Petrof


Petrof is a Czech piano manufacturer founded in 1864. It is the leading European piano manufacturer, exporting to more than 60 countries.

History

The company was founded in 1864 in Hradec Králové, Czech Kingdom, by Antonín Petrof, who had studied piano making in Vienna at renowned companies such as Heitzmann, Friedrich Ehrbar und Schweighofer.
The owner Antonín Petrof was awarded an imperial and royal warrant of appointment to the court of Austria-Hungary. In 1924 was company except for Europe exporting its pianos to Japan, China, Australia and South America.
At the World Exhibition 1934 in Brussels, the Petrof instruments won the gold medal. At that time, approximately 400 people worked at their factory.
In 1948, Petrof was nationalized, though reprivatized between 1991 and 1998. Petrof is currently led by two sisters from the fifth generation of the Petrof family and produces approximately 2.000 grand pianos and 12.000 upright pianos. Petrof is known for several innovations, such as ways to adjust the mechanics and particularly pressure point through magnetic systems.
Petrof pianos have had many famous admirers, including among others: Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Sviatoslav Richter, Count Basie, Richard Clayderman, Ennio Morricone and Mark Levinson.
Petrof pianos produces three grand piano models and several upright pianos.