The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20
.CHAS. M. STIE'FF.

Cupled Dy bfOWW y
Constine, Located at
2O5 E. Broad 81.
The firn, of Charles NJ. steff the vel
| know, plano house, have leased the large
store how located at 2oS East Broau
| Street The Erent business Increase !, Q,
| this Old established concern has compeeo
| that they might have increased floot
space for the display OF a larger stock
| IN order To meet the present necessary
demand of their trade.
1.-The Richmond branch Of this concert,
was opened here exactly four "a years
ago. being first located In a small store
oil Fifth Street, between Broad ana
Grace Streets. The firm Afterwards y, a. a ;
moved to larger place at Adj East
Broad Street and from, there, two years
ago, to their present wnreroor,, located
at 3o7 East Broad Street. Each time
the increased demand III their business
for larger space necessitated these re-
movals. During the past year the Rich-
mond office has been III charge OF Mr.,
II. B. Slaughter under whose skillf''l ana
energetic management the business IN
crease has been phenomenal, which has
made 1t absolutely necessary to secure
this large. new wareroonl. which mas
Just been leased. III order that the BUS
mess may continue to grow. The stiett
Piano has been sold for over hnlf cen
fury and has held the highest position
In the trade, ns being mn instrument OF
the very finest quality and OF un1ues-
toned durability. being endorsed by some
OF the worlds greatest musical artists
and being used exclusively IN some or
the largest schools and Conservatives
throughout the country.
The Stieff Piano reached Its present
high position by reason OF Its careful
workmanship and ITS marvellous wearing
qualities. There are Stleff Pianos III use
to-day which were purchased = genera ton
ago. and they are still notable for those
merits which induced their own rs 8 10
buy them
The success which the stleff Plano has
met with In Richmond, in being SO, favor
ably rect. led, is but another testimonial
OF It's merit.
Sticff Pianos have been placed In some
of the finest and most representative
homes In Richmond and throughout Viz
ginia, and have also been sold to a
great many Of the finest musicians in
this city and throughout the State.
HISTORY OF e FIR N ,Si
Charles Nj stieffS the. founder of Il the
firm was born inEthc kingdom Of s1Nur-
temburg, JulyE19. 1905. HI wa 8 educated
at Stuttgart, and In 1881 he relinduished
Il profcssorship OF music In Wurtem
berg college to come to America. He
first settled In Lebanon county, Pa, but
about 1881 he came to Baltimore to ac-
ccpt the leadership OF the choir OF 1Iaes-
pert Church, and the professorship OF
music and ancient and modern languages
in tho Haespert School, connected with
the church. at the northwest corner OF
Holiday and Saratoga Streets, He sub
sequcntly bccam es,5 a. j. tea cher at Zion
Church School, IONS Cay Street.snnd after
school hours taught music. Sfs%
Ins1S42,Mr.. Stieff bcganSthe Importation
OF pianos from Europe, and until 1853
/ sold the instruments of Rosenkrantz,
keine, Miller and others. About 1S43 or
1874, he opened warerooms at North
Eutaw Street. and In 1S49 no removed to
{ South Liberty Street In 1852 he vis-
! tied the leading piano factories OF Europe
| to investigate the details OF the piano
business and In 1856 the firm commenced
| to manufacture PIANOS on SharpeStreet
| removing soon after to the new bulldine
erected for the purpose at Gross ant
! Hanover Streets. This building was de-
stroyed by fire, December 19f81S57, and
the factory was then established OH Bal
| timore Street. near Greene. whence It
was removed, January |, 1850 to the
factory OH Camden Street, nenr How
ard. which was enlarged by the addition
| Of buildings on Perry and Conway Streets
| The firm occupied this plant until July,
| 1855. when 1t removed to its present per-
fcctly appointed factory, at the inter-
section of Lafayette Avenue, Aiken and
Lanvale Streets.
The warerooms were removed in 1860
to North Liberty Street and in 1859
the present large -wnrerooms at North
Liberty Street were built. At the latter
sl, ~ 1,,Frf trt, 1,a Inot
conducted ever since. and its location on
Liberty Street for fifty three years makes
1t the oldest firm In this vicinity.
The founder OF the firm died January
! 1862. Charles Stieff and Frederick p.
Stieff, tho present members OF the firm.
conduct the business under the original
name.
The sten factory occupies the block
bounded by Lafayette Avenue. Ianvalc
five stories In height, with Il four-story
tower, 1886 feet front by III feet deep.
Ground for It Was broken July ~, 1887
and It Is modern II. every particular. The
walls, floors and ceilings are rende red
fircproof by asbestos and by means OF
fire doors, steam Jets A 5000 gallon res
ervoir in the yard. 10000 gallon water
tank on the roof, and 1000 Cirinncla
sprnklcrs throughout the plant, Possible
fires may no confined to their place OF
origin and quickly cXtlnguishcd.
At this time an addition Is being built
10 the present factory. which will double
It's capacity. This Increase was neccs-
sary, owing to the great demand for Stieff
Pianos throughout tho entire country.
The building Just leased viii he tho
roughly remodcled In every way and VT
| be equipped in the most up-to-datc style
| making It thoroughly modern piano
| store. and when completed viii be the
| largest strictly piano wareroom In tho
| South. The building will be ready for
occupancy In the carly fall.