Its easy to imagine this book was written by john mcphee and, if it had been, it would be one of his better works. Lieberman, who wrote a 1995 book on steinway, played an active role in bringing. Over 12,000 piano names are included, some dating back to the early eighteen hundreds. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading piano. Steinway and his sons had naturally begun with square pianos which they were soon making at the rate of fifty a week. Our mission at antique piano shop is to promote restoration and preservation so that these heirloom instruments will not be lost forever. Steinways rebuilt steinway upright pianos steinway grand pianos. The making of a steinway concert grand kindle edition by. The steinway model b measures 611 in length while the model d is 811. 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. This book is the biography of one piano that was made by these people in this place. This instrument features an expertly refinished cabinet, restored original ivory keytops, a fully rebuilt action, the original hard maple pinblock, the original solid. Square pianos were built in great numbers through the 1840s in europe and the 1890s in the united states, and saw the most visible change of any type of piano.
Todays grand pianos are patterned after the harpsichord but the square. The making of a steinway concert grand kindle edition by barron, james. Haines brothers piano company was established in 1851 by napoleon j. Due to the age and unique design of square grand pianos, their restoration is generally. The 1863 steinway square piano right is an example of an american square piano prior to ornate carvings in case design that soon followed. May 20, 2020 steinway square grand piano used type. This 57 grand piano has been fully restored to a highperformance standard. Today the historic gold steinway stands in the first ladies hall of the national museum of american history. Civil war artifacts and books do you have civil war related artifacts or books that you would like to donate to the drum barracks. Facts about steinway and the pianos they build steinway. Steinway pianos new york city piano stores nyc used 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.
Over the next thirty years, henry and his sons developed the modern piano. 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. From history of the piano by ernest closson i love steinway. Dec 15, 2011 a good example of a valuable square grand is a steinway square that is built in 1800 s. Serial numbers for some early production may span more than one year. Warren g harding 29th had an electric player piano made by a. Steinway brand pianos are generally more expensive to restore than other. Learn about the collections and artifacts at the drum barracks civil war museum in wilmington. In 1872 a few squares were given theodore steinways unusual patent action with a balance spring.
A typical used steinway sells for 47% 50% of todays prices. In making the covering for the hammers steinway used 1 34 inch thick felt. By 1865, compact uprights aka cottage or piccolo pianos had arrived. Roosevelt for the white house by theodore steinway. The outlines of the history of this important piano manufacturer are to be found in most stan dard reference books. 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. This book is a beautiful volume of pictures and piano history. An early form of pianoforte wrectangular cabinet, 4 legs and strings running left to right.
The steinway model d concert grand piano 811 weighs 990 lbs. Excellently and diligently written, this little book tells the story of one steinway concert grand piano from conception to adolescence. Jul 28, 2016 the origin and history of the steinway model c grand piano. The almatadema grand piano was designed by sir lawrence almatadema and received great public acclaim when it was exhibited in london. For the first 20 years, they built a nice selection of square grand pianos before building their first upright pianos in 1870. The square was the predominant piano in the early steinway period, and included many interesting technological details. This project is a history of technology study of the early steinway piano from 1853 to 1892. The ny steinway factory is located on 11 acres of land. The early steinway grand research project the early steinway grand classes donations. This portion of our website is designed to help educate the consumer about what is really involved in the restoration and preservation process. The steinway model s baby grand piano 51 weighs 540 pounds. See more ideas about piano, musical instruments and antiques. Steinway square grand piano restored antique pianos by. 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.
Helaine fendelman and joe rosson have written a number of books. Each piano is manufactured with a unique serial number that is recorded for future reference of not only when it was made but also where. On december 10, 1938, a grand piano was presented to president franklin d. Steinways rebuilt steinway upright pianos steinway grand. When did the white house acquire its famous steinway piano.
Cost of a steinway piano price chart and buyers guide. New york, 1855 worlds fair saw the steinway and sons square grand piano with overstrung scale and full iron frame. We invite the suggestions of knowledgable piano experts, piano builders, preservers and restorers. Seven feet long with polished rosewood finish, this style of piano was quite popular in the 1860s and 1870s. But they wasted little time with this superannuated type, and quickly turned to the concert grand which they enriched with improvements. Steinway serial numbers represent the approximate ending serial number for the year of production for new york and hamburg pianos. But what about the piano that comes in between these two.
