Theodor August Heintzman
Encyclopedia
Theodor August Heintzman (birth name Theodore August Heintzmann) (19 May 1817 – 25 July 1899) was a German-born Canadian piano
manufacturer (Heintzman & Co.
) and inventor, best known for founding the piano company which still bears his name.
Born in Berlin, Heintzman worked in various manufacturing jobs as a youth, eventually settling in at a German piano factory
. In 1840, he married his boss' daughter and, following the lead of her family, immigrated to the United States in 1850.
It is believed by the Heintzman family that Theodor immigrated on the same boat as Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg, another piano-maker, and the two attempted to start a business in New York City. They soon parted ways, however, with Heintzman taking his family to Buffalo
where he started again; Steinweg eventually changed his name to Steinway
and became a successful piano manufacturer in his own right. In Buffalo, Heintzman started the "Western Piano Co.", which he ran until it went under in 1858.
In 1860, Heintzman moved to Toronto, where he constructed his first four pianos in the kitchen of his son-in-law; these sold well, and with the proceeds he was able to found Heintzman & Co., Ltd.
, setting up his primary warehouse first on Toronto's York Street, soon moving to King Street near Yonge
.
Heintzman enjoyed a reputation as a grand showman, often performing on his pianos as part of his sales pitch. Of note is that Heintzman took several of his pianos with him on the first trans-Canadian rail trip, which he used both as a means for sale and advertising
. His son George is said to have ridden on the cowcatcher as the train pulled into Vancouver, passing out handbills.
Heintzman pianos soon grew steadily in reputation, and as a result, Heintzman became a very wealthy man. He and his four adult sons (all of whom were in the family business) settled into West Toronto Junction
which was, at the time, a separate town from Toronto. Heintzman's estate, built in 1889, was called "The Birches", and despite some internal modifications, it still stands on Annette Street, across the street from Annette Street Public School. A property developer's plan to tear it down in the early 1980s sparked a protest
from local citizens, and a compromise was reached wherein the exterior has been restored in the original Queen Anne Revival
style. Two of his sons' homes in the area are also still standing: Herman Heintzman's home on High Park Avenue and George Heinztman's house on Woodside Avenue. A larger estate of George's in Thornhill, Ontario
is also still standing.
The Junction was also home to the primary Heintzman factory prior to the moving of operations to Hanover
(today, most Heintzman pianos are made in China). Heintzman Street, a short, dead-end road which runs just north of Dundas Street
, formerly led to the Junction factory, which in its heyday employed over 200 craftsmen, making it one of the largest Canadian factories of any kind for its time. A nearby Lutheran Church, which Heintzman and his family attended, bears a plaque
memorializing Heintzman's contributions to both the Junction and the piano industry.
He died in 1899, shortly after the death of his wife.
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
manufacturer (Heintzman & Co.
Heintzman & Co.
Heintzman & Co. Ltd was a celebrated Canadian piano manufacturer, based in the Toronto area, whose instruments retain a reputation for quality of workmanship and fineness of tone.- History :...
) and inventor, best known for founding the piano company which still bears his name.
Born in Berlin, Heintzman worked in various manufacturing jobs as a youth, eventually settling in at a German piano factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
. In 1840, he married his boss' daughter and, following the lead of her family, immigrated to the United States in 1850.
It is believed by the Heintzman family that Theodor immigrated on the same boat as Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg, another piano-maker, and the two attempted to start a business in New York City. They soon parted ways, however, with Heintzman taking his family to Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
where he started again; Steinweg eventually changed his name to Steinway
Henry E. Steinway
Henry E. Steinway made pianos in Germany and the United States. He was the founder of the piano company Steinway & Sons....
and became a successful piano manufacturer in his own right. In Buffalo, Heintzman started the "Western Piano Co.", which he ran until it went under in 1858.
In 1860, Heintzman moved to Toronto, where he constructed his first four pianos in the kitchen of his son-in-law; these sold well, and with the proceeds he was able to found Heintzman & Co., Ltd.
Heintzman & Co.
Heintzman & Co. Ltd was a celebrated Canadian piano manufacturer, based in the Toronto area, whose instruments retain a reputation for quality of workmanship and fineness of tone.- History :...
, setting up his primary warehouse first on Toronto's York Street, soon moving to King Street near Yonge
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
.
Heintzman enjoyed a reputation as a grand showman, often performing on his pianos as part of his sales pitch. Of note is that Heintzman took several of his pianos with him on the first trans-Canadian rail trip, which he used both as a means for sale and advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
. His son George is said to have ridden on the cowcatcher as the train pulled into Vancouver, passing out handbills.
Heintzman pianos soon grew steadily in reputation, and as a result, Heintzman became a very wealthy man. He and his four adult sons (all of whom were in the family business) settled into West Toronto Junction
The Junction
The Junction is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is near the junction of four railway lines in the area known as the West Toronto Diamond. The neighbourhood was previously an independent city called West Toronto, that was also its own federal electoral district until amalgamating...
which was, at the time, a separate town from Toronto. Heintzman's estate, built in 1889, was called "The Birches", and despite some internal modifications, it still stands on Annette Street, across the street from Annette Street Public School. A property developer's plan to tear it down in the early 1980s sparked a protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
from local citizens, and a compromise was reached wherein the exterior has been restored in the original Queen Anne Revival
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
style. Two of his sons' homes in the area are also still standing: Herman Heintzman's home on High Park Avenue and George Heinztman's house on Woodside Avenue. A larger estate of George's in Thornhill, Ontario
Thornhill, Ontario
Thornhill is a community in the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the northern border of the city of Toronto. Once a municipal village, Thornhill is now a community and postal designation geographically split into two municipalities along Yonge Street, the city of...
is also still standing.
The Junction was also home to the primary Heintzman factory prior to the moving of operations to Hanover
Hanover, Ontario
Hanover is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in southern Grey County, west of Durham and east of Walkerton on Grey/Bruce Road 4. Hanover marks the border between Grey County and Bruce County.-History:...
(today, most Heintzman pianos are made in China). Heintzman Street, a short, dead-end road which runs just north of Dundas Street
Dundas Street (Toronto)
Dundas Street, also known as Highway 5 west of Toronto, is a major arterial road connecting the centre of that city with its western suburbs and southwestern Ontario beyond...
, formerly led to the Junction factory, which in its heyday employed over 200 craftsmen, making it one of the largest Canadian factories of any kind for its time. A nearby Lutheran Church, which Heintzman and his family attended, bears a plaque
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
memorializing Heintzman's contributions to both the Junction and the piano industry.
He died in 1899, shortly after the death of his wife.