J. C. Neupert

J. C. Neupert, formally "J. C. NEUPERT GmbH & Co," is a German manufacturer of fortepianos, harpsichords, spinets, clavichords, and other antique keyboard stringed instruments, established in 1868 and headquartered in Hallstadt. Named after its founder, Johann Christoph Neupert (8 December 1842, Münchberg, Upper Franconia — 7 September 1921, Bamberg), it's the oldest factory in the world that makes harpsichords continuously for over 117 years. The company operates as a family business, currently run by Wolf Dieter Neupert (b. 1937), Johann Christoph's great-grandson. A few notable musicians and composers who favored "J.C. Neupert" concert grand pianos include Max Reger, Elly Ney, Walter Gieseking, Wilhelm Kempff, Edwin Fischer, and Wilhelm Backhaus. Johann Christoph Neupert apprenticed at Seidl & Sohn piano factory in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, and spent several years working for other German and Austrian piano manufacturers, including renowned J.B. Streicher. In 1868, Neupert opened a tiny piano workshop in his hometown, Münchberg. The new business grew rapidly; by 1874, Neupert expanded the production facilities and moved to Bamberg, a larger Bavarian town. In 1900, Johann Christoph added a showroom in Nuremberg. Neupert had three sons, who all apprenticed at the family workshop and joined the company: Fritz (1872—1952), Reinhold (1874—1955), and Julius Neupert (1877—1970). After 76-year-old Johann Christoph retired in 1918, the brothers took over the business. In the third generation, Fritz, Reinhold, and Julius bequeathed their shares and responsibilities to each of their sons; the current owner, W.D. Neupert, is Fritz's grandson. Besides his professional activities, J.C. Neupert was a passionate collector of antique instruments, amassing several hundred unique keyboards over his lifetime (preserved at Germanisches Nationalmuseum since 1968). He expanded the company piano lineup in 1906, introducing its first harpsichord (an antique replica based on the specimen from Neupert's collection). In subsequent decades, guided by further organological research by Johann Christoph's grandson, Hanns Neupert, the company reconstructed and introduced a complete range of historical instruments, including single- and double-manual harpsichords, spinets, virginals, clavichords, square pianos, and pedalcembali. J. C. NEUPERT GmbH & Co. KG Neupert J. C. Werkstätten für historische Tasteninstrumente Biegenhofstraße 9 96103 Hallstadt Germany