The New World – Steinway & Sons | Workshop and Production

Steinway & Sons left the Manhattan building on 4th Avenue in 1910. The “Rikers”-factory on Long Island is in operation until today. Intermittently, the company also maintained rooms at Ditmars Boulevard (“Ditmars”), likewise located in Astoria. After the Second World War, however, the production processes were also relocated to “Rikers”. Until 1911, the number of annually produced instruments rose to over 6000 – more than double the amount as only 12 years ago. Nowadays, production figures are at 1750 a year, while one “Steinway” takes a year to build, even longer in case of special models and -editions: The rule is quality instead of quantity.

However, production was and continues to be carried out not only in New York, but also in Europe: In 1880, “Steinways Pianofabrik” was opened in Hamburg in Neue Rosenstraße (now Schanzenstraße). Later, a new factory was built on Rondenbarg, which still exists today. Arthur von Holwede (✝1923) acted as the first director of the Hamburg branch. He had studied piano making with Theodor Steinweg (1825–1889) in Braunschweig and had also emigrated with him to New York in 1865. During its first years, the Hamburg factory mainly mounted parts which had been produced in New York: Frames, cast plates, mechanics and keyboards. Two decades later, the European branch already acted independently from the American parent company. This has remained the same until today, even though both companies share the same materials and providers more and more.

By and large, the instruments are the same on both sides of the ocean. Differing habits concern mostly the design of the cast, the varnishing and the sound. For example, there have always been five different models on offer in New York, while Hamburg produces seven models (grand piano sizes). As in New York, the production figures in Hamburg are at 1750 per year.