Orgelbau Kögler

Orgelbau Kögler GmbH is a pipe organ building company based in St. Florian, Upper Austria. It is the successor to the Oberösterreichische Orgelbauanstalt (St. Florian / Kögler) and, further back, to the firm Orgelbau Breinbauer. The company builds new organs and restores historic instruments, working in the old craft tradition with mechanical slider chests. The origins of the business go back to 1921, when the organ builder Wilhelm Zika sen. (1872–1955) took over the Breinbauer firm in Ottensheim. In 1945 the company moved to St. Florian in connection with the restoration of the Bruckner organ in St. Florian Abbey. From 1955 his son Wilhelm Zika jun. (1905–1989) led the business, which in 1956 was incorporated into the newly founded Oberösterreichische Orgelbauanstalt GmbH (Orgelbauanstalt St. Florian), where Zika served as artistic director. In 1972 Helmut Kögler (born 1942), who had been with the firm since 1960, became owner and managing director. After Zika's death in 1989 the company was renamed Oberösterreichische Orgelbauanstalt Kögler GmbH. From 1990, in cooperation with the organ builder Bernhardt Edskes, the firm turned toward historically oriented organ building. Besides new organs with mechanical slider chests in the old handcraft tradition, it carries out restorations of historic instruments. After Helmut Kögler's son Christian (born 1964) was appointed managing director in 2003, the company has operated under the name Orgelbau Kögler GmbH. Since then the firm has exported organs to other European countries.

The company's history begins in 1921, when the organ builder Wilhelm Zika sen. (1872–1955) took over the Breinbauer firm in Ottensheim. In 1945 the business moved to St. Florian in connection with the restoration of the Bruckner organ in St. Florian Abbey. From 1955 his son Wilhelm Zika jun. (1905–1989) led the company, which in 1956 was incorporated into the newly founded Oberösterreichische Orgelbauanstalt GmbH (Orgelbauanstalt St. Florian), where Zika held the position of artistic director. In 1972 Helmut Kögler (born 1942), who had been with the firm since 1960, became owner and managing director. After Zika's death in 1989 the company was renamed Oberösterreichische Orgelbauanstalt Kögler GmbH. From 1990, in cooperation with the organ builder Bernhardt Edskes, the company turned toward historically oriented organ building. In addition to new organs with mechanical slider chests in the old handcraft tradition, restorations of historic instruments are carried out. After Helmut Kögler's son Christian (born 1964) was appointed managing director in 2003, the company has operated under the name Orgelbau Kögler GmbH. Since then the firm has exported organs to other European countries.

• 2003

  Christian Kögler is appointed managing director; the company operates as Orgelbau Kögler GmbH and begins exporting organs to other European countries.

• 1990

  In cooperation with Bernhardt Edskes, the company turns toward historically oriented organ building.

• 1989

  After Zika's death, the company is renamed Oberösterreichische Orgelbauanstalt Kögler GmbH.

• 1972

  Helmut Kögler becomes owner and managing director.

• 1956

  The company is incorporated into the newly founded Oberösterreichische Orgelbauanstalt GmbH (Orgelbauanstalt St. Florian).

• 1955

  Wilhelm Zika jun. takes over leadership of the company.

• 1945

  The company moves to St. Florian in connection with the restoration of the Bruckner organ in St. Florian Abbey.

• 1921

  Wilhelm Zika sen. takes over the Breinbauer firm in Ottensheim.

Traditional craft organ building with a focus on mechanical slider chests and historically informed restoration.

• New pipe organs with mechanical slider chests

• Restoration of historic organs

1. 1Orgelbau Kögler – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Orgelbau Kögler – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Orgelbau Kögler websiteorgelbau-koegler.at