Certain square models even included duplex scaling and sostenuto. To determine the age of a steinway piano we need to first locate the serial number. At a ceremony on december 10, 1938, this grand piano was presented to president franklin d. We believe that education is a vital part of that mission. 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.
Square grand piano value whats your square grand piano. The invention and evolution of the piano acoustics today. London 17991815 james buchanan 15th was the first to have a grand piano, a chickering boston, 18231983 abraham lincoln 26th had both a chickering square and upright. Andrew lancaster square pianos history of the square piano the square piano. As the 20th century began to approach, steinway started increasing production of upright and grand pianos, and by 1890 the square piano was all but discontinued by the firm. Timeline steinway history the unofficial history of. Its an old square grand piano with a fascinating history. We bring worn golden era steinway pianos back to their full former glory, to a level of musical and artistic beauty that was for many years the piano standard of the world. Built in quantity through the 1890s in the united states, steinways celebrated ironframed, overstrung square grands were more than two and. It is the most complex mechanical device in any home and is capable of fulfilling the players every musical wish. The piano is a fascinating instrument with an interesting history. Contact museum director, tara fansler, at 3105487509.
While a used steinway will always cost less than a new steinway piano, the used price is entirely dependent on the latest price. They were used by the greatest composers of the 18th century including bach and mozart. They built their instruments one at a time, applying skills that have been handed down from master to apprentice, generation after generation, ever since. This design was eventually used by all american makers.
Steinway hall, built in 1864, was located at 7173 east 14th street, right off of fashionable union square. The piano book is the bible of the piano marketplace. Representative prices of our fully restored steinway pianos are. Based on its serial number, 19,5, the piano was built in 1869. The tapered, octagonal legs can be found on most american square grand pianos and many grand pianos until about 1870. Top view of a steinway model m piano owned by the au thor. During the middle 19th century, steinway was building a full line of square grand pianos, with upright and grand production secondary to the number of square pianos they built.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Grand pianos, hold on, history, modern, design, historia, trendy tree, history books. The hall hosted a great variety of functions, not just music performances. The history of the steinway model c chupps piano service. Find your steinway pianos age with the serial number. Steinway square grand piano needs substantial repairs. The original steinway pianoforte was a compact square designed for victorian parlors, and. Discover your pianos age and country of origin with our 5 star accuracy guide to ensure the quality and. On steinway grand pianos the serial number can be found on the cast iron plate between the tuning pins above the keyboard. Its the story of the american dream as realized in the shape of a grand piano. This guide provides references to serial numbers, dates of manufacture, factory locations, a brief history of many manufacturers and other pertinent information. Excerpted from the piano book, fourth edition, by larry fine. Some of steinway s most notable art case pianos are the almatadema grand piano from 1887, the 100,000th steinway piano from 1903, the 300,000th steinway piano from 1938, and the sound of harmony from 2008. The main character will not make a sound for months.
The steinway grand is the gold standard of musical instruments, representing over 160 years of dedication to craftsmanship and uncompromised expression. Fur elise played on 1853 chickering square grand piano. Historical book images old pianos, book images, mona lisa, artwork, books. Lieberman, the director of the archives and a professor of history at laguardia community college. I am enclosing photographs of a beautiful steinway piano that was left behind in a house my son bought.
Square grand piano value whats your square grand piano worth. Steinway square grand piano used kennelly keys music. During the 18th19th centuries, square grand pianos were extremely popular in the us and europe. 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. Apr 27, 2016 aka box grands or victorian square pianos. If you are having trouble locating the serial number for your steinway grand piano, there are other places you can. Very early in the companys history the square included duplex scaling. Steinway hh400 conceptual design of a model d artcase piano by l. As late as 1868, 80 percent of steinways output was still square pianos. James barron takes the reader through all of the major stages of building a particular steinway concert grand piano and the journey is interesting, informative, light hearted and surprising. Theodore steinway, on behalf of the steinway family. Some of steinways most notable art case pianos are the almatadema grand piano from 1887, the 100,000th steinway piano from 1903, the 300,000th steinway piano from 1938, and the sound of harmony from 2008.
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