Henry Steinway, Jr.

Biography

Henry Steinway, Jr. was born on March 27, 1831. Described as artistic and nervous by temperament, he devoted himself intensely to inventing piano improvements, and the patent records were said to speak loudly for his achievements. Restless and seeking to understand the demands of the artist, he spent his nights as a studious 'citizen of Bohemia' and his days working nervously at the drawing-board. This relentless pace could not be sustained, and he died young, on March 11, 1865, at age 34. His death, coming within three weeks of another brother's death, threw the full burden of managing the Steinway business onto his younger brother William. From Spillane (1890): Henry Steinway, Jr., born in 1831 in Germany, was a son of Henry E. Steinway, founder of Steinway & Sons. He emigrated to New York with his father and brother William in 1850, arriving June 9 at age nineteen, and was put through practical training in established New York piano shops to learn American manufacturing methods. In March 1853 he became a founding member of Steinway & Sons alongside his father and brother Charles. Described as one of the inventors of the Steinway family, he was granted Patents No. 32,836 and No. 32,837 for improvements to the piano action, subsequently used in Steinway & Sons instruments. was one of two youngest members of the Steinway & Sons firm, along with his brother Charles Steinway. He died on March 11, 1865, in New York City. His death, occurring the same year as his brother Charles's, was described as "a great misfortune" for the family and "a sincere source of grief to the whole piano trade," as well as "a decided loss to the art of piano-making," since both brothers were regarded as eminent inventors within the firm.

Highlights

• Prolific inventor whose patent records testify to his achievements in piano improvements
• Died at only 34 from the strain of overwork
• Became a founding member of Steinway & Sons in March 1853.
• Granted Patents No. 32,836 and No. 32,837 for piano action improvements used in Steinway & Sons instruments.
• One of the two youngest members of the Steinway & Sons firm.
• Died March 11, 1865, in New York City.
• Regarded as an eminent inventor whose death was a decided loss to piano-making.

Sources

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911).

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), pp. 213, 216, 218, 220.

Public domain.