The Zimmermann family was of Germanorigin. Musikverlag Zimmermann traces its roots back to a shop for German musical instruments near the Nevsky Prospektestablished by Julius Heinrich Zimmermann (1851-1923) in 1876. In 1880 he set up a factory for brass instruments. Soon he began publishing methods for all instruments, the first official publication was a Method for Flute by Ernesto Köhler in 1885. Julius Heinrich Zimmermann also developed new designs for flutes[3] and was one of the first German saxophone manufacturers. The company also commenced production ofstring instruments. After settlement of a branch in Moscow in 1882, Zimmermann opened new branches in Leipzig in 1886, inLondon in 1897 and in Riga in 1905. From 1891 on, the firm produced also mechanical musical instruments.[4] Further, the company was prominent for its balalaikas, developed byVasily Vasilievich Andreyev. In 1901, Julius Heinrich Zimmermann was bestowed with theOrder of Saint Stanislaus by tsar Nicholas II of Russia, beginning an association with the Russian tsar, as well as becoming exclusive purveyor of brass instruments to the Russian army. At that time he signed on Riccardo Drigo and published his most famous ballets. By 1904, Zimmermann acquired the piano factory of Gustav Fiedler in Leipzig. It produced then Jul. Heinr. Zimmermann pianos, harmoniums and mechanical musical instruments as well as musical boxes andspeaking machines.