Morris Steinert

Biography

Morris Steinert, of New Haven, was a gifted and many-sided musician by profession who became a dealer in musical instruments, especially pianos, founding the house of M. Steinert & Sons with headquarters in Boston and branch stores in leading New England cities; the firm also controlled the Hume and Jewett piano factories. Over some 40 years he searched America and foreign countries for rare keyed and stringed instruments, assembling a collection of clavichords, spinets, harpsichords and claviers described and illustrated in "M. Steinert's Collection of Keyed and Stringed Instruments" (Charles F. Tretbar, Steinway Hall, New York). "Reminiscences of Morris Steinert," compiled by Jane Martin (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1900), recounts his amusing and interesting experiences hunting old instruments. Dolge credits Steinert, together with Paul de Wit, with an unselfish contribution toward reviving appreciation for the tone quality of early keyboard instruments such as the clavichord. A photograph shows him seated at a clavichord. Morris Steinert opened a music store on Grand Avenue in New Haven in 1865, starting with a stock of only two second-hand pianos and some small musical instruments, yet made a profit of $3,000 in the business's first four months through remarkable business ability. The text notes he was a great musician for whom music was his life. He was the founder of what became the Steinert and Sons Company of Boston; further biographical detail is referenced by the text as appearing in Volume I of the work. Morris Steinert of New Haven is named by Dolge as the owner of one of several notable collections of old instruments in which specimens of the old Italian and Flemish school, some decorated with paintings by master artists, can be found. No further detail about him is given in this passage. Morris Steinert is thanked by name in Alfred Dolge's foreword among ten men credited with 'kind and valuable assistance' that supplied the book with important data. No further biographical detail, occupation, or company affiliation is given in this portion of the text.

Highlights

• Thanked by name in Dolge's foreword for 'kind and valuable assistance' supplying data used in the book.
• Owned a notable collection of old instruments in New Haven, including specimens of the old Italian and Flemish school
• Founded M. Steinert & Sons, headquartered in Boston with branch stores across New England, and the firm controlled the Hume and Jewett piano factories
• Spent about 40 years searching America and abroad for rare clavichords, spinets, harpsichords and claviers
• His finds were catalogued in "M. Steinert's Collection of Keyed and Stringed Instruments" and in "Reminiscences of Morris Steinert" (1900)
• Opened a music store on Grand Avenue, New Haven, in 1865 with two second-hand pianos and small instruments
• Made a profit of $3,000 in the first four months of business
• Described as a great musician for whom music was his life

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), p. 427; Vol. II (1913), pp. 171, 172.

Public domain.