“To build the best piano possible”– that was the declared mission of Heinrich Engelhardt Steinweg aka Henry E. Steinway – the founder of Steinway & Sons. Established in 1853, the Hamburg- and New York-based company is the epitome of fine craftsmanship and tradition, ensuring an unparalleled sound experience.
Born in the Harz Mountains, the master carpenter, organ builder, and church organist built his very first piano in 1836: the "kitchen piano". Inspired by the pioneers of his time, he soon immigrated with his family to America. Once there, Heinrich and his family had their names anglicized – the birth of the Steinways. He and his sons initially worked in a local piano factory before opening their own workshop only a little later. As business in the United States went well, one of his four sons was sent to set up a second branch in Hamburg. This was the foundation stone for the Hamburg factory, which has built top-class keyboard instruments ever since. With its port, Hamburg was, and still is, the perfect location to ship these elegant masterpieces to destinations around the world.
Handed down over 150 years, Steinway & Sons’ craftsmanship, passion, and love of detail can be heard and felt with every keystroke. Today, this traditional company continues to manufacture its world-famous grand and upright pianos by hand. The timber used – such as maple and poplar – matures for two years before it is turned into a world-class instrument, and an entire year passes before a grand piano leaves the Hamburg workshop, drying time not included.
Even though there are currently no public tours of the Hamburg factory due to the pandemic, you can still experience these valuable instruments in Hamburg live and up close: just opposite the factory, there is a spacious showroom that is open to the public. And the Steinway Spirio Lounge, which is only a stone’s throw away from the Elbphilharmonie, allows visitors to discover original Steinway pieces first-hand. A factory tour in video format can be experienced here.
