History

Arnold Fibiger founded the Piano Factory in 1878. The full name was „Factory of Grand Pianos and Upright Pianos by Arnold Fibiger”. 20 years later the factory was moved from 549 Józefina Street, to new location in Szopena 9. That is where the production was held for the next 94 years. During WWI the factory was closed and between 1939-1949 there was furniture factory instead of pianos.
In 1949 the factory change the name for « Piano Factory CALISIA »
Acquisition of rights to the trademark CALISIA by VERSHOLD and start of production of grand pianos abroad.

1878 – First Piano by Arnold Fibinger
1885 – silver medal in Warsaw Exhibition for 240cm Concert Grand Piano.
1906 – « Grand Prix » prize in London and Paris
1914-1918 – During the WWI the factory was closed
1929 - the factory receives a Gold Medal for instruments exhibited at the General National Exhibition
1930 – Gold Medal in Vilnius
1932 – Great Gold Prize – Warsaw
1939 - The factory sends a mini grand piano in a special frame to an exhibition in New York.
1939-1949 - During World War II the Factory moves to the production of furniture.
1945 - Factory Piano and Furniture Arnold Fibiger becomes state owned.
1949 - Followed by resuming the production of pianos and Piano and Furniture Factory Arnold Fibiger renamed Piano Factory CALISIA.
1950 – First piano with Calisia logo
1960 - production increases from 136 instruments per year in 1950 to 1343 pianos in 1960, while employment increases from 108 to 210 workers.
1989 - CALISIA Factory in Kalisz declined and fell into increasing debt.
2000 - CALISIA Factory of Grand Pianos and Upright Pianos was partially redeemed by the company UNITRA. Over 2 million PLN was invested in the Factory, but it failed to save it.
2007 - for economic reasons the production of grand pianos at CALISIA Factory of Grand Pianos and Upright Pianos in Kalisz stopped.
2010 - - Acquisition of rights to the trademark CALISIA by VERSHOLD and start of production of grand pianos abroad.