Steinway & Sons

Coordinates: 53°34′27″N 9°55′27″E / 53.5743°N 9.9241°E / 53.5743; 9.9241 (Steinway & Sons - European and international headquarters - Hamburg, Germany)
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Steinway grand piano and upright piano

Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway, (/ˈstnw/ (audio speaker iconlisten)) is an American-German piano company.[1] It was founded in 1853 in Manhattan, New York City, the United States, by German piano builder Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later known as Henry E. Steinway).[2][3] The employees at Steinway were mostly German immigrants.[4] The company's growth led to the opening of a factory in Queens, New York City, the United States, and a factory in Hamburg, Germany.[5] The factory in Queens supplies the Americas and the factory in Hamburg supplies the rest of the world.[6][7]

Steinway is a prominent piano company[8][9] making pianos of high quality.[10][11] Many inventions within piano development have been made at the Steinway factories.[12][13] Steinway has been granted 126 patents in piano making – the first patent was granted in 1857.[14] The company's share of the high-end grand piano market is over 80 percent.[15]

Steinway pianos have got many awards.[16] One of the first is a gold medal in 1855 at the American Institute Fair at the New York Crystal Palace.[17][18] From 1855 to 1862, Steinway pianos got 35 gold medals.[16][19] Many awards and recognitions followed,[20] for example three medals at the world's fair of 1867 in Paris.[21] The European part of the company holds a royal warrant of appointment to Queen Elizabeth II.[22][23]

Steinway pianos are made at the factories in Hamburg and Queens.[24] In addition to the flagship Steinway piano line, Steinway markets two cheaper brands of piano. They are sold under the secondary brand names Boston and Essex. The Boston brand is for the mid-level market and the Essex brand is for the entry-level market. Boston and Essex pianos are designed by Steinway engineers. To take advantage of lower costs of part production and labor, they are made in Asia by other piano makers under the supervision of Steinway employees.[25][26]

Related pages[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. Summers, David; O'Rourke-Jones, Ruth, eds. (2013). Music: The Definitive Visual History. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-4093-2079-1.
  2. Panchyk, Richard (2008). German New York City. Arcadia Publishing. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-7385-5680-2.
  3. Giordano, Sr., Nicholas J. (2010). Physics of the Piano. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-19-954602-2.
  4. Ratcliffe, Ronald V. (2002). Steinway. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-8118-3389-9.
  5. Lenehan, Michael (2003) [1982]. "The Quality of the Instrument (K 2571 – The Making of a Steinway Grand)". The Atlantic Monthly. Archived from the original on April 11, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  6. Fine, Larry (2015). Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer – Spring 2015. Brookside Press LLC. p. 192. ISBN 978-192914540-9.
  7. Steinway & Sons Documentary – A World of Excellence. Shanghai Hantang Culture Development Co., Ltd. July 3, 2013. Event occurs at 6:16. Retrieved August 10, 2015 – via official YouTube channel of Steinway & Sons.
  8. Liebeskind, David (2003). "The Keys To Success". Stern Business – A Publication of the Stern School of Business, New York University. Fall/Winter 2003 – "The Producers". New York: Stern School of Business, New York University: 10–15. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  9. Giordano, Sr., Nicholas J. (2010). Physics of the Piano. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-19-954602-2.
  10. Palmieri, Robert, ed. (2003). The Piano: An Encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. p. 366. ISBN 0-415-93796-5.
  11. Elliott, Alan C. (1998). A daily dose of the American dream: Stories of success, triumph and inspiration. The United States: Rutledge Hill Press. ISBN 978-1-55853-592-3.
  12. Ehrlich, Cyril (1990). The Piano: A History. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-19-816171-4.
  13. Derdak, Thomas; Grant, Tina (1997). International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 19. St. James Press. p. 426. ISBN 978-1-55862-353-8.
  14. Kehl, Roy F.; Kirkland, David R. (2011). The Official Guide to Steinway Pianos. The United States: Amadeus Press. pp. 133–138. ISBN 978-1-57467-198-8.
  15. Cummings, Thomas; Worley, Christopher (2014). Organization Development and Change. Cengage Learning. p. 102. ISBN 9781305143036.
  16. 16.0 16.1 Singer, Aaron (1986). Labor management relations at Steinway & Sons, 1853–1896. Garland. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-8240-8371-7.
  17. Spillane, Daniel (1892). "Musical Instruments – The Piano-Forte". The Popular Science Monthly. 40 (31). Bonnier Corporation: 488. ISSN 0161-7370.
  18. Kehl, Roy F.; Kirkland, David R. (2011). The Official Guide to Steinway Pianos. The United States: Amadeus Press. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-57467-198-8.
  19. Ratcliffe, Ronald V. (2002). Steinway. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-8118-3389-9.
  20. Daniell, Charles A. (1895). Musical instruments at the World's Columbian Exposition. Chicago: Presto Co. p. 293.
  21. Kennedy, Robert C. (August 10, 1867). "Sudden Mania to Become Pianists..." Harper's Weekly. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  22. Milner, Glen (producer and director); Bright, Richard (executive producer); Wanamaker, Zoe (narrator) (June 27, 2016). "Steinway". Handmade: By Royal Appointment. Episode 4. BBC. BBC Four.
  23. "Steinway & Sons". The Royal Warrant Holders Association. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  24. Fine, Larry (2014). Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer – Fall 2014. Brookside Press LLC. pp. 194–195. ISBN 978-192914539-3.
  25. Fine, Larry (2014). Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer – Fall 2014. Brookside Press LLC. p. 162. ISBN 978-192914539-3.
  26. Fine, Larry (2014). Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer – Fall 2014. Brookside Press LLC. p. 166. ISBN 978-192914539-3.

Other websites[change | change source]

53°34′27″N 9°55′27″E / 53.5743°N 9.9241°E / 53.5743; 9.9241 (Steinway & Sons - European and international headquarters - Hamburg, Germany)