Did you know that Steinway & Sons began in a Manhattan loft? It was 1853. German immigrant Henry Engelhard Steinway founded Steinway & Sons. He aimed to build the best piano possible.
Steinway’s legacy stands as one of America’s greatest success stories. Before Steinway, Henry secretly built pianos in his German kitchen. In 1850, he brought his family to America. He wanted to pursue tonal excellence.
Here at Steinway & Sons, we continue this pursuit. The first piano made by Steinway & Sons was number 483. Steinway had already built 482 pianos in Germany. A New York family purchased number 483 for $500.
Henry and his sons developed the modern piano. They acquired nearly 127 patented inventions over thirty years. Some inventions were based on physicist Hermann von Helmholtz’s acoustical theories.
In 1855, Steinway pianos won gold medals at European and US exhibitions. Steinway pianos quickly gained respect. Royalty members and great pianists chose Steinway.
In 1866, Steinway & Sons opened Steinway Hall on 14th Street. It became New York City’s cultural hub. Later, the company moved to Astoria, Queens by 1891. They built Steinway Village. It included its own factory, parks, and a post office. Employee accommodations were also present.
Steinway & Sons achieved international recognition in 1867. The company won the ‘Grand Gold Medal of Honor’ at the Paris Exhibition. This was for excellence in manufacturing.
Due to increased demand, a Hamburg production facility opened in 1880. It still operates today. Both factories use careful craftsmanship and pioneering designs. This has made the Steinway piano the world’s finest.
Steinway & Sons handcrafts about 2,500 pianos each year worldwide. They still use many practices developed by the Steinway family. Over 30 years, the Steinway brothers built pianos one at a time. They applied skills passed down through generations.
More than 1,500 prominent artists carry the title Steinway Artist. Today, 9 out of 10 concert artists choose Steinway pianos.
Steinway has been granted 139 patents in piano making. The first was in 1857. The company’s share of the high-end grand piano market exceeds 80 percent. Steinway pianos have received numerous awards including a gold medal in 1855 at the New York Crystal Palace.
From 1855 to 1862, Steinway pianos received 35 gold medals. More awards followed including three medals at the International Exposition of 1867 in Paris.
The Steinway family anglicized their name from Steinweg in 1864. By the 1860s, Steinway had a factory on Park Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets. The pianos underwent improvements. Innovations were made based on emerging engineering and acoustics research.
In 1876, Steinway participated in the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. William Steinway admitted to bribing judges at trade fairs to favor Steinway pianos.
In 1883, Franz Liszt wrote a letter to Steinway. He praised the new Steinway grand’s power and perfect harmonic effects.
From 1864 to 1866, William Steinway oversaw the construction of Steinway Hall on East 14th Street. It included the second largest concert hall in New York City. In 1925, a new Steinway Hall opened on West 57th Street. In 2016, another new Steinway Hall opened on Sixth Avenue.
In 1903, the 100,000th Steinway grand piano was gifted to the White House. During World War II, Steinway built special models called Victory Verticals for soldiers.
Steinway’s dedication to quality remains today. Steinway pianos serve as comfort in hardship. They provide entertainment in times of need. Steinway & Sons breathes red, white, and blue. This is from the initial craftsmanship to the final polish.