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Albrecht & Company

Charles Albrecht was one of the earliest names in the American Piano Industry. Albrecht entered into the piano business in Philadelphia in 1789, first selling pianos imported from Europe then manufacturing his own. The oldest known Albrecht piano in existence today is located in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

In about 1825, Charles Albrecht’s son (presumably), Christian F. L. Albrecht, joined his father’s firm which was then called “Charles Albrecht & Company”. Charles Albrecht & Company built primarily square grand pianos during the first and middle part of the 19th Century, and the firm enjoyed a reputation of superior quality and craftsmanship. We have seen a few examples of their instruments also labeled as “C.F.L. Albrecht”.

In about 1863, Christian F. L. Albrecht went into partnership with Frederick Riekes and Richard T. Schmidt to form the firm of “Albrecht, Riekes & Schmidt“.  Albrecht, Riekes & Schmidt enjoyed much success, but Albrecht withdrew in 1874 to go back to building pianos under the name of “Albrecht & Company”. In 1887, The Blasius & Sons Piano Company purchased the Charles Albrecht Company, and Blasius continued to build the Albrecht name in upright and grand pianos well into the 20th Century. They were very expensive, high grade pianos, and they were built in modest numbers.

Like Blasius, Albrecht pianos of the late 19th and 20th Centuries were of superior quality and were very heavy, durable instruments. Blasius and Albrecht names were discontinued sometime in the middle of the 20th Century, but the rights to the names were purchased in the 1990’s and are again being produced in new pianos.

INSTRUMENT CATALOGS & EPHEMERA

Can you find your instrument listed in these antique catalogs?

Albrecht Piano Catalog 1
Albrecht & Company Illustrated Piano Catalog, Circa 1875
Albrecht Piano Catalog 2
Albrecht & Company Illustrated Piano Catalog, Circa 1895
Albrecht Piano Catalog 3
Albrecht & Company Illustrated Piano Catalog, Circa 1905
Charles Albrecht Trade Cards
Albrecht Piano Company trade cards, circa 1890
Albrecht, Riekes, & Schmidt Advertisements
19th Century Advertisments For Albrecht, Riekes & Schmidt Piano Company