You are here:
Schimmel & Nelson
The Schimmel Piano Company of Germany is one of the world’s oldest and finest piano builders.   Schimmel began building pianos in Germany in 1885, and they have consistently built pianos ever since.  In 1890, Fredolin Schimmel, a member of the famous Schimmel piano family, moved to New York with plans to open his own piano factory.  F. Schimmel first worked at the illustrious Mehlin Piano Factory, then the Bush & Gerts Piano Factory.
In 1893, F. Schimmel moved to Faribault, MN, and immediately entered into a partnership with a gentleman by the name of Nelson to form the firm of “Schimmel & Nelson“.   Schimmel & Nelson was known for building exceptionally well made, expensive pianos and the firm enjoyed modest success.  With the outlook of producing quality over quantity, the firm only produced a modest number of pianos.  In 1897, Fredolin Schimmel ended his partnership with Nelson and established his firm as “Schimmel & Company” in Faribault, MN.
Schimmel & Company also built a line of pianos under the name of “A. L. Winship”, a large music retailer and distributer based in St. Paul.  Pianos labeled as “A. L. Winship” were essentially Schimmel pianos sold under a special licensing agreement through A. L. Winship’s large retail music store chain.
F. Schimmel continued to operate as “Schimmel & Company” until going out of business at the onset of World War I.  Pianos by “Schimmel & Nelson” and “Schimmel & Company” are made of the finest quality and craftsmanship, and they are exceedingly rare today.
INSTRUMENT CATALOGS & EPHEMERA

Can you find your instrument listed in these antique catalogs?

Schimmel & Nelson Article
Early 20th Century Newpaper Article for Schimmel & Nelson/Schimmel & Company, Circa 1907
RELATED INSTRUMENTS

Browse the Antique Piano instruments we have for sale!

Out Of Stock

Schimmel Victorian Upright Piano

$32,500.00

In the late 19th Century, a member of the famous German Schimmel piano building family came to America and built high quality pianos for several years in Fairbault, MN. These pianos reflected the amazing quality of their German cousins.