Toronto Piano Tuning by Jamie Musselwhite

Welcome | My History | Services | Piano History |  Photo Gallery | Contact Me | Links

Piano History The Origins and Evolution of the Piano by Jamie Musselwhite In the early 20th century there were over 400 piano builders in North America alone. Now there are less then 100 in the whole world. However, more pianos are being built now than ever before. Mass production techniques, including the use of robotics allow companies such as Yamaha to produce more pianos in one day than most of the early companies would have made in a year. The most common question people have concerning their piano is about its age. The date of manufacture can often be obtained by knowing the make of the piano and its serial number. This information can be found on the piano's plate. Using one of the two following sources, you can find the age of your piano, and lots of more information as well! ·    Pierce’s Piano Atlas ·    The Piano Book If your piano is made by an existing builder, you can look at my Builders page for their website. Like most inventions, the piano grew out of improvements upon earlier instruments. The lyre inspired the harp, the harp inspired the harpsichord, and at the beginning of the Eighteenth Century, the harpsichord inspired three men in three different countries, to invent the precursor of the Piano. They were experimenting on exactly the same idea, at roughly the same time. It is said that they were not aware of each other's efforts, and that very well might be true. Perhaps it was simply that the time had come for this particular scientific and cultural advance. Jean Marius of Paris, Christoph Gottlieb Schröter of Vienna, and Bartolomeo Christofori of Padua were all trying to improve upon the harpsichord, which was the most popular keyboard instrument of their time. While each of them succeeded in improving the playing mechanism of the instrument, one of them, Bartolomo Christofori, went further. He ended up creating an entirely new instrument altogether, which he called, unimaginatively: "Piano e Forte", Soft and Loud. (Luckily for us Tuners, the name over the years shortened to simply "Piano", or we would all be deaf!) In 1745 C.E. Friedeici, an Organ Builder, solved the problem of the piano's enormously long case by building one in an upright shape. However, it was now enormously high, and therefore could be dangerous if played in a strong wind. He went on to build one in a rectangular shape, with the keyboard placed on one of the longer sides. This, incongruously, was referred to as a "Square Piano". This idea caught on, and spread throughout Europe. In 1781 Broadwood of England started a revolution with a relatively simple idea. In order to understand the significance of his innovation, you need to know that a piano string has two ends, one fixed at what is called the "Anchor Pin", and the other turned around an Iron Pin hammered tightly into a layered block of maple called a "Pin Block". The Square Pianos up to this time had the Pin Block on the side, and the shortest string (the highest note) had a short key to play it. The longest string, near the back of the instrument, had a long key, on the left hand. This made the touch uneven, a problem Broadwood corrected by placing the block at the rear of the instrument. Now the hammers all rose directly from the back of the key, and the touch was significantly improved. It was further discovered that two things could radically alter the tone: the shape of the soundboard, and the positioning of the hammer in relation to the string. All the piano makers of the time, upon seeing and hearing the Broadwood instrument, immediately started to experiment with these two essentials. The next evolution in the piano came in America in 1825, when Alpheus Babcock invented an iron frame to stabilize the piano, so that it would stay in tune. However, it was Jonas Chickering of Boston who got the eventual credit for this invention, for twelve years later, he used it to increase the piano's power, using heavier strings, and was awarded a patent in 1840. Henry Engelhardt Steinway, and his famous company, Steinway & Sons, is generally credited with some of the most important improvements in the construction of pianos after the 1850's. Steinway introduced the idea of crossing the bass strings over the treble strings, for instance, to permit a smaller size, a development referred to as "The Over Strung Scale". They went on to improve the soundboard as an acoustic amplifier, and to improve the Bridges, the Pin Block, and the pianos' Action. Almost all of Steinway's improvements to the piano happened before the twentieth century. Most of their attempts at improving the piano since then have been minor, or in some cases, disasters. The modern Steinway Grand