Grand piano have been only built up to 1971 and not one since, so the major production
consisted of upright pianos.Output: 740 Pianos a year
The Swiss piano building school was founded in 1973 under the same roof. 1986 the
school moved to company Sabel-Rorschach
1953 Mod.115
ca. 1905
1922
Swiss Piano building school was founded in:
1973
Hermann,Emil
Jacobi
1852-1928
PIANO FACTORY BURGER & JACOBI 1882-1991
For more information about:
BURGER & JACOBI
HISTORY, FAMILY TREE & SERIAL NUMBERS Etc.
go further down the page.
Images inside burger & jacobi piano factory have been photographed by myself: Emanuel Rey ( 1978 - 1980 )
1974 Strike
Johannes Brahms
1833-1897
Preparation of piano case.
*Key dates
Numbers
Upright/Grand production etc.
family tree.
family tree.
AG Piano factory Biel-Switzerland
No date's are available !     Born: 17...  Heinrich Burger and   married in 17... to    "Magdalena Furer"
Born; 1791 Heinrich,Christian,Johann Jacobi
Heinrich C.J.Jacobi german piano builder from Walthershausen/Türingen- Germany immigrated to Switzerland in 1840
Heinrich Son. Born:1842 Christian Burger from Emmenthal-Switzerland and later marries: "Klara Reimann"
Heinrich C.J.Jacobi working in Thun- Switzerland as a piano builder
Heinrich,Christian J.Son Born:1852 "Hermann,Emil Jacobi"
Christian Daughter Born: 18....? " Lina Burger"
Christian Burger he had already founded a piano workshop in Burgdorf-Bern Switzerland
Christian Son Born: 1874 "Ernst Burger"
Christian Burger moving to a new and larger workshop in Biel-Switzerland
✞ Heinrich,Christian,Johann Jacobi
Grand Mod #........? Upright Mod #........?
No dates are available for this section! " Hermann Jacobi history" Trade: He leans and studies the piano building trade from his father. Marriage to: The daughter of piano builder Cristian Burger " Lina" Hi established: BernerStaffers & Industry chamber,Handcraftsociety and was Chairman of the Swiss Piano factory owner association.
About 1880-1882 Christian Burger resettled the piano factory to Madretsch-Biel and was joined by his son-in-law Hermann E.Jacobi. That's how the brandname "Burger & Jacobi " began.
ca.1905
1917 Mod. 111b
Mod. 111
1926 Mod. ?
1926 Mod.11d
1948 Mod. ?
Sketch of:
Mod: 115
1961
Hight: 91cm
Hermann Emil first son: Born 1887 "Hermann,Heinrich, Christian Jacobi"
1888 Johannes Brahms had praised there quality and from that time every Burger & Jacobi piano has carried a small plaque to commemorating this fact.
Hermann,E. second son: Born 1890 "Edwin,Hugo,Hans Jacobi"
Hermann,Emil third son: Born 1892 "Lukas,Werner,Guido Jacobi"
30 September The company Burger & Jacobi completed: " 8000 Pianos"
Jurassisch exhibition in Moutier-district of Jura-Switzerland,Burger & Jacobi company receivied the 1price for the highest distinction.
Christian Grandson: Born 1910 "Hans Burger"
In 1910 the company had altogether 59 employee.
Grand Mod No: ?.... Upright Mod No: 11b
No date's are available for this section ! Lukas,Werner,Guido son: Born 19....? "Prof.Dr.Klaus Jacobi"
The Family company undergoes the best production time, after the first world-war. And start up to be the flagship of swiss piano manufacturer.
Upright Mod No. 111
Grand Mod No: 151 Upright Mod No: 11a
✞ 23 March Christian Burger
✞ 14 November Hermann,Emil Jacobi
16 September Burger & Jacobi manufactured 25000 pianos.
The gloomy word economy and second world war, other wood production like radio and gramaphone cabinets have been made to survive the volatility.
Upright Mod No: 126a
✞ 22 August Ernst Burger
Extensive propaganda spread for the township Biel-Switzerland called: "Bieler-week" Over 200 exhibitors have been represented and the first price lottery winning was, one grand piano from Burger & Jacobi
15 February Burger & Jacobi manufactured 28000 pianos.
17November Song-concert "Cacillia" at the town-church ( Biel-switzerland) under the cooperation of soprano-singer E.Hertig and accompanied by B.Berner on a Burger & Jacobi grand piano.
May Theatre-society sold 10000 raffle tickets and number 742 won a Burger & Jacobi upright piano
Upright Mod No: 127
September At the piano company Mr.Hunn celebrates the 50 year working anniversary.
At the front of trade association,pianobuilder,press,authorities and other guests. Hermann Jacobi spoke about the importance of the piano building industry over the past 20 years in Switzerland and looking toward employment and opportunities for the future.
✞ Hermann,Heinrich, Christian Jacobi
Upright Mod No: 106
Upright Mod No: 127 ?
✞ Hans Burger
No:1 Resettle the company from Biel ti Büren-Switzerland. Close to the river Aare for more space. No:2 European volatility in piano manufacturing crippled production and profitability. No:3 The Burger & Jacobi went bankrupt.
* Over 100 year old tradition closes its doors of piano production in switzerland forever. * All the equipment have been moved to Petrof piano factory.They made piano cabinets for other brands and this time also for new Burger & Jacobi pianos
The "Ciampi Group" of Rome -Italy purchased the brand name: Burger & Jacobi
Demolishing of the piano factory building.
22 April Tearing down the last remains of Burger & Jacobi piano building. "The Chimney"
Grand Mod No: GP170 Upright Mod No: 110EU,118M,125EU
Founder of Ciampi Group had once worked at Burger & Jacobi piano factory and it is one of the leading distributor of musical instruments in Europe.
Grand Mod No: GP170 Upright Mod No: 110EU,118M,125EU
Ciampi moved production to the Petrof piano factory in the Czech Republic
Grand Mod No: GP170 Upright Mod No: 110EU,118M,125EU
Ciampi purchased its own factory in the same town as Petrof piano company.
Grand pianos have been built only up to 1971
August Thieves broke in to Burger & Jacobi piano factory and stole the safe with thousands of Swiss franc's
The Swiss piano building school was found under the same roof at Burger & Jacobi factory.
Summer Strike "Wages claim"
Because of gloomy piano manufacturing strain Burger & Jacobi requires to lay off 17 workers and move to short shifts. (Tree day-working-week)
✞ Lukas,Hugo,Hans Jacobi
Emanuel Rey start the apprenticeship as a piano builder.
Upright Mod No: 104,108,112,116
End of the apprenticeship as a Piano Builder
Upright Mod No: 104,116
About 1981 Short shift and layoffs of more workers.
Upright Mod No: 104,116
✞ Edwin,Hugo,Hans Jacobi
Long-established piano factory Burger & Jacobi almost need to shut the doors after market difficulties.
Upright Mod: 104,111,116,126
Upright Mod: 104,111,116,126
In 1984 the company had altogether 45 workers
Burger & Jacobi company was purchased by piano- dealer "Jean-Claude Haefliger" from Lugano-Switzerland.
In April * Recommendation to Burger & Jacobi piano factory cease with the work and give all personnel notice! * Contrary to expectation the quantity of orders start to increase with gratification.
Piano building school was moved to the piano manufacturing company "SABEL" (Rorschach-Switzerland )
Start of the Swiss piano building school
