MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS— THE PIANO-FORTE. 489 



junction with an original disposition of the bridges, as well as 

 with a striking departure in the construction of the plate, the 

 quality of wire used in the different sections throughout, and in 

 many minor directions. The success of these instruments was 

 pronounced, and the " Steinway " grands were immediately given 

 a foremost place among the leading concert instruments of the 

 world. In 1863 they applied overstringing on a full iron plate, 

 together with many of the most significant features of their 

 squares and grands, to the upright, a form little used in those 

 times, though now holding popular favor to the almost entire ex- 

 clusion of the square. Since that year they have added patent 

 after patent, and have been most indefatigable in their efforts to 

 im]7rove the character of the piano. Among their other notable 

 inventions must be named their '' grand duplex scale," which is 

 now adopted in all their improved instruments. This was intro- 

 duced in 1872. Their modern grands are remarkable for the char- 

 acter of the action used, as much as for their individuality of 

 tone. This action is a Steinway specialty, and contains many 

 original and effective features, which render it capable of yield- 

 ing remarkable results in the hands of the artist, the chief feat- 

 ures being its power of quick repetition and susceptibility to 

 artistic demands. This brief sketch of their inventions would 

 be incomplete without mention of their " cupola metal frame." 

 This is another improvement in the structure of the modern 

 plate. 



The house of Steinway & Sons was founded in 1853 by Henry 

 E. Steinway and his sons, Charles and Henry. The elder Stein- 

 way was born in Wolfshagen, in the duchy of Brunswick, Ger- 

 many, on December 17, 1797. From being an organ-builder he 

 entered the sphere of piano-making at Seesen, where he married 

 and began business on his own account. His three sons, C Theo- 

 dore, Charles, and William Steinway, were born at Seesen. Henry 

 E. Steinway won a reputation as a progressive piano-maker from 

 the beginning. In 1839 he exhibited a grand and two squares at 

 the state fair of Brunswick, where he was awarded the prize 

 medal by Albert Methfessel, the composer, who presided as chair- 

 man of the jury on the occasion. Meanwhile his sons all grew up 

 in the atmosphere of the piano art business, in which they after- 

 ward figured so prominently. In 1850 Henry E, Steinway came 

 to these shores on the advice of his son Charles, who had come 

 over the year before to investigate the field. In 1853, the year of 

 the first American World's Fair, the house of Steinway & Sons 

 was founded. William, armed with an excellent education and a 

 technical training, was taken into partnership late in that year, 

 and since then has been closely identified with the growth of the 

 business. 



