Julius Winter

Biography

Julius Winter was born in Hungary in 1856 and, after a thorough school education, entered Hungarian government service at seventeen, working seven years as an official of the railroad department. A desire to see the world took him to New Zealand, where he farmed for about two years and led two inland exploring expeditions, before cruising the South Sea islands and landing at Finsch Hafen in German New Guinea. There he entered the German colonial government's service, rising from assistant secretary to manager of government stores and eventually to head of the settlement, while also serving as a member of the Supreme Court, Chief Judge of the native courts, Naval Judge, and colony treasurer, and leading exploring expeditions into the interior. After roughly five years he resumed traveling, passing through Java, India, China, and Japan before landing in San Francisco in 1892 and moving on to New Orleans. There he managed the Junius Hart piano house until 1897, when he became general traveler for Ludwig and Company of New York. In June 1901 he purchased the piano manufacturing business of Heller and Company, changing the firm's name, and continued in the piano trade as head of Winter and Company of New York. Julius Winter, an adventurous businessman who before entering the piano trade had traveled widely (including colonial government service in New Guinea and posts in New Orleans and New York with other piano houses), took over the Heller and Company piano business in 1901 and renamed it Winter and Company, manufacturing the Winter piano. His success forced him to more than double his manufacturing capacity, and in 1903 he erected a large, modern factory on Southern Boulevard, keeping the old factory for making the Rudolf piano, also owned by the corporation. In 1904 Winter and Company began manufacturing a patented player-piano mechanism called the 'Master Player,' used exclusively in the Winter piano. Described as broadminded, public-spirited, an experienced financier and business organizer with an artistic temperament, Winter was active in forming the New York Piano Club, the only institution of its kind, and was honored by his peers as its first president.

Highlights

• Born in Hungary in 1856; entered Hungarian government railroad service at seventeen, then traveled to New Zealand and German New Guinea, where he served the colonial government in roles including assistant secretary, manager of government stores, Supreme Court member, Chief Judge of native courts, Naval Judge, and colonial treasurer
• After further travels through Java, India, China, and Japan, settled in the United States, managing the Junius Hart piano house in New Orleans and later serving as general traveler for Ludwig and Company of New York
• In 1901 purchased the piano manufacturing business of Heller and Company, subsequently operating as Winter and Company of New York
• Founded Winter and Company and built a new, modern factory on Southern Boulevard in 1903 after outgrowing his original plant.
• Introduced the patented 'Master Player' player-piano mechanism in 1904, used exclusively in the Winter piano.
• Elected first president of the New York Piano Club.

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. II (1913), pp. 201, 202, 203.

Public domain.