Four Pianos, Hundreds of Years of History
We recently had several pianos lined up in our Rebuilding Facility that spanned the near entirety of what is considered the golden age of Steinway & Sons Factory quality. When we saw what we had set up, we couldn’t help but snap some pictures to share! For lack of a better word, this was just plain cool! From the early days of modern piano building to the style of instrument most popular today, it’s all represented! Here is some detail regarding these fine grand pianos.
Steinway & Sons Model D #52626 was completed in early 1885. This means that construction of this piano began at the New York Steinway Factory in 1884. This is the first year that Steinway ever made what is now known as the king of concert grand pianos, the Model D! Veneered in a rich cut of rare Brazilian Rosewood and as one of the very first Model D Concert Grands ever built by Steinway, this piano marks the beginning of an era. It is a rare find indeed! The piano features a then typical round arm art case design with double narrow moldings around the case, a figured music desk with ‘old-style’ fretwork, hand-carved Victorian fluted flowerpot legs with hidden casters and a large box pedal lyre with carved pillars. This instrument was originally purchased for use at the DuPage County Library near Chicago, IL. This concert grand piano is currently located at our New Paris Rebuilding Facility and is available for selection and purchase.
[Click Here to Read More About This Piano.]“Style D has an entirely new interior construction with double cupola steel frame and continous ring bridge. The improvement in power and snoority of tone is simply marvelous.” – Mr. Willam Steinway, September 1st, 1884. Source: The Official Guide to Steinway Pianos
Steinway & Sons Model C #68881 was completed on September 30th, 1890. This is according to New York Steinway Factory records. This piano measures approx. 7’5″ in length. Today, the Model C Grand is one of the rarest of the New York built Steinways, as regular production ended in 1905 with special order only production continuing into 1936. Manufacturing of the Model C continues at the Hamburg Factory and new Model C Grands are rarely seen at Steinway dealerships here in North America. The piano is in a round arm art case design with double narrow moldings around the case, a figured music desk with ‘new style’ fretwork, hand-carved Victorian fluted flowerpot legs with hidden casters and a large box pedal lyre with carved pillars. This piano has been fully restored/refinished. This piano features a stunning quarter sawn oak cabinet which is rare to see on Steinway Grand Pianos. This piano has been sold to a client near Boston, MA.
“This new style C, 7 1/4 octaves, is the grandest creation in power, sonority and sympathetic singing quality, ever achieved in a Parlor Concert Grand…it is quite equal to the large Concert Grand D in any Concert hall of ordinary size…” – William Steinway, January 1st, 1887
Steinway & Sons Model B #87751 was built in 1896. Measuring 6’11” in length, this rare Model B was built near the end of Steinway’s Victorian Art Case era. This Victorian style instrument features a round arm art case design with double narrow moldings around the case, a detailed figured music desk with ‘new style’ fretwork, hand-carved Victorian flowerpot style legs with hidden casters and a large box pedal lyre with carved pillars. This piano has been fully restored/refinished.
At the time this piano was built, this was considered to be a standard cabinet design. As decorating tastes changed, this would later give way to the more squared off Sheraton style cabinets we know today. This piano has been sold to a client near Detroit, MI.
[Click Here to Read More About This Piano.]
“Steinway Model B Grand Pianos combine Steinway’s legendary quality into a truly amazing and versatile instrument. These respected ‘music room grand’ pianos are a wonderful mix of visual beauty and true musicality that is extremely difficult to beat. When compared to models of smaller stature, there is rarely a comparison when it comes to quality of tone. “
Steinway Model M #211602, Steinway Model B #87751, Steinway Model C #68881, Steinway Model D #52626.
Steinway & Sons Model M #211602 is in a cabinet design much more familiar to today’s musical audience. The traditional Sketch 380 Sheraton cabinet design has remained virtually the same since its introduction and is still in use on today’s new Steinway & Sons grands.
This piano represents what is today’s standard for aesthetic piano design. This design features square arms, a minimalist pedal lyre, no moldings around the case, an M plain music desk and tapered, spade legs set on nickel plated casters. This piano has been fully restored/refinished.
This Model M Grand Piano was built at the New York Steinway Factory in 1922. Measuring 5’7″ in length, this style of ‘baby grand’ is the most popular model Steinway has ever produced. The Model M stands as the second smallest grand piano built by Steinway & Sons. Steinway Model M Grands are a common and welcome sight in homes and institutions around the world. This instrument was sold to a premier resort in Las Vegas, NV.
Steinway Model M Specifications: First Produced: 1911 – Scale Designer: Henry Ziegler – Production Status: Current – Length: 5’7″(1917 – present) – Width: 4’9 3/4″ (? – present) – Weight: 560 lbs (1936 – present) – Current Classification: Medium or Studio Grand – Nickname: “Baby Grand”
About Us: We pride ourselves in being specialists when it comes to the restoration of vintage Steinway & Sons Grand Pianos. Founded in 1975 by Dennis Chupp, our fully restored, concert level instruments have satisfied the piano requirements of hundreds of individuals and institutions all around the world.
Our Rebuilding Facility is located just south of Goshen, IN. and is two hours from Chicago, three hours from Indianapolis and less than two hours from Fort Wayne. We invite you to visit and experience our piano quality first hand. [Contact us today for more information.]
Chupp’s Piano Service | Steinway & Sons Restoration | Vintage Art Case Grand Pianos | Regional Piano Service & Sales
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.