2004-10-30/2020-04-09 - From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North America Organ Builders by David H. Fox (Organ Historical Society, 1991). -- Czech Republic. U. S. Agent, Euro Musik Corporation, Matt Bechteler, Pres., Merrill (Jeff) N. Davis III, Director Consultant in 1995.
2015-10-25/2020-04-09 - From Euro Musik Corporation website: Reiger-Kloss.com, accessed Oct 25, 2015 -- Established at Jaegerndorf, Austria in 1873, in what is now known as Krnov, the Czech Republic; founder, Franz Rieger, was known throughout the Silesian region as an organbuilder of exceptional skill. his newly established firm, Rieger Brothers, was commissioned to build its OPUS 1 for the World Exhibition in Vienna. The instrument drew great attention and in 1878 the firm was again commissioned to build another major instrument - this for the World Exhibition in Paris. from 1873 to 1903, over one thousand organs were built by the Riegers. As the firm's fame spread - many instruments were shipped to Norway, England, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Palestine, Portugal, Denmark, and Germany. Orders also were accepted from such far away places as Argentina and Mexico. The firm's steady growth was interrupted by World War I and the disintegration of Austria-Hungary. Following these historic events, the firm was forced to seek new markets. Josef Glatter-Gotz became owner of the firm in 1924 and was responsible for returning Rieger to its former prominence. Under his guidance the firm built almost one thousand pipe organs; nearly half of these were installed in what was now called Czechoslovakia and the remainder in other European countries and in the continents of Africa, Asia, and South America. The Second World War again played havoc with the firm. Both the securing of manpower and materials became next to impossible in Krnov and organbuilding efforts were reduced to a minimum. In 1948 the Krnov firm came under state control and was nationalized. It was at this time that the trademark RIEGER-KLOSS was registered. Today [2015], once again under private ownership, RIEGER-KLOSS builds pipe organs of all types and sizes - from small Portatives and Positives to Cathedral and Concert Hall instruments
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