The New World – Steinway & Sons | 1853

On March 5th, 1853, three years after the family’s arrival in America, it finally was time: Heinrich Engelhard and his sons Karl (1829–1865), Heinrich jr. (1831–1865) and Wilhelm (1835–1896) founded the piano manufacturing company Steinway & Sons in informal partnership – and from thereon used the English spelling of their family name. 

Business went well. Steinway & Sons sold eleven upright pianos in the first year, 74 in the second and 208 in 1856, when the company also ventured to produce its first grand piano. The quality of the instruments was honored with multiple awards. In 1854, the company presented instruments at the Metropolitan Fair in Washington D.C., in 1855 at the American Institute Exhibition in the New Yorker Crystal Palace. The presented square piano, combining cross stringing and cast iron frame, was a sensation! The jury praised the

“outer design, which is of high quality but free of the flitter which was common at the time […]”, as well as the 

“very powerful tone, the deep and full bass, the full and soft middle registers and the brilliant purity in the treble.”

(quoting Richard K. Lieberman: Steinway & Sons. A family history of power and music, Munich 1996, p. 39)

 Such public appreciation was of immense meaning for the company’s marketing: It proved the instruments’ quality to the outside world and raised their value as a status symbol, the purchase of which could be a worthwhile investment.  

 Soon, the workshop at Varick Street became too small and therefore moved to 82-88 Walker Street, today located in the middle of China Town. Over the following years, rentals were added at Mercer and Crosby Street; last not least the Steinwegs’ house at Heester Street also functioned as production space. 

cross-stringing
In cross-stringing, which became widespread in the first third of the 19th century, the long bass strings run diagonally across the treble strings. This saves space compared to straight stringing and enables lower notes even in smaller instruments. In addition, the more centered arrangement of the bridges, which transmit the vibration of the strings to the soundboard, ensures an optimal sound. While cross-stringing was already used in upright pianos around 1850, Steinway & Sons also introduced it in grand pianos in 1859 (US-Patent No. 26532A).

cast iron frame
The cast iron frame is one of the main components of a grand or upright piano, along with the rim (case), soundboard, keyboard and strings. In it, the strings are fastened. Up until the beginning of the 19th century, pianos – square as well as grand – were pure wood constructions. However, the desire for more sound volume led to the use of thicker strings with greater tension, which the wood alone could hardly withstand. Beyond additional struts and iron braces, the cast-iron frame finally prevailed. First patents stem from Broadwood & Sons (London, 1827), Chickering & Sons (Boston, 1843) and Steinway & Sons (New York, 1859; US-Patent No. 26300A).