170 Years of History Combined with Unsurpassed Designs…
Eduard Seiler, the company’s founder, began building pianos in 1849 in Liegnitz, Silesia, part of Prussia. By 1923 the company had grown to become the largest piano manufacturer in Eastern Europe. With 435 employees, Seiler produced roughly 3,000 pianos per year. At the close of World War II, Liegnitz (now Legnica) was annexed by Poland. Seiler’s factory was soon appropriated by the Polish National Party forcing Seiler’s German craftsmen and families to flee.
In 1945, under the cover of darkness, Steffan Seiler rescued Seiler’s designs and equipment from destruction and relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1962 Seiler Piano Fabrik moved production to Kitzingen in Bavaria, Germany, where it resides today. In 2008 SMC (Samick Music Corporation) became strategic partners with Seiler by purchasing their factory in Germany. Today, SMC produces a combined output from factories in Germany and Indonesia of roughly 1,000 Seiler pianos annually.
Building on Seiler’s commitment to innovation, In 2011, SMC introduced the Edward Seiler (ED) Series of pianos. Utilizing CNC automation, Seiler’s four most popular German piano models are now reproduced in Jakarta, Indonesia and sold in the US at a fraction of the cost of their German counterparts. All ED Seiler models have genuine German Seiler scales along with beech rims, solid-core case panels, Membrator Soundboard System, and optional SMR (Super Magnetic Repetition) Action.
In 2013, Seiler selected and co-designed 10 piano models to be produced by SMC for sale in Germany and the US. This new line, the Johannes Seiler (GS) Series, incorporates materials and refinements not typically found in Samick’s other models. These upgrades include German Abel hammers, German Röslau wire, solid wood trapwork, beech rims, solid core lumber case parts and optional AD Silent System.
To compliment their German legacy instruments here in the US, Seiler also offers traditional Knabe Pianos designed for American tastes and needs.
Schedule your personal Seiler/Knabe Piano Showing today.