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Shull Piano Inc. COMPLETE PIANO SERVICE AND SALES and the The Period Piano Center Center for the study of the piano from 1850-1880 Museum of Erard and Steinway Pianos 25041 Redlands Blvd, Loma Linda, CA 92354 Store (Thursday, Friday, Sunday) 909 796-2100 Cell Contact 909 796-4226 Email Contact contact@shullpiano.com
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The Early Steinway Grand, 1856-1886 History, Design, Restoration, Remanufacturing and Conservation See also “Early Steinway Grand Research Project” Click on UPCOMING PROGRAMS for scheduled events Click here for standard fees for these classes Early Steinway Grand classes can be presented several ways: 1. An all-day seminar, “The Early Steinway Grand, 1856-1886, History, Design, Restoration, Remanufacturing and Conservation” for piano technicians, organologists, piano retailers and others in the trade, and any others interested in the history of the Steinway grand from 1856 to 1886. This is the most comprehensive class and provides the time necessary for Q&A, discussion, and review. 2. A half-day seminar can also be presented as a two-part chapter or convention program, with one condensed 1.5 hour presentation covering History and Design Elements, the second 1.5 hour class covering either Discovering the First Modern Steinway Grand (the current format), or if needed, Restoration, Remanufacturing and Conservation (I prefer ot include the latter in the all-day seminar). 3. One 1.5 hour “Introduction to the Early Steinway Grand”, introduces history and design from 1856 to 1886, briefly introducing restoration, remanufacturing, and conservation. 4. One of three classes, 1 to 1.5 hours each, each based on a piano from one model family. These are best seen after one of the above classes, but can also be stand-alone, and tailored to highlight a specific piano which is available for the chapter to view and hear. For example, “Discovering the First Modern Steinway Grand” on the first truly modern Steinway grand, the prototype “Monitor” #19434 discovered in Belgium in 2007, and the production 1872 “Monitor” Steinway “B” ancestor, or “The 1875 Centennial Grand, Steinway’s First Modern Concert Grand,” the first full-plate, modern duplex Steinway but the only Steinway concert grand with a transitional, or tenor bridge. But any early Steinway can be used for a program on its respective model family. At the present time my most popular 1.5 hour class is “Discovering the First Modern Steinway Grand.” The 1.5 hour classes are highly concentrated, tightly paced classes which use the entire time allotted; chapters need to forego their general “technical” Q&A and be sure their chapter business is taken care of outside of the required 1.5 hour presentation.` Each class surveys - even if briefly - the rapid evolution of the Steinway grand piano in its earliest, most volatile, rapidly changing period. When the first Steinway grand was built, the Erard piano had established itself as the innovator and leader, and the first Steinway grand looks much like that Erard concert grand, but not for long. We follow Steinway’s rapid rise to leadership in piano building, and we examine unusual devices and ideas which reflected that commitment to technological leadership. The company had more influence in the 19th century on the development of the modern piano than any other single piano manufacturer since Erard; this program shows why. Many of the early design elements played a major role in the development of the modern Steinway after 1878, but so did son Theodore’s desire to build a cheaper piano! Discover the difficulty the Steinway family experienced as they attempted to deal with the rapid technological changes of the industrial age which provided a plethora of new, but poorly understood resources, especially the rapid changes in piano wire and string scaling. Includes recordings of early Steinway pianos. The modern Steinway model classification using letters (A-B-C-D) began in 1878. From the first Steinway grand in 1856 to the last early-style grand in the 1880s, the early model classifications constantly changed. We will look at early Steinway model families, learn what drove the style names, and make sense of styles and models. We will learn about the most important Steinway researcher, Mr. Roy Kehl, and make use of his carefully researched study of Steinway factory production. Certain Steinway pianos designed during this period were extremely innovative; all styles reflected this, but we will especially focus on the Monitor Grand (both the prototype and the production models) and the Centennial Grand. Certain remanufacturing and restoration challenges are daunting and can result in great frustration and destruction. In the rebuilding segment we will look at differences in action and belly design from modern pianos, and how these differences which create challenges to the rebuilder; we will look at how to avoid common pitfalls found in problematic rebuilds. However, the rebuilder should be aware that all of these pianos should be considered as conservation candidates. Because of the historical significance of these instruments, we will become familiar with the knowledge, resources and techniques of the conservator. Without this the time will come when no accurate documentation of early Steinway grands will exist. The person in the best position to influence this decision is the piano technician; we hope to arm the technician with the best resources for sound advice as an expert consultant. This program introduces the subject of keyboard conservation and addresses key issues which any responsible consultant or technician should be aware of. This is also an ongoing research project. Each trip I take to another region to present a program includes an effort to find and document an early Steinway grand. If you are a piano technician or avocational enthusiast of piano technology, you can help with this project. Please go to The Early Steinway Grand Research Project if you wish explore this subject further, or assist in any way. RECENT PROGRAMS: Saturday, March 15, 2008, a half-day seminar, “The Early Steinway Grand,” at the Pacific Northwest Regional Conference of the Piano Technicians Guild, Portland, OR. Saturday, November 10, 2007, an all-day program at Moe’s Pianos, the Steinway store in Portland Oregon, sponsored jointly by Moe’s Pianos and the Portland Chapter of the Piano Technicians Guild, “The Early Steinway Grand, 1856-1886. Moe’s Pianos was once in possession of #1225, the “first art case Steinway grand,” which was at the Manhattan showroom last year and received great attention. Saturday May 18, 2007, “The Early Steinway Grand and the Seward House Monitor Grand,” in the drawing room of the William Seward House in Auburn, New York, sponsored by the Syracuse and Southern Tier Chapters of the Piano Technicians Guild. This included a report on the just-documented first Monitor Iron Prototype Grand in Belgium, the first truly modern Steinway grand ever built, serial number 19434, and the first true ancestor of any modern Steinway scale, the model “B.” In 1872 a Steinway Monitor Grand was purchased by William Seward Jr. for his wife. This piano, #26608, is in nearly original condition, with it’s original CF Theodore Steinway Action. One of the first production Steinway “B” ancestors (the production began in 1872), the piano is the production version of the prototype Monitor Iron Grand which we’ve just re-discovered. The William Seward House is an important museum of American history. With a full-time curator, Peter Wisbey, and frequent tours, the visitor will receive a window into an important time of United States history, culture and social thought. www.sewardhouse.org October 17, 2006, Boston Chapter PTG, “Introduction to the Early Steinway Grand,” a chapter program presentaion. It included photos of an 1856 Steinway which we will have inspected and documented the day before. http://www.bostonptg.org October 21, 2006, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter/Joint Chapter All-Day Seminar Warrington, PA. February 8-11, 2007, Two-part convention program (3 hours) California State Conference, San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel |