Franz Heissler GmbH

Franz Heissler GmbH is a German organ-building company and a producer of organ parts, based in the Markelsheim district of Bad Mergentheim. The business was founded in 1935 by Franz Heissler (I.), who had trained as an organ builder at Aug. Laukhuff in Weikersheim and worked there as a journeyman from 1929 to 1935 before setting up independently in the then still independent village of Markelsheim. Favorable demand in the Tauber and Main-Franconian regions allowed the workshop to grow quickly. Franz Heissler's work was interrupted for roughly ten years by the Second World War and his subsequent captivity in Siberia. From 1948 the workshop again recorded growing economic success and began producing organ parts, so that it no longer only built complete organs but also supplied slider chests, slider action mechanisms, wooden and metal flue pipes, and tone magnets. The later independent organ builder Werner Owart completed his training in the workshop. After the founder's death in 1962, his son Franz Heissler (II.), born in 1940, took over the company. In 1980 the family business was converted into a GmbH. During the 1980s it was increasingly active in the United States. Gerhard Heissler has since also become part of the management. Today Heissler manufactures not only individual new organs but also series and chest organs, which are comparatively more affordable. The company's product range, as presented on its official website, includes pipe organs, positive organ cases, metal pipes (with and without voicing) in tin and lead, wooden pipes (with and without voicing), organ cleaning, reconstructions and restorations, mechanically or electrically operated slider chests in Heissler standard or custom design, 12 V or 24 V tone valve magnets, HD inserts for slider sealing, organ benches, height-adjustable mechanical or electric organ bench mechanisms, and mold remediation certified by TÜV Rheinland. The firm remains a private family business and is active in organ building and organ component supply, with historical ties to the U.S. market.

The company was founded in 1935 by Franz Heissler (I.), born in Reichenbach in 1908 and died in Markelsheim in 1962. After completing his Abitur he received a musical education and then learned the organ-building craft at Aug. Laukhuff in Weikersheim, where he worked as a journeyman from 1929 to 1935. In 1935 he became self-employed as an organ builder in the nearby village of Markelsheim, which was still independent at the time. The business developed very well, particularly because of the favorable order situation in the Tauber and Main-Franconian regions. Franz Heissler's activity was interrupted for about ten years by the Second World War and his subsequent captivity in Siberia. From 1948 the organ workshop again recorded increasing economic success and began producing organ parts. It no longer only built organs but also supplied slider chests, slider action mechanisms, wooden and metal flue pipes, and tone magnets. The later independent organ builder Werner Owart completed his training in the workshop. After the founder's death in 1962, his son Franz Heissler (II.), born in 1940, took over the company. In 1980 the family business was converted into a GmbH. During the 1980s it was increasingly active in the United States. Gerhard Heissler has since also become part of the management. Today Heissler manufactures not only individual new organs but also series and chest organs, which are comparatively more affordable. The company is based in the Markelsheim district of Bad Mergentheim and continues to operate as a private family business in organ building and organ component supply.

• 1980

  The family business is converted into a GmbH.

• 1980

  During the 1980s the company is increasingly active in the United States.

• 1962

  Founder Franz Heissler (I.) dies; his son Franz Heissler (II.) takes over the company.

• 1948

  After the interruption of World War II and captivity, the workshop resumes and begins producing organ parts.

• 1935

  Franz Heissler (I.) becomes self-employed as an organ builder in Markelsheim, founding the company.

• 1929

  Franz Heissler (I.) begins working as a journeyman at Aug. Laukhuff in Weikersheim.

• 1908

  Franz Heissler (I.) born in Reichenbach.

Traditional German family organ workshop combining custom organ building with industrial-scale production of organ components.

• Pipe organs

  Custom new organs as well as series and chest organs.

• Positive organ cases

  Cases for positive organs.

• Metal pipes

  Tin/lead pipes with and without voicing; also metal pipe production panels approx. 2700 x 800 mm.

• Wooden pipes

  Wooden pipes with and without voicing.

• Slider chests

  Mechanical or electric, Heissler standard or custom design.

• Tone valve magnets

  12 V or 24 V.

• HD inserts for slider sealing

  HD inserts for slider sealing.

• Organ benches

  Organ benches and height-adjustable mechanical or electric bench mechanisms.

• Organ cleaning and restoration

  Organ cleaning, reconstructions and restorations.

• Mold remediation

  Certified by TÜV Rheinland.

1. 1Heissler Orgelbau, Orgelteileheissler-orgeln.de
2. 2Franz Heissler GmbH - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Franz Heissler (Orgelbauunternehmen) - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org