Zeitter and Winkelmann Braunschweig (Brunswick)

[vernon]

Zeitter and Winkelmann about 1900

I'm doing a very nice piano(above)
On the fall,inlaid in the original name plate it says;

" Zeitter and Winkelmann"( in Deutsche Buchstaben ,ie-German lettering)
"Braunschweig" (in Roman letters)
and also "System Steinway Newyork" (sic) in Roman lettering

what's the "Steinway" bit all about?

bw
Vernon

[Bill Kibby]

Dunno Vernon, but the same phrase appears on several different makes, so it is probably an acknowledgement to the type of action or something The name is Zeitter, not Zeittner.

[Pianomate]

Vernon, does it have the fancy cast pierced Winklemann name plaque/motif attached to the frame at the top LHS?

[vernon]

nope.
It's just a very solid one piece iron frame,very plain, with unbushed wrest pins. It looks about 1890-ish Didn't take time to dismantle in search of a number.
Very nice old joanna, good tone , concert pitch and will last another 100 years.
Made my day.
My shipping order was to repair the split tray desk.
Customer is a DIY expert but couldn't access 1/4 " 4 screws!

[wilhorwood]

It has been a long time since anybody replied to this. Do you still have the piano?
My grandfather was the last family owner of the Zeitter & Winkelmann piano company. I have been researching their old company so that I can tell the kids about it. What I understand is that the company had quite a few patents and were pioneers in developing piano mechanisms and cross-stringed metal frames. Their name on the keyboard lid often included mention of their patented mechanism. Then from about 1877 they started using "System Steinway Newyork, Zeitter & Winkelmann, Braunschweig" on the lids, with the System Steinway Newyork (yes spelled like that) and Braunschweig in a Roman Font and Zeitter and Winkelmann in a leaning Copperplate style. Then from about 1885 this was modified to read "System Steinway New York, Zeitter & Winkelmann, Hof Pianoforte-Fabrik, Braunschweig" with Zeitter & Winkelmann now in a gothic script on a curve, System Steinway New York curved over this, and the rest in a narrow Roman font underneath. They stopped using any mention of system Steinway from about 1890, but I have read that subsequent Z&W pianos have the exact same playing action as a Steinway. Do you have any photos of the piano?