Orgelbau Schmid (Kaufbeuren)

Orgelbau Schmid is a German organ-building company founded in 1955 by Gerhard Schmid (1925–2004) in Kaufbeuren, Allgäu. The firm initially operated from two workshops and grew to more than 40 employees in the 1980s, becoming one of the larger organ-building operations in southern Germany. Its work extended across Europe, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe, where Gerhard Schmid supplied organs through the aid organization "Triumph des Herzens" and donated instruments to Russia and Latvia in the 1990s. The company built over 200 new organs and restored around 150 instruments, earning a reputation for both new construction and restoration. A defining project was the 2002–2004 dismantling of the organ by Orgelbau Th. Kuhn AG in the Basel Münster and its reconstruction in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow. Gerhard Schmid directed the assembly, and the transport of pipes wrapped in donated clothing became a widely reported detail; the clothing was later distributed to the needy in Moscow. Gerhard Schmid died on 9 September 2004 from late effects of injuries sustained in a fall from scaffolding at the Moscow organ. His son Gunnar Schmid (born 1967), trained in organ building at Mönch Orgelbau, Thomas Jann, Weigle, and others, completed his father's work and took over the business. Under Gunnar's leadership the firm moved away from the neo-baroque tonal ideal, and in 2006 the workshop and company headquarters relocated to the former branch in Westendorf. Today Orgelbau Schmid focuses on the restoration of larger instruments, the construction of small organs, and the production of sealing rings (Schmid-Ringe) for organ slider seals. The company remains a private firm (e.K.) and is not to be confused with the similarly named Orgelbaufirma Siegfried Schmid, also based in the Allgäu.

Gerhard Schmid (born 12 December 1925 in Kaufbeuren; died 9 September 2004) learned organ building from 1945 to 1948 at Gebrüder Hindelang. He worked as a journeyman at Zeilhuber and deepened his skills with Albert Moser in Munich. In 1952 he obtained the master craftsman title. From 1953 to 1955 he worked as an intonator for the Swedish firm Mårtensson in Lund. In 1955 Schmid founded his own organ-building company, initially distributing work across two workshops. In the 1980s the firm reached its largest size with over 40 employees. Its reach extended across Europe, especially into Eastern Europe, where Schmid supplied larger organ works through the aid organization "Triumph des Herzens." In the 1990s the company donated several organs to Russia and Latvia. It also earned a good reputation for restorations. From 2002 to 2004 Gerhard Schmid dismantled the organ by Orgelbau Th. Kuhn AG in the Basel Münster and rebuilt it in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow. For transport, the organ pipes were wrapped in clothing donated by Basel residents, which was later distributed to the needy in Moscow. Gerhard Schmid initially directed the assembly, and at his personal request all work was done unpaid. He died on 9 September 2004 from late effects of injuries sustained in a fall from scaffolding at the Moscow organ. His son Gunnar Schmid (born 1967) learned organ building from 1988 at Mönch Orgelbau GmbH & Co. KG in Überlingen and worked as a journeyman from 1992 to 1994 at the organ workshop Thomas Jann, in 1995 in his father's business, and in 1996/1997 at Weigle. He attended the organ-building school in Ludwigsburg and passed the master examination. From 1999 to 2000 he worked at Hermann Weber (Engerazhofen) and from 2000 to 2001 at Zeilhuber. After his father's death he completed his father's works and took over the business. Under the new leadership the firm turned away from the ideal of the neo-baroque tonal image. In 2006 the workshop and company headquarters moved from Kaufbeuren to the former branch in Westendorf. Overall the organ-building company has produced over 200 new organs and restored around 150 organs. Today the company concentrates on the restoration of larger instruments, the construction of small organs, and the manufacture of sealing rings for sealing sliders.

• 2006

  Workshop and company headquarters move to the former branch in Westendorf.

• 2004

  Gerhard Schmid dies on 9 September from injuries sustained in a fall at the Moscow organ site.

• 2004

  Gunnar Schmid takes over the business after his father's death.

• 2002

  Dismantling of the Kuhn organ in Basel Münster begins for relocation to Moscow.

• 1980

  The firm reaches its largest size with over 40 employees.

• 1955

  Gerhard Schmid founds his own organ-building company.

Traditional German organ-building workshop specializing in neo-baroque tonal design, restoration, and small organs, with a sideline in sealing rings for organ building.

• Pipe organs (new construction)

  Over 200 new organs built, characterized by Werkprinzip, mechanical slider chests, neo-baroque disposition, and features such as Spanish trumpets.

• Organ restorations

  Around 150 organs restored, including larger instruments.

• Small organs

  Construction of small organs is a current focus.

• Schmid-Ringe (slider sealing rings)

  Sealing rings for organ slider seals, supplied to the organ-building industry.

1. 1Orgelbau Schmid Kaufbeuren e.K. seit 1955orgelbau-schmid.de
2. 2Orgelbau Schmid – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Orgelbau Schmid (Kaufbeuren) – Wikidatawikidata.org