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Steinway Pianos - A Guide to Piano Brands

By Espie Estrella, About.com

Steinway Chippendale Grand Piano

Photo used with permission from Steinway

Name of Piano Brand:

Steinway & Sons, named after Henry Engelhard Steinway, a master cabinet maker who immigrated to the US from Germany. His sons are Albert, Charles, Henry Jr. Theodore and William, who worked alongside him.

Year Started:

Founded in 1853 in Manhattan, but prior to that Henry Engelhard Steinway had already built 482 pianos.

Early Awards:

  • 1855 - Gold medals from U.S. and European exhibitions.
  • 1867 - Received the "Grand Gold Medal of Honor" at the Paris Exhibition.

Notable People Who Used a Steinway Piano:

  • Franz Liszt
  • Richard Wagner
  • Sergei Prokofiev
  • Arthur Rubinstein
  • George Gershwin
  • Sergei Rachmaninoff.

    Other Brands Owned by Steinway:

    Boston and Essex

    Notable Models:

    The Model D-274 Orchestral Concert Grand and Model B-211 Drawing Room Grand was introduced in 1884. A year later the Model C-227 Small Concert Grand was unveiled. In 1896, the Model A-188 Boudoir Grand was introduced while the Model O-180 Miniature Grand was unveiled in 1900. In 1914 they introduced the Model M-170 Miniature Grand, the Model L-180 Miniature Grand in 1923 and the Model S-155 Baby Grand in 1936.

    Newer Products:

    The Alma-Tadema grand piano re-creation, Louis XV Grand, Chippendale Grand, Professional Model V-125, Professional Model 1098, they also have Limited Edition and Designer Collections.

    Interesting Fact:

    The first Steinway hall was introduced in 1866 at New York's 14th Street. The Steinway company is now based in Queens, New York ( Steinway Village} but it also has a factory in Hamburg, Germany (Steinway-Haus). They also have a roster of Steinway Artists, these are pianists who own and perform on a Steinway exclusively. Among them is the pianist Lang Lang

    Did You Know?:

    The 483rd piano created by Steinway was sold for $500 to a New York family. The said piano is now at New York City's Metropolitan Museum.

    Company Website:

    Visit them at Steinway.Com
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