| Petrof | |
| Foundation: | 1864 |
| Founder: | Antonín Petrof |
| Location: | Hradec Králové, Czech Republic |
| Area Served: | Worldwide |
| Key People: | Zuzana Ceralová Petrofová |
| Industry: | Musical instruments |
| Products: | Grand pianos and upright pianos |
| Production: | Yearly around 2,000 new grand pianos and 12,000 uprights[1] |
| Num Employees: | about 1,000 |
| Homepage: | petrof.com |
Petrof is a Czech piano manufacturer founded in 1864. It is the leading European piano manufacturer, exporting to more than 60 countries.[2] [3]
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. 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]
After 1993, the piano company G. Rösler of Česká Lípa, Bohemia was acquired.
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] [8]
Current Grand Piano Models:[9]
Current Upright Piano Models:[10]