has remained basically unchanged since the 1920's. Steinway's influence over the North American Piano Market has been considerable; most people know of the name Steinway, even if they nothing about Pianos at all. This is the result of two remarkably astute decisions made in the late 1890's: First of all, it was decided that instead of standardizing their touch weight and depth to that of the other pianos, they made their keys very slightly heavier to play, and very slightly shallower. Secondly, they gifted to new concert halls across the U.S. and Canada free Concert Grands. The result of these two decisions was that the public saw the Steinway in performance almost exclusively, and the performers bought Steinways themselves so that they would be accustomed to the different touch. Today, new concert venues, when shopping for Pianos, are often astounded that the Steinway concert grands are among the least expensive makes on the market. This ensures that Steinway stays in the forefront of the public eye. D.H. Baldwin, a music teacher from Cincinnati Ohio, gradually moved into the clan of Piano Builders by first selling the instruments, then hiring people to build pump organs, and finally making pianos. Baldwin was much more interested in doing God's work than his own however, and left the company in the hands of two men, Lucien Wulsin and George Armstrong Jr. The two men took the company from ashes to riches, struggling under the financial burden left to them by Baldwin when he bequeathed all his assets to the church. Eventually, with the help of some very talented artisans, they managed to unify five poor divisions of the company into one, and then to produce decent grand pianos, and passable uprights. Interestingly, the Baldwin company inadvertently advertised the fact that they were not as pleased with their uprights as they should have been: the name Baldwin was not stamped on a single upright until well after the Second World War.    Theodore Heintzman, an expatriate German like Steinway, succeeded in building what was at the time, the ultimate upright piano, but still within the price range of most families. He had shared a workbench with Henry Steinway when they were both apprentices in the “old country”. Henry immigrated to New York, Theodore to Toronto, Canada. For a while, in the early years, it was a toss-up as to who would become the pre-eminent builder. Steinway ended up winning by a landslide because of his perfect Grands, and because he choose the right country in which to become rich and famous. Poor Heintzman, and the company he left behind, struggled mightily against the forces of a disorganized country, a belligerent Government, a struggling economy, and the flood of cheap pianos from Japan. Eventually, in 1985, they lost the battle. The Heintzman uprights of the 1920's, the greatest upright pianos ever produced anywhere in the world, are becoming fewer and fewer as time marches on. There will never be another true Heintzman. The Company was mortally wounded in the 1960's by exceedingly poor management, and killed in the 1970's by poor government. The most dramatic step in the evolution of the piano came in the last four decades; however, it was all about manufacturing processes and marketing, and not about moving the instrument onto the next level. The Japanese piano maker, Yamaha, changed the way pianos have been traditionally built; much in the same way Henry Ford changed the car industry. Yamaha perfected the mass production of pianos. Other makers struggled to catch up and produce them in large quantities, but only Yamaha managed to do it and still turn out a decent product. Their secret was the training of the technicians at the "end of the line".  Yamaha's factory technicians are trained to "set up" the pianos after production to such an extent that they are very stable and playable right out of the box. This makes them an easy sell compared to most other "economy" makes, which need dealer service to make them sellable. The Kawai factory in Japan is but a hop, skip, and a jump away from Yamaha's', and operated as a rival sibling for many years. They became a major manufacturer in their own right by building "Howard" pianos for Baldwin. As these pianos increased their earnings, Kawai disassociated themselves from Baldwin, and started to build and sell pianos under their own name. Yamaha and Kawai changed the entire landscape of the Piano industry in the 1970's by building pianos that were good, and affordable at the same time. Today, because of the rising cost of labour in Japan, Yamaha and Kawai's entry-level pianos are being built in China - not in Japanese designed plants however: they are being made by the same companies that supply pianos to many other makers, distributors, and dealers under very many