Petrof
IndustryMusical instruments
Founded1864
FounderAntonín Petrof
HeadquartersHradec Králové, Czech Republic
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Zuzana Ceralová Petrofová
ProductsGrand pianos and upright pianos
Production output
Yearly around 2,000 new grand pianos and 12,000 uprights[1]
Number of employees
about 1,000[1]
Websitepetrof.com
Petrof Grand Piano at exhibition
1895 ad for Petrof pianos

Petrof is a Czech piano manufacturer founded in 1864. It is the leading European piano manufacturer, exporting to more than 60 countries.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6][1] Petrof is known for several innovations, such as ways to adjust the mechanics and particularly pressure point through magnetic systems.[7][8]

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 and Mark Levinson.[2][9]

Models

Grand pianos

Current Grand Piano Models:[10]

  • 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:[11]

  • 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

  1. 1 2 3 "Drnek Piana - Klavíry a pianina značky PETROF". Pianos.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 Northwest Pianos, Petrof
  3. ↑ Handbuch des Allerhöchsten Hofes und des Hofstaates Seiner K. und K. Apostolischen Majestät., Vienna: K.k. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, 1917, p. 517
  4. ↑ NA PETROF HRAJE I PAUL MCCARTNEY - MAPA ÚSPĚCHU
  5. ↑ Neuveden (1998-02-28). "Petrof – Privatization". radio.cz. Český rozhlas. Archived from the original on 2013-02-10. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
  6. ↑ "History, PETROF, spol. s r.o." Petrof.com.
  7. ↑ "PETROF Company history". Petrof.cz (in German). Petrof. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
  8. ↑ "From a Koeniggraetz-based workshop to all over the world", Prager Zeitung (in German), Prag: Prago Media, 2009-08-19
  9. ↑ Petrof famous owners and admirers
  10. ↑ "PETROF Grand pianos". www.petrof.com. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
  11. ↑ "Upright pianos". www.petrof.com. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
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