Stultz and Bauer: The Tale of Two Piano Makers

This is a short story of two entrepreneurial piano makers, Henry Stultz and Frederick Bauer. Stultz seemed to have one difficulty after another, while Bauer seemed to hold steady throughout his career and successfully grow his business.

Established in 1882, Henry Stultz Sr. and Frederick Bauer started the well-known piano manufacturing firm of Stultz and Bauer. Frederick Bauer was related to Jacob Doll, another well-known piano maker. The company grew rapidly and to meet the growing demand, the company raised money by selling stock and incorporating itself in 1892.

Perhaps 16 years is long enough for a partnership, and in 1896, Henry Stultz Sr. leaves the company and becomes a partner in the Dolgeville Piano Case Company.

Bauer remains the sole owner of Stultz & Bauer.

But two years later, in 1898, the Dolge Piano Case Company files for bankruptcy and is sold at auction for $4,006 to the Jacob Brothers Piano Company.

Just one year later, in 1899, Henry Stultz Sr. dies of pneumonia at the young age of 52.

In 1900, Henry Stultz Jr. meets the well-known piano action creator George Bothner. Henry and George, along with Charles Kretschmann, begin making pianos under Stultz and Co. Unfortunately, the company was short-lived and in 1902 Stultz and Company went bankrupt. The Assets were purchased by the large piano manufacturing company Bjur Brothers at auction.

Henry Stultz Jr. begins work in the case-making department of the Kohler and Campbell factory, but a year later, in 1905, he re-partners with George Bothner and together they start The Stultz Piano Case Company with $10,000.

The POMIW Union Journal reports that the Stultz Piano Case Co. goes bankrupt again in 1907. Just three years.

In 1910, Charles and his brother George Stultz founded the Stultz Bros. Piano Company. But the company was short-lived due to slow economic conditions and with World War I in 1914. George Stultz would later buy the Universal Piano Company, but this company was also short-lived.

Times were undoubtedly changing rapidly in the early 1920s, and in 1922 the Stultz and Bauer company introduced an entirely new line of pianos that also included player pianos, but in 1927 it went out of business.

Kohler & Campbell buys the Stultz and Bauer company in 1928. Kohler and Campbell was one of the few companies to survive the Great Depression. Frederick would pass away shortly thereafter in 1930.