Petrof
Petrof is a Czech piano manufacturer founded in 1864. It is the leading European piano manufacturer, exporting to more than 60 countries.[2]
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| Industry | Musical instruments | 
|---|---|
| Founded | 1864 | 
| Founder | Antonín Petrof | 
| Headquarters | Hradec Králové, Czech Republic | 
Area served  | Worldwide | 
Key people  | Zuzana Ceralová Petrofová | 
| Products | Grand pianos and upright pianos | 
Production output  | Yearly around 2,000 new grand pianos and 12,000 uprights[1] | 
Number of employees  | about 1,000[1] | 
| Website | petrof.com | 
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History
    
The company was founded in 1864 in Hradec Králové, Kingdom of Bohemia, by Antonín Petrof (d. 1915), who had apprenticed at Viennese companies such as Heintzman & Co., Friedrich Ehrbar and Schweighofer.
The owner Antonín Petrof was awarded an imperial and royal warrant of appointment to the court of Austria-Hungary.[3] In 1924 the company was exporting its pianos to Europe, Japan, China, Australia and South America.
At the World Exhibition 1934 in Brussels, the Petrof instruments won the gold medal.[4] At that time, approximately 400 people worked at their factory.
In 1948, Petrof was nationalized. The company was returned to the Petrof family in 1991.[5] Petrof is currently led by two sisters from the fifth generation of the Petrof family and produces annually approximately 2,000 grand pianos and 12,000 upright pianos.[6][1] Petrof is known for several innovations, such as ways to adjust the mechanics and particularly pressure point through magnetic systems.[7][8]
Notable performers
    
Petrof pianos have been used by many famous musicians, including among others: Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Sviatoslav Richter, Count Basie, Richard Clayderman, Ennio Morricone and Mark Levinson.[2][9]
Models
    
    Grand pianos
    
Current Grand Piano Models:[10]
- Master Series
- P 284 Mistral: 284 cm (9'4")
 - P 237 Monsoon: 237 cm (7'9")
 - P 210 Pasat: 210 cm (6'10")
 
 - Standard Series
- P 194 Storm: 194 cm (6'4")
 - P 173 Breeze: 173 cm (5'8")
 - P 159 Bora: 159 cm (5'3")
 
 
Upright pianos
    
Current Upright Piano Models:[11]
- Highest Series
- P 135 K1: 135 cm (53 1/8")
 - P 131 M1: 131 cm (51 1/2")
 
 - Higher Series
- P 125 G1: 125 cm (49 1/4")
 - P 125 F1: 125 cm (49 1/4")
 - P 125 K1: 125 cm (49 1/4")
 - P 125 M1: 125 cm (49 1/4")
 - P 122 N2: 122 cm (48")
 - P 122 H1: 122 cm (48")
 
 - Middle Series
- P 118 P1: 118 cm (46 1/2")
 - P 118 M1: 118 cm (46 1/2")
 - P 118 S1: 118 cm (46 1/2")
 
 
References
    
- "Drnek Piana - Klavíry a pianina značky PETROF". Pianos.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 23 September 2018.
 - Northwest Pianos, Petrof
 - Handbuch des Allerhöchsten Hofes und des Hofstaates Seiner K. und K. Apostolischen Majestät., Vienna: K.k. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, 1917, p. 517
 - NA PETROF HRAJE I PAUL MCCARTNEY - MAPA ÚSPĚCHU
 - Neuveden (1998-02-28). "Petrof – Privatization". radio.cz. Český rozhlas. Archived from the original on 2013-02-10. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
 - "History, PETROF, spol. s r.o." Petrof.com.
 - "PETROF Company history". Petrof.cz (in German). Petrof. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
 - "From a Koeniggraetz-based workshop to all over the world", Prager Zeitung (in German), Prag: Prago Media, 2009-08-19
 - Petrof famous owners and admirers
 - "PETROF Grand pianos". www.petrof.com. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
 - "Upright pianos". www.petrof.com. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
 
External links
    
- Official site
 - Jan Petrof Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2012)
 - Martin Kobza Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2012)
 - Zuzana Petrofová Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2012)
 
