G. F. Steinmeyer & Co.

G. F. Steinmeyer & Co. was a prominent German manufacturer of organs and harmoniums based in Oettingen, Bavaria. Founded in 1847 by Georg Friedrich Steinmeyer, who had trained under Eberhard Friedrich Walcker, the workshop initially produced over 6,000 harmoniums until after World War I, but gained its greatest fame in organ building. The company built more than 2,400 organs, including the largest church organ in the world at Passau Cathedral (1928) and the organ of St. Michael's Church in Hamburg (1960). It also restored historic organs, such as those in the Ottobeuren Basilica (1914 and 1922). The firm was family-run for five generations, passing from Georg Friedrich to his son Johannes, then to Hans, Fritz junior, and finally Paul Steinmeyer. Active organ building ceased in 2001, and the company was converted into an asset management entity to preserve its historic buildings, inventory, and unique organ-building archive. The organ-building tradition was continued by Karl Göckel under the name Orgelbau Steinmeyer GmbH.

G. F. Steinmeyer & Co. was founded in 1847 in Oettingen by Georg Friedrich Steinmeyer (1819–1901), who had trained under Eberhard Friedrich Walcker. The workshop initially produced harmoniums, making over 6,000 by the end of World War I, but it was in organ building that the firm achieved lasting fame. From the start, Steinmeyer built only cone chests (Kegelladen); his Opus 1 of 1848 was the first cone chest organ in Bavaria, and his Opus 2 of 1849 was his only slider chest organ. By 1900, the company had delivered 676 organs and numerous harmoniums. It later contributed to the development of pocket chests (Taschenladen) before moving almost exclusively to electro-pneumatic actions. Notably, Steinmeyer was relatively late in reintroducing mechanical slider chests in the 1950s. By 1929, the firm had built 1,500 organs, and by the end of its active period, nearly 2,400. After Georg Friedrich's death in 1901, his son Johannes Steinmeyer (1857–1928) took over. Despite difficult economic conditions in the 1920s, 750 organs were built under his direction. Johannes had two sons: Hans (1889–1970) and Fritz senior (1895–1974). Hans assumed leadership after his father's death in 1928, and approximately 700 new organs were built during his tenure. In 1967, Hans transferred management to his eldest son, Fritz junior (1918–2008), under whose leadership from 1967 to 1993 about 240 organs were built. In 1993, Paul Steinmeyer (1933–2019), son of Fritz senior, took over from his cousin Fritz junior. Active organ building ceased in 2001, and the company was transformed into an asset management entity to preserve the historic buildings, inventory, and the world's unique organ-building archive. The organ builder Karl Göckel founded Orgelbau Steinmeyer Inh. Karl Göckel e. K. in 2001, which operates as Orgelbau Steinmeyer GmbH. Among the firm's notable instruments are the organ for the Schützenhaus in Meiningen (1913), designed by Max Reger; the largest church organ in the world at Passau Cathedral (1928); the organ in St. Michael's Church, Hamburg (1960); and the main organ in St. Lorenz, Nuremberg (1879/1937), which is today the second-largest organ in Germany (renovated and expanded by Klais in 2002). Steinmeyer also restored the historic organs of Ottobeuren Basilica in 1914 and 1922.

• 2001

  Active organ building ceases; company becomes an asset management entity. Karl Göckel founds Orgelbau Steinmeyer GmbH.

• 1993

  Paul Steinmeyer takes over from Fritz junior.

• 1967

  Fritz Steinmeyer junior takes over management from Hans.

• 1960

  Organ of St. Michael's Church, Hamburg, completed.

• 1929

  1,500 organs built to date.

• 1928

  Largest church organ in the world built for Passau Cathedral; Hans Steinmeyer becomes head after Johannes's death.

• 1922

  Second restoration of Ottobeuren Basilica organs.

• 1914

  Restoration of historic organs in Ottobeuren Basilica.

• 1913

  Organ for Schützenhaus in Meiningen built, following designs by Max Reger.

• 1901

  Founder Georg Friedrich Steinmeyer dies; son Johannes takes over.

• 1900

  676 organs and numerous harmoniums delivered by this year.

• 1879

  Main organ of St. Lorenz, Nuremberg, built (later rebuilt in 1937).

• 1849

  Opus 2, the company's only slider chest organ, completed.

• 1848

  Opus 1, the first cone chest organ in Bavaria, completed.

• 1847

  Company founded by Georg Friedrich Steinmeyer in Oettingen.

Renowned German organ builder known for large-scale church organs and innovative slider chest and pneumatic action systems.

• 1928

  Passau Cathedral organ

  The largest church organ in the world at the time.

• 1960

  St. Michael's Church, Hamburg organ

  Major organ in Hamburg's iconic church.

• 1879

  St. Lorenz, Nuremberg organ

  Today the second-largest organ in Germany.

• 1913

  Meiningen Schützenhaus organ

  Built to designs by Max Reger.

1. 1Willkomen bei Steinmeyer!steinmeyer-orgeln.de
2. 2G. F. Steinmeyer & Co. - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3G. F. Steinmeyer & Co. - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org