Collection: Shoninger Pianos

The Shoninger Piano Company was founded by Bernard Shoninger in 1850 in New Haven, Connecticut. Initially, the company focused on producing melodeons and organs. A devastating fire in 1865 led Shoninger to purchase the Treat & Linsley factory in New Haven, where he continued manufacturing under the name B. Shoninger Melodeon Company. As the popularity of organs declined, the company transitioned to piano manufacturing and rebranded as B. Shoninger & Co. in 1887.

Shoninger pianos gained a reputation for their high-quality craftsmanship and unique features. Early Shoninger pianos were notable for their incorporation of Swiss bells, activated by pedals or levers, which added a distinctive sound. The company produced a range of upright pianos, player pianos, and grand pianos, often featuring intricate and elegant designs that appealed to a broad audience.

In 1922, the company was reorganized and incorporated as the Shoninger Piano Company by Alexander S. Shoninger, Bernard's grandson. By the mid-1920s, the company had expanded to include locations in both New Haven and New York. However, during the Great Depression, Shoninger was acquired by the National Piano Manufacturing Company, which continued producing pianos under the Shoninger name until the 1960s.