New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-06
THE TRIUMPHS OF PIAHO-MIKIHG.


sTEINwAY a. SONS TWENTY-FIVE THOUsANprh
PIANo-!TIIE PROGRESS OF GREAT FIRM.
Steinway g. Sons entertained, last Saturday
afternoon, a numerous gathering OF their friehds'
who united with them in celebrating tho com
pletion OF the twenty-five thousandth Rrahd
piano OF their manufacture. Among the mem
hers of the musical profession who attended
were Messrs g. b. Mills, Vim. Mills, Bonnawtz' Brand
els Pease, Carberg Timm, Wells. Frade fred' pe'nS'
Won Breuning VIM Mason, and Drs Berge and Dam
rosch. Franz Abt also present. though nc had ar
rived In the city only hour previous 10 the OCCASION
Some months since the Empress OF Russia ordered
from steinway 4 Sons for her Winter Palace, full
Concert Grand Piano for the music and Upright
Piano for her boudor Since then, the Stenways have
received, through the Russian Legation, an ORDER ior
three Concert Grand Pianos, OF which number oo
exhibited Saturday is TO be forwarded TO HIS hlRness
the Czarowtz the second TO Count Olsenhien ana inc
third to NJ. sehrkof, the Russian Charge dAnaires'
Three other pianos, new parlor grand six rect eeht
inches I'm length new small patent upright three leet
ten inches high, and cabinet grand we're also ex-
hbited IN connection with the Grand Ilao NO 1ooV'
These pianos tested by several OF the musica"s
present who delighted the audience with many choice
selections and by their artistic skill heightened the APP
probation of the elegant instruments Several speeches.
were made, and a chorus OF the LiederNans, WIN
Messrs Stems and Graf. sang admirably
The piano numbered $4,000 embodes q series Oh iii
norant improyements which are represented In this In
strument by eight different patents granted by the
United states to steinway Sons. William steinway
explained to his guests that the main Improvement con-
sisted in prOlongation of the strings from
the agrane to the tuning pins, thus adding
n second scale, although one of reduced proper
tional length. A key OF the piano being struck
the vibration OF the strings OF the principal scale Is
communicated through the agrae to the second bcae'
which repeats the note. but three octaves higher The
.1,oirx yilro and
the purity and richness Of tone OF note, as well as ts
"snging" and carrying capacity are greatly increased
while on account OF the elasticity OF the strings TIC
danger Of their breaking getting out OF tune under
blow of the hammer is greatly diminished.
The unprecedented success which has attended TINS
firm is due to the merit of their Instruments and the
great increase of their business which has attained
colossal proportions, may properly be dated from the
wear 1855 when at the Exhibition Of the American lnst
tute held at the Crystal Palace their piano.
constructed on an entirely new system, received,
by unanimous award or the jury
the first prize-of gold medal The beginning OIL inc
immense business of seinway Sons was modest IN tho
extreme. In 1850 the members OF the hrm came 10
America possessing but moderate capital. and, after
working ia various piano factories for the purpose of
acourng practical knowledge Of the Language, habits,
and business requirements Of the country they began
business March, 1853, in small rear building in Var
this city, where they manufactured az the rate
Of pianO ppr week Their instruments attracted
such attention from professional musicians ana me gen
erdl musical pubic that at the ehu vi =, VIC
year they found the building 3ecapied Dy tne men.
Tar 10 small for their rapidylncreaslns Dusi-
ness, and they consequently removed 10 - larger
Sun IA so raTdy that it was found necessary
age to purchase ground Fourthave for the erection
on the Manufacturing ability OF the firm. This building
was erected 1852 and occupied III 1860 In 1863 sou
crn wing was added by when the factory was EXTENDED
to nearly its present size, namely, the front OF the
entire block between Fftysecoud ana FuiytluIdsts',
Tho main I'm
on F.ysecOndst. and 265 feet on FIFTY thirdst, inc
entire hddiug being SIX stories hlgh INC steti kits
for in the center OF this hollow square,
aud Il city ots used for the continual open ar
seasoning OF over 100000 tcet OF cet oo b
MIN their 100 iaor-saving machines and tho employ
ment OF 700 the sful worknen one OF the most
perfectly arranged and most extensive establishments
Of the kind in the world
In is62 lust nine years after the establishment OF the
firm in New York, they were competitors at the Worhs
Fair in London, exhibiting two Grand and two square
pianos. OF which the highest number So3, received
hrst prize medal In 1853 stenway sons resolved 10
erect new warerooms ON East fourteentn-st Det%oeh
Union Square and tho Academy OF Music,
thy purchased rear plot Of rronnd extending through
Fiteenthst, and IN 1896 erected on IL stcnway Ha
TO supply long felt want OF concert hail which, IN
size, acoustic qualities, and general htness should
satisfy the needs alike Oi artists dud the general uuslcal
public. This hall is 1913 feet long, 70 feet wide, ~ feet
high and has convenient seating capacity ior 2~V
persons. . 49, go A., NJ,
Exposition took place, at when stenway Sous were
exhibitors, and were awarded the hIst gold medal ot
honor.
or the pianos exhibited at the Paris Exposition that
with highest number 1927, while now, five years
later. 1886 finished aud III the waTerOons, ana num-
Der &c 800 las Just been begun at the factory.
Tue rapid growth of the manufacture OF pianos In the
Uuiled ates il a marvel alike 10 those VINO study tho
industrial Of our country and those Euro
pcan makers who once nearly monopOizcd the piano
trade OF America. Now, instead OF being large i'm,
porters Americans large exporters OF pianos, and
Paris Universal Exposition OF 1867 the fame OF
American pianos has spread throughout Europe, ana
numbers Steinway grand and upright pianos are an
nually sold in Bernn stockholm Madrid, Paris, Odessa,
and other European musical ceuters.
la 1869 hUcinway& sons made aud sold no less than
900 pianos the aggregate sum Of S10j43 In tho
year 1871 they made and sold 24lO for $55OJ la tbe aG-
gregae. Thcy purpose making curing the current year
more than W co. order TO meet the constantly growing
deal IT, that end are largely increasing their
manufacturing f. mites