For Steinway & Sons pianos that we have available for purchase, click here

 

1853: Founded in New York City

Steinway & Sons was founded in 1853 by Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg, a German-born piano maker who had emigrated to the United States. After building pianos in Seesen, Germany, he established the company in Manhattan, New York, under the anglicised name Henry E. Steinway. His mission: to build the best piano possible using cutting-edge craftsmanship and innovation.

 Henry E. Steinway, founder, Steinway & Sons

 

1857–1871: Innovations and International Awards

Between 1857 and 1871, Steinway & Sons received over 30 patents for ground-breaking piano innovations, including:

• Overstrung scale (1859) – producing a richer, more powerful sound
• Bent rim case design (1878) – increasing resonance and structural strength
• Accelerated action (1869) – improving responsiveness and repetition

These innovations earned Steinway prestigious awards, including:

• Gold Medal at the London Exhibition (1862)
• First Prize at the Paris Exposition (1867)

 

1880: Hamburg Factory Opens

To serve growing demand in Europe, Steinway established a second factory in Hamburg, Germany, in 1880. This facility would become essential in continuing production through global disruptions and still produces world-class pianos today, alongside the New York factory.

 

1890s–1930s: Global Reputation and Endorsements

By the 1890s, Steinway had become the piano of choice for elite concert pianists worldwide. The company formalised its Steinway Artist program in 1872, offering use of Steinway pianos to distinguished performers. By the early 20th century, artists like Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Arthur Rubinstein were performing exclusively on Steinways.

Steinway & Sons factory in New York, 1916

 

1940s–1950s: Surviving War and Industrialisation

During World War II (1939–1945), the Hamburg factory was damaged, but the company resumed production in the late 1940s. Steinway also supported the war effort by making wooden gliders and morale-boosting pianos for U.S. troops, known as Victory Vertical pianos (1942).

 

2000s–Today: Craftsmanship Meets Technology

In 2015, Steinway launched the Spirio, a high-resolution player piano capable of reproducing nuanced live performances. It continues the tradition of blending handcraftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, positioning Steinway as a leader in both tradition and innovation.

 

Legacy of Excellence

For over 170 years, Steinway & Sons has been synonymous with world-class piano craftsmanship, engineering innovation, and unmatched musical quality. With more than 97% of concert pianists choosing Steinway, the name remains the global standard for excellence in pianos.

 

 

For more information about the different types of pianos, click the links below:

Uprights	Grands

Serial Numbers

1856 – 1000	1858 – 2000	1860 – 3000
1861 – 5000	1863 – 9000	1865 – 11000
1866 – 13000	1867 – 15000	1868 – 17000
1869 – 19000
1870 – 21000	1871 – 23000	1872 – 25000
1873 – 27000	1874 – 29000	1875 – 31000
1876 – 33000	1877 – 35000	1878 – 40000
1881 – 45000	1883 – 50000	1886 – 55000
1887 – 60000	1889 – 65000
1891 – 70000	1893 – 75000	1894 – 80000
1896 – 85000	1898 – 90000
1900 – 95000	1901 – 100000	1902 – 105000
1904 – 110000	1905 – 115000	1906 – 120000
1907 – 125000	1908 – 130000	1909 – 135000
1910 – 140000	1911 – 145000	1912 – 155000
1913 – 160000	1914 – 165000	1915 – 170000
1916 – 175000	1917 – 180000	1918 – 190000
1919 – 195000
1920 – 200000	1921 – 205000	1922 – 210000
1923 – 215000	1924 – 225000	1925 – 230000
1926 – 240000	1927 – 250000	1928 – 260000
1929 – 265000
1930 – 270000	1931 – 271000	1932 – 273000
1933 – 275000	1934 – 278000	1935 – 279000
1936 – 281000	1937 – 289000	1938 – 290000
1939 – 294000
1940 – 300000	1941 – 305000	1942 – 310000
1943 – 314000	1944 – 316000	1945 – 317000
1946 – 319000	1947 – 322000	1948 – 324000
1949 – 328000
1950 – 331000	1951 – 334000	1952 – 337000
1953 – 340000	1954 – 343000	1955 – 346500
1956 – 350000	1957 – 355000	1958 – 358000
1959 – 362000
1960 – 366000	1961 – 370000	1962 – 375000
1963 – 380000	1964 – 385000	1965 – 390000
1966 – 395000	1967 – 400000	1968 – 405000
1969 – 412000
1970 – 418000	1971 – 423000	1972 – 426000
1973 – 431000	1974 – 436000	1975 – 439000
1976 – 445000	1977 – 450000	1978 – 455300
1979 – 463000
1980 – 468500	1981 – 473500	1982 – 478500
1983 – 483000	1984 – 488000	1985 – 493000
1986 – 498000	1987 – 503000	1988 – 507700
1989 – 512600
1990 – 516700	1991 – 521000	1992 – 523500
1993 – 527000	1994 – 530000	1995 – 533500
1996 – 537200	1997 – 540700	1998 – 545600
1999 – 549600
2000 – 554000	2001 – 558000	2002 – 562500
2003 – 567000	2004 – 571000	2005 – 574500
2006 – 578500	2007 – 582500