In 1853, Henry Engelhard Steinway, a German immigrant, brought his unique handcrafted methods of making pianos to New York City.

He established the first Steinway & Sons factory in a Manhattan loft called the Steinway Hall. Passionate about creating a perfect piano that embodies a vibrant tonal quality, to Steinway, time is the key to success. He had collaborated with over 1600 artists, including the legendary Sergei Rachmaninoff, Irving Berlin and Lang Lang, to seek advice and hear their opinions to improve his methods.

In 1866, the Steinway Hall was known as a premier concert venue that held performances of many famous musicians. Steinway’s pianos became more and more widely recognised by the public over the last 160 years. Blazing sonatas are continuously performed until nowadays, on the Steinway & Sons piano, in the Steinway Hall on West 57th street.

The Steinway Hall, however, reserves its fourth floor only to assemble the inner pianos, named the ‘Belly Department’.

Selective woods marked the first step in building the artistry of Steinway & Sons grand and upright pianos. In the pursuit of outstanding tonal quality, the lumber must undergo a two-plus years progression to dry and evaporate water without any chemical impact. If the process finished before two years, there must have been an adverse effect; artisans would likely discard the woods. Gradual strength applies to the wood afterwards, originating from the signature curve bends of grand pianos’ rims. The rim will be left to dry in the next several months, ensuring stability and sound vibration to be delivered throughout the whole body.

Steinway and Sons are known for handcrafting, and of course, notching each small piece of wood, pins and string tunning will be crafted by professional craft technicians. They will use a small square with pre-set weight to define the weight and balance of every piano key, as low and high notes are the results of how heavy the key is. Sound occurs when the hammer attached to the key hits the string. The pianos will be sent to ‘The Pounding Room’ to achieve an excellent sound. A repeated process with an open flame is required to fine-tune the corresponding action between each hammer and string. Each piano will be painted with six coats and let dry for precisely one week before further finalisation.

Steinway & Sons culture is not about time and profit but guarantees the highest quality and durability. The brand’s existence of over 160 years promises the highest quality pianos. Handcrafted, premium materials with extraordinary details, Steinway and Sons piano, is an art piece designed for your soul. Check out the Sydney Steinway and Sons Australian galleries for more pieces of information and exceptional experiences.