Simon Krakauer

Biography

Simon Krakauer was born in 1816 and came to America in 1854. In 1869 he started manufacturing pianos together with his son David, who had learned the trade in A. H. Gale's shop and later worked for Haines Brothers and other New York makers. As a thorough musician, Krakauer strove to build an artistic piano, making musical tone quality his dominant aim. In 1867 his sons Julius and Daniel joined the business, and the firm was renamed Krakauer Brothers; it was incorporated in 1903. His son David Krakauer died in 1900, and Simon Krakauer himself died in 1905. A portrait of Simon Krakauer accompanies the text. Simon Krakauer was born at Kissingen, Germany. According to the text, he received a musical education and became a violinist and an orchestra conductor of note. The passage introducing him is cut off at the end of this section of the book, so no further biographical detail about his subsequent career or entry into the piano trade appears within these pages. From Spillane (1890): Simon Krakauer was the father of the Krakauer Brothers, proprietors of the New York piano-making firm bearing their name. Before the family entered the piano trade, he worked as a musical artist and was known as a teacher of music of some note. He emigrated from his native Germany, arriving in New York in 1853 with his family, and subsequently became established as a music teacher there. His musical talent was passed on to his sons; several of the Krakauer Brothers were themselves musical, notably Daniel Krakauer, an accomplished pianist.

Highlights

• Born at Kissingen, Germany
• Educated as a musician, becoming a violinist and orchestra conductor of note
• Born in 1816, emigrated to America in 1854, and began manufacturing pianos in 1869 together with his son David
• A thorough musician who strove to build an artistic piano emphasizing musical tone quality
• Firm was renamed Krakauer Brothers in 1867 when sons Julius and Daniel joined; incorporated in 1903
• Father of the Krakauer Brothers piano-manufacturing firm
• Arrived in New York from Germany in 1853
• Worked as a musical artist and music teacher of some note

Sources

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 326, 327.

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), p. 285.

Public domain.