Johann Baptist Streicher

Biography

Johann Baptist Streicher, described as a grandson of Johann Andreas Stein, patented a grand piano action in 1824 that the author calls the almost final development of that line of action design. The action found much favor with German makers, and modified versions of it were, at the time of writing, still in use by some Vienna makers. Despite the preference of masters like Mozart and Beethoven for the earlier Schröter-Stein action, the text notes that it eventually had to give way to the Cristofori-Backers action lineage that came to dominate grand piano construction. A 'Streicher' is separately listed among the makers who earlier attempted and abandoned a downward-striking grand piano action, though the text does not clarify whether this refers to the same individual or another member of the Streicher family. Johann Baptist Streicher, son of Johann Andreas and Nannette Streicher, was born at Vienna in 1796. He was admitted to partnership in the family firm in 1822, at which point the business (previously run under his mother's name, Nannette Streicher, geb. Stein) was renamed accordingly. He continued the business with great success and added valuable improvements, such that Streicher pianos achieved a world-wide reputation. In 1857 he changed the firm name to J. Streicher & Sohn when his own son Emil was admitted to partnership. Johann Baptist Streicher died in 1871, after which Emil retired from the business soon after without a successor, bringing the Streicher line of piano makers to a close as described in this text.

Highlights

• Patented a grand piano action in 1824 representing the almost final development of the Schröter-Stein line
• His action found much favor with German makers and, in modified form, was still used by some Vienna makers
• Son of Johann Andreas and Nannette Streicher; admitted to partnership in 1822
• Continued the family firm with great success and added valuable improvements
• Changed the firm name to J. B. Streicher & Sohn in 1857 on admitting his son Emil to partnership

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 87, 219.

Public domain.