Zimmermann

Colour: Walnut
Year: c.1980

This Zimmermann is a 111cm German upright piano dating from around 1980, presented in a handsome polished walnut cabinet. Gebr. Zimmermann was founded in Leipzig in 1884 by the brothers Max and Richard Zimmermann, and by the 1910s it had grown into one of the largest piano manufacturers in Europe, producing some 12,000 instruments a year with a workforce of around 1,400.

An instrument of this date comes from the firm's Saxon period at Seifhennersdorf, when Zimmermann was one of East Germany's principal piano makers and exported to around 35 countries. The cabinet measures 144cm wide and just 53cm deep, with shaped front legs and warm figured walnut that makes an upright read as a piece of furniture rather than a black box in the corner. It suits a sitting room, a period interior, or anywhere a black polyester piano would feel too severe. This instrument has been assessed and prepared by our team at The Piano Gallery.

Available to purchase online or to try in person at our Oxfordshire showroom. Contact us to arrange a viewing or to discuss delivery and part-exchange options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Zimmermann a German piano?

Yes. A c.1980 Zimmermann was built in Germany, at the Seifhennersdorf works in Saxony, which was then one of the principal piano factories in East Germany. This is worth stating plainly because it is not true of every piano carrying the name: since around 2011, new Zimmermann instruments have been built in Asia to C. Bechstein designs. This one belongs to the older German era, and we can confirm its serial number for you.

Who were Zimmermann pianos made by?

Gebr. Zimmermann was established in Leipzig in 1884 and became one of Europe's largest piano manufacturers before the First World War. The firm merged with Ludwig Hupfeld AG in 1926 and concentrated production at Seifhennersdorf. After the Second World War the works were nationalised and continued as a state-owned manufacturer, building up to 8,000 instruments a year. A great many of the Zimmermanns found in British homes today come from exactly that period.

What is the connection between Zimmermann and Bechstein?

C. Bechstein acquired Zimmermann in 1992 and took over the Seifhennersdorf factory, which to this day remains Bechstein's German manufactory where its own instruments are built. So the factory that produced this piano in around 1980 is now where Bechstein pianos are made, which is a pleasing piece of history. It is not, however, a claim that this instrument is a Bechstein. It predates the acquisition and should be judged on its own merits, which are considerable.

Is a piano from around 1980 a sensible buy?

It can be a very sensible buy. Saxon-era Zimmermann uprights have a good reputation as honest, solidly built instruments, and at forty-odd years old a piano of this kind is middle-aged rather than elderly. What matters far more than the date is the condition of the individual instrument: whether it holds its pitch, the state of the tuning pins and soundboard, and how much life is left in the hammers. That is precisely what we assess before a piano goes on our floor, and we will talk you through what we found candidly.

Is a 111cm upright tall enough, and what space does it need?

For home practice, lessons, and general playing, comfortably so. A compact upright gives up some bass power to a full-sized instrument, but it delivers the same genuine acoustic touch, which is what builds proper technique. Allow around 1.5 metres of wall for the 144cm cabinet plus room in front for the stool and player. The 53cm depth is shallow, which makes it easier to place than most. Keep it away from radiators, external walls, and damp, and tune it twice a year.