Carl Friedrich Ritter

Carl Friedrich Ritter

Carl Friedrich Ritter , also Karl Friedrich Ritter , (born April 7, 1797 in Frankleben , † May 19, 1863 in Merseburg ) was a German piano maker .

Life

Carl Friedrich Ritter was born the son of a school principal. He first attended his father's school, then the grammar school in Merseburg. Returning from the campaigns from 1813 to 1815 , he first completed an apprenticeship as a glazier and then, following the custom of the time, went on a journey with this craft. In Baden-Baden he made the acquaintance of the piano maker Master Wittum. There he discovered his interest in piano making and completed his second apprenticeship with him.

After completing this apprenticeship, Ritter went on a journey as a piano maker to what was then the main venue for piano making in Vienna . In various workshops in Vienna, he expanded his knowledge and skills in building grand pianos and pianos until he returned to Merseburg and opened his own workshop in 1828. His son was to turn his company into a big one - the C. Rich. Ritter Halle a / S Pianoforte factory .

Because of their high quality, his instruments were very popular, so that Ritter was able to expand his workshop and hire employees.

Ritter was married to Rosine Dorothea Asmus, who actively supported his company. Their son Karl (Carl) Richard Ritter (1836–1917) took over his father's business after his father's death in 1863 and continued to run it successfully. The company remained family-owned for the next generation, but then in Halle .

literature

• For the 100th anniversary of C. Rich. Ritter, piano factory in Halle ad Saale. In: Zeitschrift für Instrumentenbau , Vol. 48, Leipzig 1927–1928, pp. 631–633 (digitized version )