Sauter
Sauter’s history begins with Johan Grimm, a young carpenters apprentice form Spaichingen who felt an attraction to the music culture. He travelled to Vienna in 1813 where he started a piano builders apprenticeship with Johan Andreas Streicher and his wife Nanette Stein. Ludwig von Beethoven bought his first instruments from the couple and was considered a close friend. Streicher also taught the piano to Amadeus Mozart’s son. This provided a perfect breeding ground for Johan Grimm to learn the trade.In 1819 Johan Grimm established his own company in Spaichingen, where after nearly two decades he hired his nephew Carl Sauter. Carl was adopted by Grimm, leading to him inheriting the business upon Grimms death in 1845. From 1846 onwards the company continued under the name Sauter.
After Carl Sauter’s death in 1863, the company was led by his widow and his son Johann Sauter. At a mere 17 years of age, already trained as a piano builder, Johann travelled to many places including the United States of America. On his travels he acquired new knowledge and ideas that would later be implemented in the grand piano production. Sauter grand pianos became known for their innovation and passion for perfection.
While the piano became an increasingly qualitative and increasingly popular instrument, the industrial revolution provided more and more possibilities for innovation. In 1909 Carl Sauter II took over the company from his father. It is he who ended up being the driving force behind the expansion of the factory and the increase in production.
Carl Sauter II carried the business through two world wars, but did not live to see its reconstruction after 1948. He was succeeded by his son Hans Sauter, who in his turn also added new knowledge and techniques to the instruments and their production.
