Musikhaus Piano Riemer | Theresienstraße 18 | 85049 Ingolstadt |  +49 841 35229 |  info@musikhaus-riemer.de

The Company

The company Gebrüder Riemer was founded in 1845 and is now in its sixth generation. Today the company is owned and run by Bernhard Riemer, a qualified piano and harpsichord builder and technician. Through his training as a piano builder and his subsequent employment with the company PianoDisc, Bernhard Riemer has acquired a comprehensive knowledge of keyboard instruments. He is also an expert for the installation of self-playing and silent systems into upright and grand pianos. In this field, he is one of the leading and most experienced technicians in Europe.

Also in the team is Bernhard Riemer’s wife, Andrea Riemer. As a professional cellist, orchestral musician and specialist for elementary music education, she will gladly advise you about string instruments and elementary music. She is also happy to answer any inquiries about sheet music or music literature.

In addition, Bernhard Riemer’s parents, Wolfgang and Helga Riemer, still support the shop’s everyday business. With over 50 years of experience, they are pleased to help with any questions.

Company History

c. 1840

In Frauenberg near Kratzau in Sudetenland (Bohemia), the farmer August Riemer was busy in his spare time repairing watches. One day he managed to get his hands on a barrel organ originating from the Black Forest and was absolutely fascinated by it. He began to build barrel organs himself. These instruments became popular and well known and soon his three sons, August, Bernhard and Joseph joined the business of manufacturing organs.

Fabrik
Factory Complex in Kratzau, Bohemia

1845

The company was entered into the commercial register.

1860

The company now employed 20 workers; the production operated with steam.

After the death of their father August, the three brothers built a factory complex in Chrastava, which was popularly known as “die Orgelburg”, or loosely translated “The Organ Castle”. Shortly afterwards, the brothers August and Josef withdrew from the business, leaving Bernhard to run the production alone.

Katalog_Gebrüder_Riemer
Katalog und Preisliste "Gebrüder Riemer"

1896

Bernhard Riemer handed down the company, now called “Gebrüder Riemer” or translated “Riemer Brothers”, to his three sons, Robert, Julius and Heinrich. They expanded the business further and using the latest technology, dedicated themselves to the production of music machines and barrel organs. From this point onwards, the works were not only delivered within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but also to Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, America and Russia. From the small beginnings, the company had now become international.

Julius Riemer
Julius Riemer
06.01.1867 - 20.04.1934

1903

The company “Gebrüder Riemer” recognized the sign of the times and instead of just making piped barrel organs with a pinned roll, they switched to producing self-playing pianos and orchestrions with perforated paper sheets. With the perforated music rolls one could play an unlimited amount of pieces on one and the same barrel organ. In addition, they also produced orchestrions with trumpets, mandolins, percussion and light effects. At the height of this development, the company received the gold medal at the Industrial Exhibition in Aussig in 1903, in addition to the registration of an own patent for orchestrions with built-in mandolins.

The company employed 70 workers. The workshops were equipped with the latest electrical machines.

Produktionsstätte_1908
Barrel Organ Production 1908

Until 1914

Electrical music works of all kinds were produced, the largest of which could replace an entire music band.

From 1919

At this time, „Gebrüder Riemer“ were building electric pianos of such quality that, up to 1930, rhythm and articulation were hardly distinguishable from a hand-played piano. The tracks for this were recorded by a piano specially built for this purpose.

However, with the increasing popularity of radio and records, these electric pianos gradually dissappeared. From 1925 the factory produced two models of hand-played pianos in the sizes 105cm and 120cm.

1930

Robert and Heinrich leave the company. Julius continued to run the factory with his two sons, Julius and Otto, until his death in 1934.

Otto Riemer
Otto Riemer
24.05.1905 - 21.06.1978

1945

After the war, the brothers Otto and Julius began to rebuild the company in Bavaria, according to the old family tradition.

1949

The company „Gebrüder Riemer“ finally gained a foothold in Ingolstadt. It was now a piano house and shop for musical instruments. In 1960 Julius retired from the company.

1970

The company moved into its current premises in Theresienstrasse 18, Ingolstadt.

Musikhaus in Ingolstadt

1978

After the death of Otto Riemer in 1978, his son, Wolfgang Riemer, took over the business. He continued to run it with his wife, Helga Riemer, until the end of December 2013.

2014

After 36 years, Wolfgang Riemer handed down the business to his son, Bernhard, who now runs the company „Gebrüder Riemer“ in the sixth generation.

Contact us

You would like to find out more about our extensive all-round services and our diverse range? We look forward to hearing from you.