Otto Wissner

Biography

Otto Wissner was born in 1853 near Giessen, Germany, the seventh of twelve children of a state engineer who gave all his children a thorough education but expected them to make their own way afterward. Wissner emigrated to New York as a teenager to become a piano maker, working his way up from case-maker to an engagement with George Steck, then with Fred Mathushek of New Haven, where he rounded out his studies in scale drawing and tone regulating. In 1878 he established himself in Brooklyn as a piano dealer, tuner, and repairer, and in 1890 began manufacturing his own Wissner piano. Prominent musicians, including Anton Seidel, Julie Rive King, Rudolf Friml, and Emil Paur, used his grand pianos in concert. He expanded into numerous retail stores, obtained a U.S. patent in 1897 for an upright-piano capo d'astro, was active in Brooklyn choral societies, donated instruments to a Brooklyn singing festival, and was received in audience by Emperor Wilhelm of Germany as a festival delegate. He also served as director and trustee of several Brooklyn financial institutions, and by 1911 his incorporated business (capitalized at $1,000,000) had him as president alongside his two sons.

Highlights

• Born near Giessen, Germany, in 1853, the seventh of twelve children; worked his way up from case-maker to employment with George Steck and Fred Mathushek before establishing himself independently.
• Established his own business in Brooklyn in 1878 and began manufacturing the Wissner piano in 1890; artists including Anton Seidel, Julie Rive King, Rudolf Friml, and Emil Paur used his grand pianos.
• Received a U.S. patent in 1897 for a capo d'astro for upright pianos, and was granted an audience with Emperor Wilhelm of Germany as a festival delegate.

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. II (1913), pp. 204, 205, 206.

Public domain.