, wood-processing machines and also automotive inventions. In later years he successfully shifted his business to this new field of manufacturing.
In Germany, Wilhelm Schimmel stayed with pianos only. So did his son, Wilhelm Arno Schimmel and also his grandson Wilhelm Nikolaus Schimmel. As a young man Nikolaus Schimmels took a similar path to Fridolin and worked as a piano technician in Chicago, later also in other American piano companies. In the 1960s the family relationship and the activities of Nikolaus Schimmel helped to re-establish the Schimmel brand in North America.
The family spirit of Wilhelm and Fridolin Schimmel making quality pianos, moved Schimmel pianos to preserve the tradition and continue also with pianos carrying Fridolin Schimmel ́s name.
The family spirit of Wilhelm and Fridolin Schimmel making quality pianos, moved Schimmel pianos to preserve the tradition and continue also with pianos carrying Fridolin Schimmel ́s name.
The new Fridolin Schimmel grand and upright pianos have been especially developed by Schimmel for the educational level of the market. Solid, robust and affordable as an excellent alternative to both students and family, due to the favourable price-performance ratio.
Also available
TwinTone
With the innovative twintone technology, you can play your Schimmel piano anytime –without disturbing the neighbours.
