1903 | 1910 | 1928 | 1929 | 1932 | 1943 | 1945

1903 - 50 Years of Blüthner

50 Years of Blüthner were celebrated in 1903 and a artistically decorated script for the Jubilee was published for the occasion, which is to day a collector's item 50,000 Blüthner instruments had been produced to this point.

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1910 - Max, Robert and Bruno Blüthner join the company

The stern father made sure that his sons got a sound education in piano making respecting the individual interests. Dr. Robert Blüthner , having studied law, went into the commercial side of the business. Max and Bruno gained sound knowledge in going through the different stages of production. Later Bruno was sent to the United States to work for a while with Chickering. When back he was in charge of the construction and further improvement of instruments. Max became head of the management team, taking over responsibility for the production process. Being raised with the constant passion to improve the instruments and having inherited the perfectionistic element of character from their father, they continued to manufacture to the highest standards. The quality of the instruments became an example for a generation of piano makers.

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1928 - 75 Years of Blüthner

In those days of economic turmoil 75 years of continuity gave reason to celebrate the jubilee A commemorative catalogue and a specially designed instrument, later on purchased by the Sultan of Burma were produced for this occasion. Blüthner was now at home on all continents. The pianos were required on concert platforms and were a symbol of musical culture standing for beauty and sensitivity of tone. Richard Strauss wrote about Blüthner : " Blüthner is perfection.The lyrical tone is comparable to the human voice and must be the inspiration of every composer. Blüthner is the origin of my ideas."

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1929 - The First Edition of the 'Blüthner Freund'

This informative journal published about three times a year was much appreciated by music lovers and admirers of Blüthner. It contained news about concert life and interesting information about the factory In the 'Bluthner Freund' one could also read reports from the extensive travels of Dr. Robert Blüthner to South America or experiences from well-known artists such as Alexander Borowsky gained in Medan, Sumatra. Here Borowsky found a Blüthner that had been doused by one of the daily downpours of rain. It took the piano technician some time to repair the damage and the concert had to start thirty minutes late. It was, however, a great success and no offence was taken by the audience for the late start.

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1932 - The Airship "Hindenburg"

In 1932 Blüthner being known as an innovative piano factory was asked by the German Admiralty to build a special lightweight grand piano for the airship Hindenburg. On the first crossing of the Atlantic ocean a piano concerto was held which was broadcasted live by 63 radio stations around the world. This instrument was of course a technical sensation. To reduce the weight as necessary, the frame was cast from a special aluminium alloy; the outer rim was in sheet metal covered with parchment, the legs and lyre being made of metal tubes. Everyone was surprised by this technical achievement. It remained, however, a unique instrument as airships proved to be too insecure for travelling.

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1943 - Destruction of the Factory

In December 1943 an air raid hit the Blüthner factory and it was completely destroyed by fire. The inspector Schimpfermann, called in the night and reported to Mr. Blüthner the disaster: "The firm is ablaze." It was impossible to save anything, the heavy machinery and the unfinished instruments crashed through the ceilings. One could only stand by and watch how the work of three generations was destroyed within a few hours. Little could be saved and preserved.

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1945 - Rebuilding the Company

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