Milestones A range of important Sauter innovations have entered the annals of piano-making.
A young carpenter from Spaichingen, Johann Grimm, founds a workshop in Spaichingen, which later becomes Sauter Pianofortemanufaktur. Over six generations the company develops into one of the leading piano manufacturers.
Double repetition mechanism is patented. The R2 mechanism (which underwent further refinement in 1972) enables faster repetition on an upright, similar to the action of a grand. A Sauter specialty.
Sauter introduces a microtone piano, a rarity worldwide, with intervals smaller than a semitone (known as micro-intervals). In 1999 Sauter began building microtone pianos again in limited numbers.
Following intensive in-house research, the spherical concavity® for the sound board is developed. This enhances the vibration of the sound board to produce rich overtones, and is the secret of the uniquely full Sauter sound.
Additional register demarcation for concert grands is introduced. Coloured markings for important demarcation points on the sound board make it easier to immediately locate the corresponding point on a string and quickly switch from playing the keys to playing the strings.
Grand piano music rack with easy one-hand operation developed. Hydraulic slow-close fallboard introduced.
Well-known designer Peter Maly reinterprets grands and uprights by applying his purist approach to form, exclusively for Sauter. Today the range consists of two grands and ten uprights.
Newly developed mechanism allows very fine adjustment of the sostenuto monkey/lift dowel.
Titan Duplex: sliding titanium support bridges allow fine adjustments to the strings at the upper duplex bridge, for an unusually pure and brilliant sound.
A new type of keytop, developed in conjunction with the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research. The patented material has a comparable chemical formula and similar characteristics to real ivory.