W. Danemann & Company were a significant British manufacturer of high quality pianos, based in Islington, London. From 1893-1980 they produced a wide range of pianos from small to large uprights, 5' 2" grands, 6' 8" grands and 9' 6" concert grands. Their actions were built and supplied by Renner, Schwander and British Piano Actions. Among their customers were British embassies, the P&O Lines and many educational institutions. Their pianos were exported world wide including tropicalized versions for India and Africa. The company also made pianos for other companies, including Pohlmann. Many examples of these pianos can be found in the UK. Danemann pianos were supplied to schools and colleges across the world.
History
William Danemann trained with John Brinsmead of London, prior to setting up his business in 1893. After the Second World War the company concentrated their efforts into making instruments of very high quality rather than supplying to the mass market. They were constructed from the best materials available at the time. Their school pianos came with built in safety features such as solid toe pegs located at the front and back of the piano, safety falls and double rubber castors so the piano could be wheeled around a school hall and over small thresholds with ease. In 1963 Stanley Murdoch, piano buyers for Harrods, commissioned W. Danemann and Company to build "the best upright in the world"; the result was the HS2, based on the classic Danemann upright. In 1982 Broadwood purchased Danemann Pianos and the factory. In 1985 the company was purchased by Gardner Pianos in Cardiff, making Gardners the first Welsh piano makers. They made approximately 350 Danemann pianos in Wales until production ceased in 1994. In 2015 Gardners sold the rights to the Danemann name. Since 2017 pianos under that name are manufactured in China. Tim Danemann, great grandson of the founder, now runs Tim Danemann Pianos, restoring, tuning and selling pianos, and based in Ashprington, Devon.
