The Schramm Neher Craig Piano

In 1866, Rachel Schramm was born in Doncaster to parents Kate (nee Pickering) and Max Schramm.  

In 1882, at the age of 16, Rachel and her sister, Rhoda went to Germany and were guests of their uncle Colonel Heinrich von Schramm for two years. They were happy years for the girls as they absorbed the Prussian culture and furthered their singing and musical education.  

In 1893, many years after returning to Doncaster, Rachel fell in love and married a tall, handsome farmer, Carl Neher, who had emigrated from Wurttemberg, in Germany.  The family worked an orchard in Bayswater and created a family: 1896 Edward “Rolf”; 1897 Alix; 1900 Geoffrey; and 1905 Selwyn. 

In 1908 Carl died leaving Rachel with children aged between 3 and 12. Rachel raised her family and later moved to Box Hill.  She died in 1951.

At some time during these years, Rachel acquired a piano to further her lifelong love of music. The piano was made by the Julius Bluthner company of Leipzig. The piano serial number appears to be 3325 which makes the date of manufacture 1891.  Bluthner pianos are of very high quality and have been used by musicians such as Brahms, Debussy, Wagner, Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and the Beatles.

The Schramm Neher Craig Piano in the Schramms Cottage Schoolroom.

Michael Craig (born in 1931 to Alix) remembers learning how to play this piano on visits to his grandmother, Rachel. Michael later acquired the piano and passed it on to his daughter, Robin Craig-Boyle.

Robin recently offered not only to donate the piano to DTHS but to organise and pay for its transport. DTHS Committee gratefully accepted the generous offer. The piano is now proudly on display in Schramms Cottage schoolroom.

Thank you (again) to the Craig-Neher families !