HISTORY OF SOHMER PIANOS

During its many years in New York, the Sohmer piano was known as a fine handcrafted instrument. Sohmer had a close informal association with the other major New York piano maker, Steinway, and many of Sohmer's manufacturing methods were similar to Steinway's.

Sohmer built 3 transposing pianos for Irving Berlin on which he did all of his composing.  President Calvin Coolidge owned a beautiful Sohmer piano. Pianos of this make are distinguished by their artistic character, and have for many years held their place among the best specimens of the piano-maker's art. They were manufactured in both grand and upright styles.

Founded by German immigrant Hugo Sohmer in 1872, Sohmer and Co. was owned and managed by the Sohmer family in New York City for 110 years, most recently by the founder's grandsons Harry and Robert Sohmer. The Sohmer brothers sold the company in 1982 to Pratt, Read and Co., America's leading manufacturer of piano keys and actions. Due to the decline of the U.S. piano industry and foreign competition, Pratt, Read had excess manufacturing capacity and a skilled work force, so the match seemed like a good one, and Sohmer and Co. was moved to Ivoryton, Connecticut. The Sohmer brothers moved, too, and for a while continued to play a part in managing the company.