Steinway & Sons History

The history of Steinway & Sons is long and interesting. Please read more about the success story of the company which started in 1836:

1836

The German cabinet and piano maker Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg builds his first piano in the kitchen of his home in Seesen, Harz. 482 more pianos are to follow within the next decade.

1850

Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg and his family emigrate to the United States of America.

1853

After changing the family name to “Steinway“, Henry Engelhard Steinway and his sons found the company of Steinway & Sons in a Manhattan loft on Varick Street.

1855

First official public recognition of the prime quality of the Steinway pianos on the occasion of the “American Institute Fair“ at the New York Crystal Palace.

1866

Steinway & Sons opens the first Steinway Hall on 14th Street. With a main auditorium of 2,000 seats, it becomes New York City’s artistic and cultural center, housing the New York Philharmonic until Carnegie Hall opens in 1891.

1867

Steinway & Sons receive high commendation in the official report on the “Paris World Fair“.

1871

In 1871, Henry Sr. dies and sons C.F. Theodore and William take over operations.

1875

Opening of the sales branch, Steinway Hall, in London.

1880

Foundation of the Hamburg Steinway factory on Schanzenstraße.

1904

Opening of the showroom (Steinway-Haus) on Jungfernstieg, Hamburg.

1909

Opening of the Berlin Steinway branch on Budapester Straße.

1923-1928

The new Steinway factory on Rondenbarg is erected.

1953

Opening of Steinway-Haus on Colonnaden in the heart of the city of Hamburg. Sale of the old Schanzenstraße factory.

1972

CBS Inc. buys Steinway & Sons. Incorporation into the Columbia Group.

1980

The Centenary of the Hamburg branch of Steinway & Sons.

1985

CBS. Inc. sells the entire Musical Instruments Division, which also includes Steinway & Sons, to three American businessmen. The new holding company trades under the name Steinway Musical Properties.

1988

135th anniversary and presentation of the 500,000th instrument during a gala at Carnegie Hall in New York.

1990

Steinway celebrates the beginning of the 500,000 tour through Europe on December 2 at the Philharmonie, Berlin.

1993

140th anniversary.

1994

Opening of the Steinway Academy, the C. F. Theodore Steinway School for Concert Technicians, the first academy for concert technicians world-wide.

1995

In May merger of the holding company of Steinway & Sons – the Steinway Musical Properties – and the Selmer Company, USA.

1996

Selmer Inc. changes the official name to “Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.“ and goes public on 2nd August. 3.5 million shares are floated on the New York Stock Exchange at a share price of US$ 19.- The Steinway share is quoted on Wall Street under the abbreviation “LVB“ (Ludwig van Beethoven).

1997

Foundation of a new subsidiary of Steinway & Sons on 1st March called Steinway & Sons Japan, Ltd. in Tokyo.

Steinway & Sons celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of the founder Henry E. Steinway.

1999

In January 1999, Steinway & Sons receives official government approval to open an own office in Beijing, China.

2000

On 1st January, Steinway & Sons acquires piano store Karl Lang, Munich. By taking over the best-known piano dealership, Steinway has raised the number of its own halls in Germany to three.

2001

On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the piano Steinway & Sons introduces to the public a special masterpiece, designer piano -Tricentennial Limited Edition Grand Piano, limited to 300 pieces worldwide. This unique collection has been created by the American Designer Dakota Jackson.

The piano store Karl Lang is renamed into Steinway-Haus Muenchen. The official inauguration takes place on 20th May, in the presence of Maestro Alfred Brendel and Eva Rubinstein, daughter of Maestro Arthur Rubinstein.

2003

On 5th March, Steinway & Sons celebrates its 150th anniversary. Throughout the worldwide anniversary celebrations the highlight undoubtedly is the concert event of the century held at Carnegie Hall in New York on June 5, 6 and 7, 2003, featuring artists from classical, jazz and pop.

2004

Official opening of the subsidiary Steinway Piano (Shanghai) Co., Ltd on January 1. The new corporation with limited liability is situated in Shanghai and supplies the Chinese dealer network.

2005

Steinway & Sons Hamburg celebrates its 125th anniversary of foundation. The highlight of the anniversary events is a festive ceremony with the world-famous artists Vladimir & Vovka Ashkenazy, Detlef Kraus and Lang Lang.

On 16th April, Steinway & Sons introduces to the public the limited masterpiece “125th Anniversary Limited Edition Grand Piano designed by Goertz”, created by the designer Count Albrecht Goertz (1914 – 2006).

2006

After 52 years, Steinway-Haus Hamburg moves from the Colonnaden to Rondenbarg 15, and is now situated opposite to the Steinway factory in Hamburg.

With the introduction of “The Family of Steinway-Designed Pianos” the company opens a new chapter in its history. The third line “Essex – designed by Steinway & Sons” is presented to the piano world and the company is now in the position to offer instruments in three price categories to fulfill each individual demand.

2007

On 29th August, 2007 Steinway Musical Instruments Inc. announces the nomination of Thomas Kurrer as President of Steinway & Sons. Thomas Kurrer is the successor of Bruce Stevens, who retires after 22 years.

There exist no contracts with the artists, which commits them to Steinway & Sons. The majority of the professional pianists prefer a Steinway instrument. Approximately 99% of all concert pianist chose in the last concert season 2006/2007 a Steinway.