1853 | 1854 | 1862 | 1872 | 1876 | 1878 | 1888 | 1890 | 1899
1853 - Opening the Business
In autumn 1853 after having obtained permission from the municipal authorities of the City of Leipzig Julius Blüthner started his firm. He rented a workshop in the western part of Leipzig where he prepared to start production with the help of three journeymen. The young Blüthner just caught enough sleep to ensure his project was successful.
When his men arrived at 6 a.m. he had already been busy for two hours to complete jigs and patterns and often stayed at work until 10 p.m. In the first year ten instruments were built, eight grands and two squares the result of very hard work. In his later years he remembered well his first sale.
Professor Weber a respected member of the Leipzig University was looking for a fine instrument and wanted to have it delivered over Easter to his home to compare it with another one. When he finally chose the Blüthner Julius was relieved and went proudly to his first customer`s home to collect the payment. |
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1854 - The First Styled Instruments
Right after having completed the first instruments, he took part in exhibitions to show his instruments to the public They received great acclaim for being serious concert instruments as well as for their ornate case styles.
The instruments shown here are decorated with unusual veneers, mother of pearl and gold leaf. |
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1862 - The Fair in Merseburg
| The exhibition of his instruments at the Fair in Merseburg, was the first step into the international markets and the many first Prizes, gold medals and decorations, obtained subsequently in the history of the firm, are still listed on the soundboard of every instrument. The appointment as Purveyors to the Court of, Queen Victoria, the German Emperor, the Turkish Sultan, the Russian Tsar and certainly to the King of Saxony, underline the approval of the nobility and the royal courts. |
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1872 - Das Aliquot-Patentsystem
| Um die Klangeigenschaften seiner Instrumente zu verbessern, beschäftigte sich Julius Blüthner mit den verschiedensten Saitensystemen. Bereits bei Hölling und Spangenberg wurde mit einem Klavier experimentiert, das auf beiden Seiten einen Saitenbezug aufwies. Das Saitensystem einer Viola d'amore brachte ihn schließlich auf diese Idee, sein Aliquot-Patentsystem zu entwickeln und 1872 zum Patent anzumelden. Dies war eine 4. Saite, die jedem Chor im Diskant zugeordnet wird. Diese Saite wird nicht durch den Hammer zum Schwingen gebracht, sondern indirekt zum Klingen angeregt. |
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1876 - First Establishment in England
Julius Blüthner soon understood the importance of export for his enterprise. Since the United Kingdom of Great Britain was an important export market for German instruments he founded his own representation in London which -_although now a subsidiary of the Leipzig firm - is still existing . Many others in other parts of the world were to follow.
The ever mounting demand encouraged him to increase his production facilities. So in 1876 the factory was enlarged.
Proudly Julius Blüthner writes in articles of various newspapers about the many different machines he is using in his factory.
This was apparently at that time a convincing argument for a modern production.
A central steam engine propelled the different machines by means of leather strips Already very strict rules of safety were enforced in the factory to avoid accidents. |
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1878 - Opening the Concert Hall
From very early on, Blüthner had displayed his instruments in lavish surroundings. However, the first premises became too small as a showroom.
In 1878 a concert hall was built at the headquarters of the company in West Straße, Leipzig, where pianos could be displayed in ornate and opulent surroundings. The opening of this hall stunned the Leipzig people and was, according to the daily newspaper, the subject of discussion for many days. It served from thereon as a concert centre having famous pianists such as Franz Liszt, Moritz Rosenthal and young artists from the Leipzig conservatory performing there. |
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1888 - Saw Mill in Leutzsch
| To make room for the ever-increasing production, land was purchased in Leutzsch, a suburb of Leipzig, where a modern sawmill was installed to produce the boards of the different timbers. |
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1890 - New premises in Leutzsch
The picture shows the interior of the factory extension built to accommodate the growing production. Large storage facilities for the timber and modern machinery increased the capacity for woodworking. Also the seasoning of the timber - at that time still a long process- was now more efficient
The demand for instruments was increasing steadily particularly in South America,in Australia and other South Asian countries .. which enabled , Blüthner to become one of the most important European piano companies. Buenos Aires, Manila, Bombay, or Bangkok - everywhere Blüthner instruments found high acclaim, and this prevails till the present in spite of many historical changes. |
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1899 - Original of an Invoice
This invoice from 1899 was personally written by Julius Blüthner . The impressive letterhead proudly shows the many awards received by the Julius Blüthner Pianoforte Company. First prizes adorn the paper:
1865 Merseburg, 1867 Paris, 1867 Chemnitz, 1870 Cassel, 1873 Vienna, 1876 Philadelphia, 1878 Puebla, 1880 Sydney, 1881 Melbourne, 1883 Amsterdam, 1889 Melbourne, 1894 Antwerp, 1897 Guatemala, 1897 Leipzig.
Julius Blüthner himself occasionally enjoyed writing invoices which today are a valuable collector's item. Here a Blüthner grand, Style 4 A with Aliquot scaling, was sold to the boy's choir of the protestant church, Leipzig, at a price of 4310 Reich mark. Blüthner confirms receipt of payment with his signature. |
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