Steinway & Sons
German-American piano company / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway (/ˈstaɪnweɪ/ ⓘ), is a German-American piano company, founded in 1853 in New York City by German piano builder Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later known as Henry E. Steinway).[2][11] The company's growth led to a move to a larger factory in New York, and later opening an additional factory in Hamburg, Germany.[12] The New York factory, in the borough of Queens, supplies the Americas, and the factory in Hamburg supplies the rest of the world.[7][13]
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Musical instruments |
Founded | March 5, 1853 (171 years ago) (1853-03-05)[1] in Manhattan, New York City[2] |
Founder | Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later known as Henry E. Steinway)[3] |
Headquarters | • Europe and international: Rondenbarg 10, Hamburg, Germany[4] 53°34′27″N 9°55′27″E • Americas: One Steinway Place, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.[4] 40°46′45″N 73°53′59″W |
Number of locations | 200 authorized dealers operating 300 showrooms worldwide[5] |
Area served | Worldwide[5] |
Products | • Grand pianos[6] • Upright pianos[7] |
Production output | 2,600 pianos (annually)[8] |
Services | Restoration of Steinway pianos[9] |
Parent | Paulson & Co. Inc.[10] |
Website | www |
Steinway is a prominent piano company,[14][15] known for its high quality[16][17] and for inventions within the area of piano development.[18][19] Steinway has been granted 139 patents in piano making, with the first in 1857.[20] The company's share of the high-end grand piano market consistently exceeds 80 percent.[21] The dominant position has been criticized, with some musicians and writers arguing that it has blocked innovation and led to a homogenization of the sound favored by pianists.[22][23]
Steinway pianos have received numerous awards.[24] One of the first is a gold medal in 1855 at the American Institute Fair at the New York Crystal Palace.[25][26] From 1855 to 1862, Steinway pianos received 35 gold medals.[24][27] More awards and recognitions followed,[28] including three medals at the International Exposition of 1867 in Paris.[29] The European part of the company held a royal warrant of appointment to Queen Elizabeth II.[30][31] Steinway & Sons was named Company of the Year in 1996 by The Music Trades magazine. The award was given in recognition of Steinway's "overall performance, quality, value-added products, a well-executed promotional program and disciplined distribution which generated the most impressive results in the entire music industry."[32]
In addition to the Steinway piano line, Steinway markets two other, lower-priced brands of piano sold under the brand names Boston and Essex.