Aug. Laukhuff

Aug. Laukhuff GmbH & Co. KG, based in Weikersheim, Germany, was the world's largest supplier of organ parts. The company traced its origins to 1823, when Martin Andreas Laukhuff founded his own organ-building workshop in Pfedelbach near Heilbronn. His three sons, August, Andreas, and Adolf Laukhuff, continued the business, with August focusing on the specialization in organ parts, Andreas on the commercial side, and Adolf on the artistic side. In 1878 the operation moved to Weikersheim. During the 19th century the company established international business connections, and Andreas Laukhuff catalogued and standardized all the necessary parts of an organ, for which he was awarded the title of Kommerzienrat. Otto and Wilhelm Laukhuff, sons of Andreas, managed the reconstruction of the company after its destruction in 1945. The sons of Otto and Wilhelm, Hans-Erich (d. 2012) and Peter, led the company until 2011. From 2012 to 2017 Magnus Windelen took over the management of Aug. Laukhuff GmbH & Co. KG. From October 2017, the nephews of Hans-Erich and Peter Laukhuff, Tobias Schröter and Alexander Laukhuff, led the family business. In April 2014 the company filed for insolvency proceedings with self-administration at the Crailsheim Local Court. The company was successfully restructured and was released from insolvency proceedings on 20 November 2014. In 2017 the company took over the piano and grand piano keyboard manufacturing of the company Otto Heuss. In spring 2021 the company entered a protective shield procedure; an investor was sought unsuccessfully. As a result, business operations ceased on 30 June 2021. The official website now states that Laukhuff has gone out of business. In the organ hall of Aug. Laukhuff stood one of the few remaining cinema organs. It was a Möller organ built in 1947 with 11 ranks of pipes and 62 stops derived from them, which was bought back from Johannesburg and rebuilt in 1980. Due to the company's insolvency, the organ was offered for sale in May 2022.

The history of Aug. Laukhuff begins with Martin Andreas Laukhuff (1798–1871), who received his training as an organ builder under Johann Eberhard Walcker, whose only daughter Catharina he married, and worked together with Walcker's son Eberhard Friedrich Walcker. In 1823 he founded his own organ-building workshop in Pfedelbach near Heilbronn. His three sons, August, Andreas, and Adolf Laukhuff, continued the business, with August (1850–1886) associated with the specialization in organ parts, Andreas with the commercial side, and Adolf with the artistic side. In 1878 the operation moved to Weikersheim. During the 19th century the company succeeded in establishing international business connections. Andreas Laukhuff catalogued and standardized all the necessary parts of an organ, for which he was awarded the title of Kommerzienrat. Otto and Wilhelm Laukhuff, sons of Andreas Laukhuff, managed the reconstruction of the company after its destruction in 1945. The sons of Otto and Wilhelm Laukhuff, Hans-Erich (d. 2012) and Peter, led the company until 2011. From 2012 to 2017 Magnus Windelen took over the management of Aug. Laukhuff GmbH & Co. KG. From October 2017, the nephews of Hans-Erich and Peter Laukhuff, Tobias Schröter and Alexander Laukhuff, led the family business. In April 2014 Aug. Laukhuff GmbH & Co. KG filed for insolvency with self-administration at the Crailsheim Local Court. The company was successfully restructured and was released from insolvency proceedings on 20 November 2014. In 2017 the company took over the piano and grand piano keyboard manufacturing of the company Otto Heuss. In spring 2021 the company entered a protective shield procedure; an investor was sought unsuccessfully. As a result, business operations were discontinued on 30 June 2021. The official website now states that Laukhuff has gone out of business. In the organ hall of Aug. Laukhuff stood one of the few remaining cinema organs. It was a Möller organ built in 1947 with 11 ranks of pipes and 62 stops derived from them, which was bought back from Johannesburg and rebuilt in 1980. Due to the company's insolvency, the organ was offered for sale in May 2022.

• 2022

  The Möller cinema organ is offered for sale in May.

• 2021

  Enters protective shield procedure in spring; business operations cease on 30 June.

• 2017

  Takes over Otto Heuss piano and grand piano keyboard manufacturing; Tobias Schröter and Alexander Laukhuff take over management in October.

• 2014

  Files for insolvency with self-administration in April; released from proceedings on 20 November.

• 2012

  Magnus Windelen takes over management.

• 2011

  Hans-Erich and Peter Laukhuff end their leadership.

• 1945

  The company is destroyed and subsequently rebuilt by Otto and Wilhelm Laukhuff.

• 1878

  The operation moves to Weikersheim.

• 1823

  Martin Andreas Laukhuff founds his own organ-building workshop in Pfedelbach near Heilbronn.

World's largest supplier of organ parts

• Organ parts

  The company was the world's largest supplier of organ parts.

• Piano and grand piano keyboards

  Manufacturing taken over from Otto Heuss in 2017.

1. 1Laukhufflaukhuff.de
2. 2Aug. Laukhuffwikidata.org
3. 3Aug. Laukhuffde.wikipedia.org