history Archives - South Jersey Piano

Henry Steinway’s workdesk

September 13, 2016November 30, 2016 by SJ Piano Service Comment Closed

One last fascinating piece of history from the new Steinway showroom in Manhattan: this was Henry Steinway's work desk from the 1800's when he started making his first pianos. Like a lot of tools piano technicians use, it was completely handmade. And it has held up pretty well! ...

Interlochen Piano

June 3, 2016November 30, 2016 by SJ Piano Service Comment Closed

It's common for piano manufacturers to form marketing partnerships with arts organizations. This emblem on a 1965 Wurlitzer today was a new one for me in this area. ...

Old serial numbers & other markings

May 31, 2016November 30, 2016 by SJ Piano Comment Closed

This serial number on an old Jacob Bros. upright traces to 1907! Serial numbers are sometimes hard to find, but typically on American uprights and grands they can be found in a plate cutout like this, somewhere in the tuning pin area. Even more interesting here are the dates etched into the plate above the serial number. In days gone by technicians would often write or etch the date of each service call. Hopefully 1930 was not the last time this piano was tuned! ...

Steinway M Grand Piano

April 2, 2016December 31, 2016 by SJ Piano Comment Closed

1969 Steinway & Sons model M (5'7") Henry Steinway, a German immigrant, founded the Steinway company in 1853. It quickly became one of the leading piano manufacturers, and for the past century Steinway pianos have been the instrument of choice for a majority of performing artists. All Steinway instruments are still manufactured by hand in one of two factories: New York City (supplying North and South America) and Hamburg, Germany (supplying the rest of the world). ...