What is your favorite Brazilian Piano?!

[Barbosa-piano]

 I know this is a stupid poll, because Brazilian Pianos are extremely rare to find around the world. I know there is a significant number of them in France, and there is a Fritz Dobbert office in California. I was just wondering, because I loved my upright Essenfelder from Brazil, they are very big, and they are made for large areas, because of the very loud sound. They usually call them Concert Uprights. It is strange that the Fritz Dobbert and M. Schwartzmann pianos are not well known, because some of their pianos have a quality superior to many Kawais, and they usually sound like Yamaha grands and uprights. They are usually made of Brazilian Pine wood, from the cold regions of Brazil.
It would be very nice if you could share your opinion on those rare pianos.

Thanks in advance. 
Mario Barbosa

[Axtremus]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge in Brazillian Pianos. I knew nothing about Brazillian pianos before, but now I know five brand names. Thank you.

[Barbosa-piano]

 You are welcome, my pleasure. I think not many people around here know those pianos... Well, as I expected, they are hard to find. But if you ever have the opportunity, go for it. As you can see, most of these pianos have German names, being built since the 1850's and early 1900's by German imigrant families that moved to Brazil, and that still live on. The only factory of these that closed, was Essenfelder, after the death of owner. His grand son is talking about re-opening the factory, because the piano is still a successful brand. 
Here are some sites of Brazilian piano factories and stores:
www.fritzdobbert.com.br  (see "produtos" for products and photos)                                         
www.personpianos.com.br/index.html (store, tuning, and repair)
Thank you

[c18cont]

I only know the Essenfelder...they do have a big sound....My sisters friend in Highland (CA) has one.

I intend to find out a bit about the others you list...

Regards,   John

[donjuan]

Brazil makes pianos?? thats too bad.. that rainforest needs all the trees it can hold on to, without people cutting them down to make soundboards..

[barbosa-piano]

Brazil makes pianos?? thats too bad.. that rainforest needs all the trees it can hold on to, without people cutting them down to make soundboards..

I have good and bad news...Good news is that most Brazilian pianos are made of Brazilian pine wood called Araucaria, from South Brazil, where it even snows. That is a bit far away from the Rain forest,  but it is said that the pine wood gives the piano a unique sound. I don't know why they don't use wood from the Rain forest, which is supposely the best for piano building, but it is good that they stayed away from the rain forest. What I like about those piano factories, is that most have their own vast forest land, which they use and replant for production in a cycle, and which is good for nature. The bad news is that I think that M. Schwartzmann and Brasil piano factories are the only ones on the list that don't use pine wood.