Steinway Pianos - The History of Steinway Pianos

The history of Steinway Pianos is long as they dateexperience great success which could be accredited
back to 1853 when the first Steinway piano was soldto Steinway's dedication to building "the best piano
for $500 to a New York family. Steinway and Sonspossible" by basing his business on three basic
was founded by Henry Engelhard Steinway in Newprinciples:
York. Steinway was a German Immigrant who had1. "Build to standard, not a price"
spent his previous career as a master cabinet maker.2. "Make no compromise in quality"
He built his first piano in his kitchen in Germany. By the3. "Strive always to improve the instrument"
time Steinway sold his first piano he had alreadyThese strong principles combined with superior
produced 482 pianos.craftsmanship and some clever marketing has seen
Steinway worked with his sons to develop the modernSteinway & Sons go from strength to strength in
piano based upon the scientific research andthe piano industry. The Steinway pianos have also
acoustical theories around at the time. Steinwayearned more than 125 registered patents which no
Pianos revolutionized the design of pianos and becameother piano company has done.
synonymous with quality, style, excellence, looks andIn 1871 Henry Steinway died and his sons took over
musical inspiration. Because of this Steinway &operation and continued the success of the Steinway
Sons began to receive national and internationalpianos that their father had started. They expanded
recognition. In 1855, only 2 years after the companiesinto showrooms and retail so that more people had
conception, Steinway pianos received gold medals ataccess to their beautifully hand crafted pianos.
the US and European exhibitions. The Steinway pianosToday 5000 Steinway pianos are crafted per annum
soon became the piano of choice for royalty and theworldwide and many prominent pianists are Steinway
great pianists of the world. This recognition andartists. When you choose a Steinway piano for your
admiration has continued to this day.home you are choosing a piece of history as each
As the company grew the need for a biggerpiano is traditionally handcrafted and takes
manufacturing area also grew. This let to Steinwayapproximately one year to complete. It is no wonder
& Sons opening a factory and employee village inthat Steinway piano are the piano of choice for nine
Astoria, Queens - where they are still located to thisout of ten convert artists, pianists, composers and
day. A second factory was also build in Hamburg,performers.
Germany in 1880. The Steinway pianos continued to