The Original. Handmade in New York Since 1929. — Sourced and Installed by Reformer Registry

There is no more storied name in Pilates equipment than Gratz. These are the machines Joseph Pilates himself designed — handbuilt in New York to specifications that have changed remarkably little in nearly a century. For classical Pilates practitioners, a Gratz reformer isn't just a piece of equipment. It's the piece of equipment. The standard against which everything else is measured.

Reformer Registry is proud to work with Gratz and help classical practitioners find, procure, and install the machine their practice deserves. Here's what you need to know about the brand, the equipment, and whether a Gratz reformer is right for you.

About Gratz Industries

Gratz Industries has been manufacturing Pilates apparatus in New York since Joseph Pilates himself commissioned the first pieces in the 1920s. The company operated through the entirety of Pilates' life — producing the reformers, Cadillacs, chairs, and barrels that furnished his original studio on Eighth Avenue — and has continued making equipment to his original specifications ever since.

What makes Gratz singular is their commitment to continuity. While the broader Pilates equipment market has evolved toward contemporary design, ergonomic modernization, and engineering innovation, Gratz has remained faithful to the original. The spring gauges, the carriage dimensions, the rope system, the footbar geometry — all of it reflects Joseph Pilates' original intent as closely as current materials and manufacturing allow.

The result is equipment that occupies a category of its own. A Gratz reformer doesn't perform like a contemporary machine, and that's entirely the point. It performs like the original — and for practitioners trained in the classical tradition, that specificity is not a quirk but a requirement.

Gratz reformers are handmade in small quantities in their New York facility. Production volumes are limited by design, which means lead times can be significant and availability is not always immediate. This is a feature of the brand's identity, not a logistical inconvenience to be worked around.

The Gratz Reformer

Unlike brands with broad product lines at multiple price points, Gratz makes one reformer: the classical reformer, built to Joseph Pilates' specifications. There are some configuration options — rope length, upholstery color, and occasional custom specifications for studio orders — but the fundamental machine is singular and consistent.

What Makes a Gratz Feel Different

Practitioners who have only trained on contemporary reformers often describe their first experience on a Gratz as unexpectedly challenging — and unexpectedly revelatory.

The springs are different. Gratz uses traditional coiled springs calibrated to original specifications, which produce a resistance profile that's distinct from the modern spring systems used by Balanced Body, Merrithew, and others. The springs feel more demanding in certain positions and more forgiving in others — a quality that many classical practitioners argue makes the classical exercises work more correctly.

The carriage is heavier. The Gratz carriage has more mass than its contemporary counterparts, which changes the dynamics of every exercise. Controlling a heavier carriage demands more engagement from the practitioner — which is, again, precisely the point.

The geometry is different. The footbar height, the shoulder block position, the rope length — all of these are set to classical specifications that may feel unfamiliar to practitioners whose bodies have adapted to contemporary equipment. This isn't wrong; it reflects the original design intent, and classical teachers will tell you that working with correct geometry is part of correct classical practice.

Who a Gratz Reformer Is For

A Gratz reformer is the right choice for a specific practitioner: someone with a genuine classical training lineage who works with a classically trained teacher and is committed to the classical method over the long term.

If you're newer to Pilates, practicing primarily for fitness and flexibility, or trained in a contemporary method, a Gratz is likely not the right machine for you — not because it's too advanced, but because its specific characteristics are meaningful only in the context of classical practice. On a contemporary reformer, you'd simply have a better experience.

If you're a serious classical practitioner whose teacher works on Gratz equipment, who practices the classical order regularly, and who wants to replicate that experience at home — a Gratz reformer is the only honest answer.

Best for: Classical Pilates practitioners with established training lineages, practitioners studying with first- or second-generation teachers, those who practice the classical order regularly and want to maintain it at home.

What We Tell Our Clients About Gratz

The case for Gratz: There is nothing else like it. For a classically trained practitioner, working on the correct equipment isn't a luxury — it's part of the practice. The spring feel, the carriage weight, the geometry — these things matter to how the exercises work, and working on equipment designed to Joseph Pilates' specifications keeps the practice honest in a way that contemporary equipment simply can't replicate. Many classical practitioners who make the switch from contemporary to Gratz describe it as transformative.

The honest caveats: Gratz is not for everyone, and we'd be doing our clients a disservice to pretend otherwise. If your training background is contemporary, the Gratz experience may frustrate more than it illuminates — at least initially. The springs feel harder in ways that can feel wrong before they feel right. Without a classical teacher to contextualize the difference, the learning curve is steep.

Lead times are also a genuine consideration. Gratz produces equipment in limited quantities, and wait times of several months are not unusual. If you need a reformer quickly, Gratz may not be able to accommodate that timeline.

And the price reflects the handmade craftsmanship and limited production: new Gratz reformers start at $6,500 and can run higher depending on configuration. For the right practitioner, it's worth every dollar. For the wrong one, it's a significant investment in a machine that won't serve their practice as well as a contemporary option would.

On aesthetics: Gratz reformers have an austere, industrial elegance that's entirely their own. The steel frame, the traditional upholstery, the rope system — they look like what they are: serious, purposeful, original. In a classical home studio, there's nothing more beautiful. In a contemporary wellness-aesthetic home studio, they're a statement piece.

A Note on Lead Times and Availability

Because Gratz produces equipment in limited quantities, we strongly recommend beginning the procurement process well in advance of when you want to be practicing. Current lead times vary and can range from several weeks to several months depending on production schedules and demand.

Reformer Registry manages the Gratz ordering and logistics process on your behalf — including navigating lead times, coordinating delivery, and handling the complexities of receiving and installing a handmade machine that requires the same level of care in installation as it received in manufacturing.

Gratz and Reformer Registry

We work with Gratz and have experience installing their equipment in classical home studios across the country. We understand the specific requirements of a Gratz installation — the leveling, the spring setup, the rope calibration — and we handle it with the same rigor we bring to every installation.

If you're a classical practitioner considering a Gratz reformer, we'd love to talk. We can walk you through current availability, lead times, configuration options, and what to expect from the installation process.

Ready to Talk About Gratz?

A Gratz reformer is a significant decision — and a deeply rewarding one for the right practitioner. We're here to help you determine if it's the right choice for your practice.

Reformer Registry | North America's Pilates Reformer Concierge | Based in Minneapolis, serving clients nationwide