Steinweg

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Gill the Piano
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Steinweg

Post by Gill the Piano »

Are there any numbers anywhere for Steinweg? I tuned a beauty last week, and the name Grotrian is on the fall, but in much smaller letters. Do you happen to know when they merged? The serial number was 3793. I estimate it to be late 1800s, 1895ish, perhaps. Pierce is no use at all when it comes to Steinweg; they aren't listed at all and just given a brief mention in the Steinway section.
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Bill Kibby
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Re: Steinweg

Post by Bill Kibby »

I suppose we are talking about Grotrian Steinweg then? I can't remember seeing them with the names separated. I have been able to confirm some of the Grotrian Steinweg numbers, so 3970 might be 1879, but they weren't called Grotrian Steinweg then! It wasn't just a simple merge, there were complications, but Grotrian Steinweg should theoretically be after 1908. Before, they were Grotrian, Helferrich & Schulz.

Any chance the action might have its makers' name and number?

Did you have your camera with your?
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Gill the Piano
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Re: Steinweg

Post by Gill the Piano »

No, this is Steinweg alone, but with Grotrian mentioned as a tiny aside.
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Bill Kibby
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Re: Steinweg

Post by Bill Kibby »

I can only imagine this was Theodore Steinweg when Grotrian invested in the business, that would put it around 1859.

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Re: Steinweg

Post by NewAge »

I was playing the piano in a zoo, when the elephant burst into tears. I said, "Don't you recognize the tune?" He replied, "No, I recognize the ivories!"
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Bill Kibby
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Re: Steinweg

Post by Bill Kibby »

These still refer to Grotrian, and names associated with them, although the name Grotrian Steinweg didn't begin to be used until 1909.
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Gill the Piano
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Re: Steinweg

Post by Gill the Piano »

The second of those links shows the fall layout on the one I tuned; thanks, NewAge!
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Re: Steinweg

Post by Bill Kibby »

In that case, "Nachf." stands for NACHFOLGER which means successors to Theodore Stenweg. They were called Grotrian, Helferrich & Schulz until 1909 when they changed the name to Grotrian Steinweg. This puts your piano 1865-1909, and it may be that the published number suggesting 1879 is correct.
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