Theodor August Heintzman

Born in Berlin, Heintzman worked in various manufacturing jobs as a youth, eventually settling in at a German piano factory. In 1840, he married his boss' daughter and, following the lead of her family, immigrated to the United States in 1850.

It is believed by the Heintzman family that Theodor immigrated on the same boat as Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg, another piano-maker, and the two attempted to start a business in New York City. They soon parted ways, however, with Heintzman taking his family to Buffalo where he started again; Steinweg eventually changed his name to Steinway and became a successful piano manufacturer in his own right. In Buffalo, Heintzman worked at Keogh Piano Company (located at what is now Fireman's Park) before he started the a piano forte firm with Francis Drew and Henry Annowsky (1853 as Drew, Heintzman and Annowsky at 10 and Court Street), which he ran until it went under in 1858. From 1858 to 1860 Heintzman ran Western Pianoforte Manufactory Company in Hamilton, Canada West (founded in 1856 by Charles Thomas).

In 1860, Heintzman moved to Toronto, where he constructed his first four pianos in the kitchen of his son-in-law; these sold well, and with the proceeds he was able to found Heintzman & Co., Ltd., setting up his primary warehouse first on Toronto's York Street, soon moving to King Street near Yonge.

Heintzman enjoyed a reputation as a grand showman, often performing on his pianos as part of his sales pitch. Of note is that Heintzman took several of his pianos with him on the first trans-Canadian rail trip, which he used both as a means for sale and advertising.