Barron loves the piano, respects the company, and is dilgent in showing the evolution of steinway, as well as the creation of one, new opus a 9 foot concert piano. The making of a steinway concert grand by james barron. Lieberman, is considered to be the ultimate treatise on the history of the steinway piano at m. Theyll also get an insiders look into the companys history against a timeline of major. It is a fascinating document of an important cultural artifact and a beautiful record of craftsmanship. Theodore steinway, on behalf of the steinway family. This is a list current used piano prices of these models made after 1985. In a way, steinway model d concert grand piano culturally justifies the existence of america. The a1, a2, and a3 sometimes dubbed the model a, style i, style ii and style iii within internal steinway documents are all part of the same family, yet there are some distinct differences between them and even differences within those sub. Find your steinway pianos age with the serial number. This authoritative and entertaining book tells the story of the steinway piano. Photographer captures the enduring grandeur of the. Steinway pianos have the most storied legacy and history around and are used by an overwhelming majority of concert pianists. Additional data regarding models and finishes is available at the website piano exchange, llc.
While a used steinway will always cost less than a new steinway piano, the used price is entirely dependent on the latest price. This book gives a full insight into the development and manufacture of these exceptional instruments and shows why these pianos are the finest in the world and hence the first choice of classical musicians. Steinway piano, the best musical instrument in the history of the world, may be argued to be greater than all those things combined. The factory in the queens borough of new york city. The parlor concert grand the steinway model c is a smaller version of the concert grand model d piano. For steinway upright pianos you need to lift the pianos lid and look inside the piano, normally the serial number along with the model will be stamped in ink inside the piano, also on its harp. Without a doubt, the best known piano brand is steinway, also known as steinway and sons. The as maintain a history all on their own and were a great period of experimentation in the illustrious history that is the steinway piano. To determine the age of a steinway piano we need to first locate the serial number. This section lists the average resale prices for used pianos.
Seeking to create a unique and distinguished state piano, eric gugler, a new york architect, friend of the roosevelts, and white house consultant in the 1930s, chose a. The book was a memento for employees and was never released to the public. The companys growth led to the opening of a factory in new york city, united states, and later a factory in hamburg, germany. Each steinway requires several kinds of lumber, writes miles chapin, a greatgreat grandson of the founder henry steinway, in his book 88 keys. It is for these reasons that over 19 out of 20 concert pianists choose the steinway grand piano and why the instrument remains at the heart of cultured homes the world over download the steinway brochure. Sell my steinway piano we buy steinways instant price offer. Over the next thirty years, henry and his sons developed the modern piano. Prices are given only for the lowestpriced style of each model. Read more about the success story of the steinway and sons piano company which was started in 1836. They built their instruments one at a time, applying skills that have been handed down from master to apprentice, generation after generation, ever since.
How to trace a steinway piano serial number our pastimes. Alone among the big piano companies, steinway still crafts all of its pianos largely by hand. Our pioneering handcrafted methods are still employed today to ensure our uncompromising standards of quality, in turn ensuring that the steinway remains the peerless instrument of uncompromising expression. Timeline steinway history the unofficial history of. This is the story of how the steinway piano came to be the instrument of choice for the worlds greatest pianists. Theodore steinway, the first model a had 85 notes and was 6 feet long. It is generally described as the first choice of most concert pianists. Barron tracks, from inception to stage, one steinway concert grand piano named k0862, a direct descendant of the first model d developed in. T he model a family consists of several sixfoot variants within steinways line of parlor grand pianos.
A grand guide to buying a used steinway piano is designed to assist you in your journey in selecting a genuine used steinway pianofrom learning about how a steinway is built and rebuilt, to what makes a steinway a genuine steinway and what factors to consider when shopping the usedsteinway market. At a ceremony on december 10, 1938, this grand piano was presented to president franklin d. This saga of the worlds premier pianobuilding familyfrom the 1850 emigration of heinrich and julianne steinweg to the united states to the 1972 sale of the family business to cbsartfully blends business history with biography, labor history, and the history of musical culture. The official guide to steinway pianos music resource. Jul 08, 2016 the architectturnedphotographer, whose book on the steinway factory is out in limited release, grew up in boston, massachusetts, among harpsichords, a clavichord, a piano and a cello. Why pianists care about the steinway sale the new yorker. Use the steinway piano serial numbers below to see the age of your piano. The value of a specific piano model may be determined on the basis of the price shown. This instrument features an expertly refinished cabinet, restored original ivory keytops, a fully rebuilt action, the original hard maple pinblock, the original solid. This lavishly illustrated volume is the complete history of the steinway piano and the only one authorized by the firm. History of steinway pianos michelles piano in portland or. Excerpted from the piano book, fourth edition, by larry fine list of steinway models as an aid to those buying a used steinway, i have listed below all models of steinway pianos made in new york city since the firms inception in 1853. On steinway grand pianos the serial number can be found on the cast iron plate between the tuning pins above the keyboard. For those whose desire for a used steinway piano is 100% genuine.
