

Mason & Hamlin pianos were some of the most expensive pianos in the early 20th century, as one of the leading brands for handmade, tedious detail and well-made parts. Mason & Hamlin continues to produce some of the finest pianos, staying true to the original owners’ mission to produce well-made works of art. The brothers returned the company's piano making back to its roots of handmade craftsmanship with high-quality parts. Ownership of the company was constantly changing between investors and musical groups for a decade, until it fell into the hands of musical brothers Kirk and Gary Burgett in 1996. Īfter CitiBank seized the assets of Aeolian American Piano Company in 1985, ownership changed to Pratt-Reed of Ivoryton, CT. During World War II Mason & Hamlin piano factories were devoted to producing airplanes gliders instead of instruments until the end of the war. Mason & Hamlin sold their company to Aeolian American Piano Company in 1930, and their pianos were subsequently made in East Rochester, New York. The stock market crash in 1929 brought the majority of luxury piano companies into financial crisis, including Mason & Hamlin. The strings tensioner mechanism was modernized, and with the expertise of Richard Gertz, the company developed completely new scales for all pianos while remaining true to the integrity of their handmade craftsmanship. The piano design for Mason & Hamlin went through many changes over the years, but one thing remained the same: their approach to handmade piano making endured decades of piano making evolution in the industry. By 1883 they were building some of the finest pianos in the United States and their offices had expanded into Boston, Chicago, and New York.

Henry Mason and Emmons Hamlin joined forces in 1854 at 596 Broadway, New York. One of the oldest and original handmade piano manufacturers still in existence in the United States today, Mason & Hamlin, was started as a reed organ manufacturing company in 1854.
