Home > Piano Restoration > Sohmer-Mason & Hamlin Piano Factory Tour

Sohmer-Mason & Hamlin Piano Factory Tour

"I have a B.A. and M.A. degrees in Music from Trinity University. After college I apprenticed in the piano restoration shop of The Griffen Piano Co. on N. St. Mary's St. in San Antonio, Texas. At Griffen's I learned about tuning, refinishing cabinets, restringing, and action rebuilding. I was invited to visit the Sohmer-Mason & Hamlin piano factory in Ivoryton, Connecticut. Here is an account of my trip. Don't expect to see an oriental Chinese, Korean or Japanese assembly line where a piano is popped out every so many minutes by drone-like laborers. This factory is where pianos are hand made, one at a time by American craftsmen." - Tom Masinter