Yet another NYT article about Stienway Pianos

[Da5id4Vz]

Another good article about Piano constrction with more good pictures:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/01/nyregion/01PIAN.html?8hpib

 

[tom1356]

I used to build custom grand pianos for a company called Falcone, now part of Steinway I think. At the time they had been in business 9 years and had just made thier 100th piano. Production took one year from start to finish. Thats where I learned to sharpen brand new razor blades and that sandpaper was the work of the devil.
Ahh...good times.

 

[damonpip]

Here is a Google link for those non-members: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/01/n...00&en=5094159901e1ddff&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

 

[Prune]

Steinways are overrepresented in North America, and cheaper alternatives such as Bosendorfer, Bechstein and others offer a sound that is different but equal in quality; yet Steinway has almost a monopoly in grand pianos here, mainly due to their business practices; for example see the insightful post here, Reply #5 by Maestro.

 

[Da5id4Vz]

Thanks for the links, the politics surrounding these things arefascinating.

Tom1356, I had always figured that being Tom from Boston and a DIY guy that you were the same Tom who invented the Rockman. Why were the razor blades sharpened? Was it for cutting the felt on the hammers?

As a non-player I think that the only piano I ever might actually own would be a Yamaha Disclavier. It'll take some significantly different left resources if its ever going to happen.