Seiler Pianos

One of the most esteemed and also one of the oldest piano brands is Seiler, founded in Europe. Production began in 1849 in Liegnitz, which was then part of the German Prussia. The Pianoforte - Fabrik company, created by Eduard Seiler, developed vigorously, gradually becoming the largest piano manufacturer in Eastern Europe. The political situation was not always favorable, but the distribution range of Seiler pianos systematically expanded. In 1875, the company was taken over by Eduard’s son Johannes, then Johannes’ son, and Eduard’s grandson - Anton Seiler (1923).

After World War II, the town of Leignitz (Legnica) became part of communist Poland. The Seiler factory was taken over by the government, and the Seiler family was forced to leave Poland. After the war, as a result of Steffan Seiler’s initiative (Eduard’s great-grandson), the company resumed piano production in the capital of Denmark - Copenhagen. The Seiler activity in Denmark did not last long, as from around 1951 to 1962, when the headquarters were moved to Germany (Kitzingen). It is there that the company’s headquarters are still located today, yet most of the pianos are made in a completely different part of the world. In 2008, Seiler became the property of the huge Samick company, one of the leading global manufacturers of musical instruments. Thus, most of the production was transferred to Indonesia.

This is, in brief, the 170-year history of the Seiler brand. If you are interested in more details and the course of events over the years – check here.

Most Popular Seiler Upright Piano Models

In Germany, the most prestigious SE line (top level), and partially the ES line (mid-level) are still handcrafted – in this case, components are brought from the factory in Indonesia, and the final stage of production takes place in Kitzingen (+ Renner and German hammers).

Given the number of Seiler instrument series - we can distinguish several dozen different models. The most popular pianos are the 116, 122, and 132 Konzert models (the numbers indicate the height of the pianos in cm).

Eduard and Johannes Seiler

As the brand evolved, the need to produce pianos available at various price points was recognized, so that they were not exclusively seen as luxury goods. In response, two additional piano lines were introduced, bearing the Seiler surname in their names: Eduard Seiler and Johannes Seiler.

In summary, Seiler pianos are currently produced in two locations:

• Ed. Seiler Pianofortefabrik, Kitzingen, Germany
• Samick Musical Instrument (SMC) Mfg. Co. Ltd., Bogor, West Java, Indonesia

Pianos produced until 2007 certainly originate from Europe, and the vast majority were made in Germany.