Julius Heinrich ZIMMERMANN

History

Julius Heinrich Zimmermann, born in 1851 in Sternberg, Germany, established his business in St. Petersburg in 1876. Initially operating as a music publisher, his enterprise expanded, opening branches in Moscow from 1882 and Leipzig in 1886. According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff in Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart, a branch was also established in London in 1897. John Dilworth, in The Brompton’s Book of Violin & Bow Makers, notes the addition of a Riga branch in 1905. In 1895, Zimmermann founded a factory in St. Petersburg dedicated to the production of all types of instruments, bows, and accessories, employing skilled workers, some of whom came from Saxony. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff described the enterprise as a manufacturer of string, brass, and woodwind instruments. The business later relocated to Markneukirchen in 1908.

Craft

• Methods: Julius Heinrich Zimmermann's factory in St. Petersburg, established in 1895, was notable for producing a wide range of instruments, bows, and accessories. According to John Dilworth in The Brompton’s Book of Violin & Bow Makers, its output included violins and cellos offered in various grades such as ‘Solo’ and ‘Concert’, which were generally of very high quality and craftsmanship.

Further Information

• Technical Characteristics: Bows produced by Julius Heinrich Zimmermann's workshop were branded with identifiers such as "JUL. HEINR. ZIMMERMANN, LEIPZIG" and "Jul. Heinr. Zimmermann St. Petersburg. 18.. No...", as detailed by John Dilworth.

Summary

Julius Heinrich Zimmermann (b. 1851, Sternberg, Germany) was a prominent figure who left an indelible mark on both instrument manufacturing and music publishing. Establishing his business in St. Petersburg in 1876, his enterprise quickly expanded across major European cities like Moscow, Leipzig, London, and Riga. By 1895, he had founded a factory in St. Petersburg that became renowned for producing a wide array of musical instruments—from high-quality 'Solo' and 'Concert' grade violins and cellos to brass, woodwind instruments, bows, and accessories. This significant company, which fostered skilled craftsmanship, ultimately relocated to Markneukirchen in 1908, solidifying Zimmermann's legacy as a pivotal innovator in the musical instrument world.