Willem Straatman (?-1863) was born in the town of Oud-Zevenaar and established his workshop on the Oeverstraat in Arnhem. In addition to selling his own pianos, Straatman also rented and sold other instruments. As the Dutch agent for the Paris-based Erard firm of piano builders, it is possible that he may have sold or rented Erard pianos through his shop. Straatman opened up a branch on the Herengracht in Amsterdam around 1849 and another on the Rijnstraat in Arnhem in 1853. After Straatman’s death in 1863 his eldest son, Willem Lodevicus, took over the business until his own death in 1874, and from there the firm came to an end.