Steinway Piano History

Mar 16
10:53

2012

Aloysius Aucoin

Aloysius Aucoin

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If you are interested in purchasing a Steinway piano then it might help you to know about the history of the brand.

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As with many once-handcrafted items,Steinway Piano History Articles pianos are not built the way they used to be unless you purchase a quality piano such as a Steinway. These pianos have quite a history. 9 out of 10 musical artists desire this type of quality piano over others, and the company is still making pianos in much the same way they were made when the company began.

Steinway and Sons started in 1853 in a loft in Manhattan. Henry, the founder of the company had actually already made 482 pianos before he started his company in Manhattan. He built these pianos in Germany, the first of which he built in his kitchen.

This piano was likely different than the pianos we see today because the founder and his sons began working on more modern styled pianos over the next years. The son of the founder actually patented the modern concert grand piano.

Over the years the company was given many honors for their pianos. In 1866 Steinway Hall was opened which became a center of culture in New York City. Quite a few years later, the company opened a village called Steinway village in Queens, New York where much of the manufacturing of the pianos was done. It was a place where many of those who worked in the factories lived. The area even had a post office.

William, one of the sons of the founder took over the company after his father's death. He actually was a great pianist so he knew much of the technical side of building pianos. 45 of the patents for the company were actually by William.

Over the years, this type of piano has become more and more popular, so it was necessary to have a factory in Europe as well as New York. The only two factories today are in New York and Hamburg, Germany. The company makes around 2500 pianos a year. It is a well-loved piano all around the world, and it is well-worth the money you will put into it whether you are a professional pianist or someone just beginning your career.

You can tell a lot about the quality of a piano based on their history. Steinway and Sons has changed some over the years, but it is still implementing techniques that were used by its founders in the beginning. If you do not have the money for a quality piano, save up for one that will last. It will be worth it to have something of this quality to pass down to future generations. If only more companies today were still doing what this German immigrant started in America in the 1800s.

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