Business and industry
Pohlmann's pianos
Hitting the right note
Surprising as it may seem, in the early 19th century Halifax was the only place outside London to manufacture pianos. The name of the firm was Pohlmann and Son.
In 1765, Johannes Christoph David Pohlmann, a native of Hanover in Germany, manufactured the first piano in England. In 1823 his grandson, Henry William Pohlmann (d. 1874), came to Halifax to set up a piano making business.
No one is quite sure of the reasons for the firm to locate in Halifax, but it may be that they thought there would be plenty of custom from wealthy clothiers.
The workshops were located on Hall Street, whilst the first premises were situated on Commercial Street.
By 1830, the firm had moved to Waterhouse Street and later new showrooms opened on Princess Street opposite the White Swan Hotel.
The pianos were exported all over the world, especially to South America, New Zealand and Australia. The firm was innovative in producing pianos with overstrung iron frames. A rosewood "Piano d'Artiste" was advertised at a price of seventy guineas and hire purchase terms were offered at two guineas per month. Each piano came with a ten year guarantee!
The decline of the firm set in during World War One when then boss Henry Pohlmann refused to allow his works to be used for making ammunition. When the Radio and TV took over as the main forms of home entertainment the firm changed direction.
Pianos ceased to be made in 1931 and the firm began to sell electrical equipment.
The Pohlmann name as a business disappeared from the town in the late 1970s, but an example of one of the earliest Pohlmann pianos can still be seen in Shibden Hall.
