C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik

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C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik AG (FWB:BEP) (Bechstein) is a German manufacturer of pianos, especially grand pianos. The company was founded 1 October 1853 by Carl Bechstein in Berlin, Germany.

By 1890 branches were opened in Paris, Saint Petersburg and London, where the company spent £100,000 to build Bechstein Hall, adjacent to the London showroom on Wigmore Street. It opened on 31 May 1901. The affairs of Bechstein deteriorated rapidly during World War I, and the hall was sold as alien property at auction in 1916 to Debenhams for £56,500. It was renamed Wigmore Hall.

In 1930 the company collaborated with German electrical goods manufacturer Siemens under Nobel laureate Walther Nernst to produce one of the first electric pianos, the "Neo-Bechstein" or "Siemens-Bechstein" electric grand, using electromagnetic pickups.

Bechstein was always in competition with Steinway & Sons. Today, Bechstein's upright pianos are especially revered — and are considered by some aficionados to sound better than many mid-range grand pianos.

Bechstein is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Major shareholders are Karl Schulze and Samick of South Korea. In addition, Bechstein and Samick have a joint venture factory in Shanghai, China.

[edit] References

Hagen W. Lippe-Weißenfeld: Das Klavier als Mittel politischer Distinktion im Zusammenhang mit der Entwicklung des Klavierbaus in London und Berlin an den Beispielen Broadwood und Bechstein. The piano as medium for political distinction in connection with the development of piano manufacturing in London and Berlin based on the examples of Broadwood and Bechstein. Dissertation Berlin 2006. Online-Version