The brand name Nordheimer is the oldest and
longest lasting in the music industry in Canada. In June of 1844 brothers
Samuel and Abraham Nordheimer opened a small business in Toronto, Canada
offering music books, square pianofortes, and sewing supplies. To begin with,
the Nordheimer brothers were agents for Broadwood, Stodart, and Chickering
pianos. The firm did not actually enter the piano manufacturing business until
1886.
By that
time, Abraham Nordheimer had passed, and Samuel and Albert (Abraham’s son)
decided to enter into piano manufacturing with Gerhard Heintzman and formed the
Lansdowne Piano Co.
Tom Mason,
Vincent Risch, (Mason & Risch Piano Co.)and Octavius Newcombe( Newcombe
Piano Co.) were also partnered with this venture each having his own name
stencilled on the pianos that came down the Lansdowne production lines.
This
company was short lived and lasted only five years before each of the partners
opted to have their own manufacturing firms.
The
Nordheimers built their own factory in east Toronto and began turning out one
of the finer pianos built in Canada. As a manufacturer of grand’s, uprights,
and players, Nordheimer produced 12, 000 instruments before Samuel died in
1912. In 1927 when Albert retired, Heintzman & Co purchased the assets of the
company and ran the brand name until the mid 60’s.
To find an
A & S Nordheimer today is a rare thing because this was such an early
company. I came across this piano about
five years ago when the owner contacted me to inspect the instrument for restoration
purposes. This piano was purchased new by her grandmother, eventually finding
its way to my client. This is also a rare thing; to find a piano more than one
hundred years old and still in the original owners family.
Because
this piano was a rare vintage piece in outstanding condition for its age, I
encouraged the owner to complete minimally invasive restoration. By this I mean
to fix only what had deteriorated due to age.
The tuning
pin torque had dropped to unacceptable levels so the piano was restrung in the
bass and treble with new tuning pins. All felt work in the keyboard was
replaced. The action was reconditioned, and a decision was made to retain the
original hammer set to be replaced at a later date.
The cabinet
was left in original condition because it was in such good shape. Here is a
photo album of the piano.
