Sauter – A Short History of a Great Piano
It all began when a young cabinetmaking apprentice Johann Grimm of the German city of Spaichingen applied to study piano-making with the greatest artisan of his time. In 1813, he travelled to Vienna to become a piano maker.
After six years of study in that world capital of instrument-making, he returned to Spaichingen full of ideas and enthusiasm and, in 1819, began to produce his own square pianos.
In 1846, his nephew and heir Carl Sauter expanded Johann Grimm’s workshop into a full-fledged manufacturing facility and hired a dozen apprentices. Soon, it was one of the leading piano factories in southwestern Germany. Following Carl’s early death, the factory was taken over by 17 year old Johann Sauter, who ran it with the help of his mother. Johann was a great traveller, bringing back numerous new ideas and developments from his travels, including a trip to the United States.
Open-mindedness, pioneering spirit, and love of perfection have characterized the Sauter approach from the beginning. It’s no surprise that many of the company’s, inventions and improvements in piano technology have been granted international patents.
Under Johann Sauter, the company abandoned the production of square pianos in favor of the larger, modern instrument. Carl Sauter, Jr., who took over the company in 1909, continued to expand the factory and increase production. These improved piano models became known throughout Germany for their beautiful sound.
Hans Sauter took over the company in 1948 and set to applying recent scientific findings in addition to new technology and materials to the craft of piano making. These beautiful and wonderful-sounding pianos were soon being exported all over the world.
In 1952, Sauter opened a new chapter in the company’s history with its first grand pianos—showing its confidence in the outstanding sound it was now known for.
Unceasing research led to the development of Sauter’s R2 double repetition action, which delivers the same subtlety of touch on an upright as on a grand piano. This led to the launch of the premium M-line series in the early 90s. Sauter also introduced an exclusive series designed by Peter Maly, for those who wish to make a statement in contemporary homes. In 2000, Sauter boldly stepped into the sonic dimension of world class concert pianos, with the 275 Concert Grand, marking the dawn of a new era in piano manufacturing. The new Sauter Model 275 uses a BOLDUC component, the BolducBlock (Bolduc’s internationally renowned maple pinblock).
Each imported new instrument is unpacked, checked, regulated, and tuned at our Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce facility before being transferred to the Montreal store.
To see the various models, visit www.sauter-pianos.de