The mutual success of famous pianists in promoting the steinway piano and of. Since this list has never before been published, i have, for the record, given a much more complete list than most piano buyers will ever need. When you purchase any preowned steinway, you will receive 100% of the original purchase price in trade toward a new steinway or steinwaydesigned piano of greater value for the lifetime of the instrument. A typical used steinway sells for 47% 50% of todays prices. The name was invented by steinway to sell pianos through the steinway dealer network with pianos manufactured by kawai. This included a new solid spruce soundboard, a new customfitted hard maple pinblock, a fully rebuilt action with the.
The original edition was a memento to commemorate the companys 100year anniversary. The steinway grand is the gold standard of musical instruments, representing over 160 years of dedication to craftsmanship and uncompromised expression. The top 10 secrets of the steinway piano factory in. See an illustrated crosssection of a steinway grand piano and a crosssection of a steinway piano action, both from tuning and allied arts, written by william braid white. In concert hall settings, on the other hand, the d274 is a. Beautiful book, very interesting history of steinway piano. Steinway archive, this text aims to cast light on american cultural history and on a. When that piano is going to bear the name steinway, the process is even more laboriousthe steinway is one of the few pianos in the world that are still completely handmade. Sell my steinway piano from steinway piano reseller on vimeo. This reprinting expands the earlier limitedprinting editions with a 40page section with material by henry steinway and the president of steinway and sons bruce stevens recounting the history. Cost of a steinway piano price chart and buyers guide. In the mid1850s pianos became more and more popular in middleclass homes.
Now comparable to the model b, in its time the model c was referred to as a semiconcert grand and was a very popular model during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In each case we show the lowest price at retail for each size. By the 1880s, the steinway piano was in most ways the modern piano we have today, and in the next generation the standards set by the founder were strictly adhered to. An american story in 1853, german immigrant henry e. Facts about steinway and the pianos they build steinway. This fine piano underwent a full chupps piano service restoration. Here you will find charts with specific details about each model produced by steinway from 1853 through 1994, including serial numbers.
Henry steinway, a german immigrant who came to new york in 1850, made his name in various showrooms and factories in downtown manhattan, enticing the wealthy with his awardwinning quality pianos. In the early part of the 20th century, steinway and sons treated action parts. This 57 grand piano has been fully restored to a highperformance standard. Passion and commitment, perfection and quality, reliability and of course an inimitable sound are just some of the characteristics people all over the world associate with these highquality instruments. As an aid to those buying a used steinway, i have listed below all models of steinway pianos made in new york city since the firms inception in 1853.
Serial numbers for some early production may span more than one year. The making of a steinway concert grand, by james barron, a gifted reporter for the new york times, is an engaging wellwritten book. A brilliant book giving the history of the steinway piano. On the home page, click on manufacturer history sheets.
Richard liebermans steinway and sons is a great read. More information about this seller contact this seller 1. When did the white house acquire its famous steinway piano. The architectturnedphotographer, whose book on the steinway factory is out in limited release, grew up in boston, massachusetts, among harpsichords, a clavichord, a piano. Photographer captures the enduring grandeur of the steinway. The first book based on the rich archive of steinway business and family papers at laguardia community college in new york, as well as on interviews with family members and company employees in the united states, germany, and england, this authoritative and entertaining book tells the story of the most famous piano company in the world and of. The piano replaced another steinway at the white house, a gilded and painted grand piano which had been given in 1903 now on exhibit in the smithsonian institution. The official guide to steinway pianos music resource history. See an illustrated crosssection of a steinway grand piano and a crosssection of a steinway piano action, both from tuning and allied arts, written by william braid white excerpt. Other styles with the same specifications sell for more. This authoritative and entertaining book tells the story of the steinway piano company and the. If youre looking for an appraisal of your steinway piano, a fair value, and the steps needed to sell your piano for a cash offer, see below or call 18004638120.
Steinway serial numbers represent the approximate ending serial number for the year of production for new york and hamburg pianos. I really enjoyed the history and gained a new appreciation for the craftsmanship. This authoritative and entertaining book tells the story of the steinway piano company. Used, in excellent condition some of these pianos are worth more than original price. Excellently and diligently written, this little book tells the story of one steinway concert grand piano from conception to adolescence. The tour guide starts by telling visitors a little history of the company, and how the steinway piano became so popular and highly regarded. This book is a great read for anyone interested in the steinway company history, or how they handmake each piano.
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