Factories of Musical Instruments

Categories / Economy/Industry
FACTORIES OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. The musical instruments industry sprang up in St. Petersburg in the early 18th century and there were as many as 17 factories of musical instruments in the early 20th century. It was the manufacture of grand pianos and pianofortes that became the most developed industry. The Brothers R. Diderichs and A. Diderichs Factory was the first Russian piano factory opened in 1810. K. M. Schroeder Factory was founded in 1818 to become one of the largest factories in the industry afterwards along with Y. Becker Factory opened in 1841. F. Muelbach Factory was opened in 1856. There were a total of 8 factories that manufactured keyboard instruments, their products were known for their high quality, received awards at various exhibitions, and were praised by performers. The wind and string instruments were manufactured by Y. G. Zimmerman Factory opened in 1883. All these enterprises were nationalized in 1918, shut down during the Civil War, and then resumed their work in the early 1920s. Y. Becker Factory was renamed Krasny Oktyabr in 1927 and back into Y. Becker in 1991; it is situated at 77 Eighth Line, Vasilyevsky Island and manufactures pianos and grand pianos including baby grand pianos and concert grand pianos. The K. M. Schroeder Factory, called Lunacharsky Factory from 1922 and Arfa from 1991, is situated at 15 Chapaeva Street, manufactured plucking folk instruments, such as balalaikas, mandolins, domras, and guitars from 1925. The factory started making harps in 1948 becoming the only harp manufacturer in Russia. The Y. G. Zimmerman Factory was transformed into the winds instrument factory (28 Bely Kuna Street) and resumed the manufacture of the winds such as trumpets, flutes, French horns, bassoons, and oboes and percussion instruments in 1923. The former F. Muelbach Factory called Krasny Partizan from 1933 and Ilmera from 1991 (7 Sixth Krasnoarmeiskaya Street) organised manufacture of reeds such as harmonicas, bayans, and later accordions and became a specialised accordion manufacturer in 1957. All these factories were transformed into joint-stock companies in 1991.

References: Отюгова Т. А., Галембо А. С., Гурков И. М. Рождение музыкальных инструментов: Из истории Ленингр. произв. об-ния по изготовлению муз. инструментов. Л., 1986.

V. S. Solomko. Becker Ya.
Lunacharsky Anatoly Vasilievich
Mulbach Friedrich German Ernst
Schroder Karl Ivanovich
the Diderichses
Zimmerman Yuly Genrichovich
6th Krasnoarmeiskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 7
8th Line of Vasilievsky Island/Saint Petersburg, city, house 77
Bely Kuna St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 28
Chapaeva St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 15
Отюгова Т. А., Галембо А. С., Гурков И. М. Рождение музыкальных инструментов: Из истории Ленингр. произв. об-ния по изготовлению муз. инструментов. Л., 1986