W. Hoffmann Pianos was established in 1893 by Wilhelmine Sophia Friederike Hoffmann, a visionary woman from Berlin. This was a golden era of piano-making in Europe: demand was strong and prospects for the stronger manufacturers was bullish.
Wilhelmine’s dedication to building her pianos with a diligent and exacting approach to every stage of production, laid the foundation for an enduring brand that would be associated with the very best names of the piano world.
In 1950 Berlin, now divided because of the great wall, skilled workers were hard to find. In order to maintain production, the company relocated to Langlau. A staff of 160, using the best available materials, aimed to meet the demand for moderately priced pianos.
The W. Hoffmann company, having navigated numerous periods of extremely difficult trading conditions, was acquired in 1991 by C. Bechstein, Berlin. The following year, production of W. Hoffmann pianos was again relocated to Seifhennersdorf, Saxony.
The piano-making sector of manufacturing businesses, seem to suffer blow after blow, now, global competition threatened to disrupt any fragile signs of regeneration. To address this, ‘C. Bechstein Europe’ was founded, based in Hradec Králové in the Czech Republic in 2008.
W.Hoffmann pianos are built at the Czech factory in Hradec Králové. The significant backing from the Bechstein Group, means that the Hoffmann brand has a secure future - enjoying the commitment to excellence that so inspired Wilhelmina Hoffmann at the beginning of the story.
© Steve Burden
