Sohmer and Company Piano Factory
historic place
In Queens, New York, stands the Sohmer and Company Piano Factory, a significant historic place. This six-story, L-shaped brick building was constructed around 1886. It was designed in the Rundbogenstil, or German Romanesque Revival style, by the architectural firm Berger & Baylies. A prominent mansard-roofed clock tower distinguishes its corner. Hugo Sohmer, a German immigrant, founded Sohmer & Company in Manhattan in 1872. The company moved its manufacturing to this Queens location in 1886, seeking better shipping and access to labor. Sohmer specialized in upright pianos, known for their powerful sound. By 1925, the factory employed 275 people and produced 2,500 pianos annually. An addition was built around 1906-07. Production continued here until 1982. The Sohmer and Company Piano Factory was designated a New York City individual landmark on February 27, 2007. It was later listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. Today, the building has been converted to residential use, serving as a reminder of New York City's past piano manufacturing industry.