CARL RÖNISCH, who in 1845 owned a small workshop in Dresden, became one of the foremost pioneers of piano-building in his time. In 1866 he had the epochal idea of using a full cast-iron plate in the piano, employing five struts and completely covering the wrest-plank, allowing for the first time a high-tension scale. This is considered the beginning of the use of full cast-metal plates Ð todayÕs standard in the industry. RÖNISCH instruments won gold medals in the world exhibitions in Sydney, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Chicago and Paris. CARL RÖNISCH was appointed Royal Purveyor to the Courts of Saxony, Spain, Sweden-Norway, Austro-Hungary and to the Tsar of Russia, thus laying the foundation of his world-famous name.