different brand names. This is the way the piano industry has changed the most: At one time, a small builder could grow slowly and build quality instruments with in-house craftsmen. Now, because of global sales, when a company gets big, they expand to the regions where the labour is the cheapest. Eventually, these regions produce quality products, their prices rise, and the production of Pianos will be shifted to the next low-cost area. Yamaha now makes Pianos in many different factories, in many parts of the world, including China, Indonesia, and the United States. Of course, Yamaha makes many things other than Pianos. One area they have excelled in, but yet is little known to the general public, is the design and manufacture of Robots and Robotic Systems. This fact is stated to segue into my last point about Piano evolution. Once upon a time, all Pianos were made by hand by a handful of talented craftsmen. Today, this tradition still exists in but a handful of Piano companies such as Bösendorfer, Bechstein, Blüthner, and Schimmel. Yamaha's gift to the Piano world is to have made Craftsman-made Pianos from small shops few and far-between, and entry-level, cookie-cutter instruments from large factories a dime-a-dozen. Not all mass-produced pianos are created equal however.  There will always be subtle differences between individual pianos from a single production line because of the fact that they are made chiefly out of organic materials that have unique individual properties. They greatest difference between mass-produced pianos however, lies in the individual philosophy of the builders. Without exception, every piano builder is proud of what they do, and believes they are striving toward a good product. However, there is a huge range of quality available, and for the most part it is evidenced by the price. There are very good reasons why some pianos are cheap, and some are expensive. With some exceptions, a pianos’ price is the best indication of its quality. ©1999 - 2008 Jamie Musselwhite Piano Builders Current |  Past During the past three centuries, literally thousands of Piano Brand names have come and gone. Some names still survive, either as original builders or as an adopted name for a line of pianos from a "new" builder. In the following list, I have tried to include the dates of the builders. In some cases, such as "Boston", the builders have not stated the date of formation, possibly to obfuscate the fact that the piano is relatively new. Please note that the dates supplied below may refer to either the current manufacturer or the original manufacturers depending on which list the name is included. When searching for information on a specific piano, try to ascertain it's age. This can be obtained in most cases by finding the serial number (stamped or painted onto the top of the Piano's Plate) and the make, and then e-mail me with this information. If you have Google Earth installed on your computer you can see where in the world each company is (or was) located by clicking on the "Location" link after the name. Current Builders During the "Golden age" of the Piano (1880-1929),  Many builders made three lines of pianos: Their "A" line, Ex. "Mason & Risch", their "B" line ex. "Henry Herbert", and a "C" line, which could have any name on it a retailer could request (as long as the name wasn't already copywritten). This tradition remains to this day. There are many, many new piano brands which do not relate to an existing manufacturer. Having said this, it is probable that many current builders are not included in this list. A - G | H - K | L - P | Q - Z     Baldwin Location - (1890 - ) Bought by Gibson Guitar Company in 2004 Bechstein Location (1853 - ) - Exceptionally fine Pianos from Berlin, Germany Bluthner Location (1853 - ) - Also exceptionally fine Pianos from Leipzig, Germany. (1853 was a good year!) Bosendorfer  Location (1828 - ) A big name with some BIG pianos! Unique Rim Construction! Boston  - (? - ) A Division of Steinway & Sons Steinway Designed, Built by Kawai. Broadwood Location (1774 - ) By appointment to her majesty the Queen - the makers of Beethoven's favorite piano. (It was the only one that didn't collapse under his fingers!) Chickering & Sons (1823 - ) Sold to Aeolian in the 1930's, the sold to Wurlitzer in the 1990's, built by Samick for a while. Now owned by Baldwin. Dongbei Location (? - ) Chinese Manufacturer of many brands, recently purchased by Gibson (Who also own Baldwin). Fazioli Location - (1978 - ) Paulo Fazioli set out to make the finest piano in the world. Now just over 25 years later, many say he succeeded. Feurich Location (1851 - ) One of the first European makers of the upright piano. Guangzhou / Pearl River Location (1956 - ) Chinese Manufacturer of many brands including Yamaha. Hazelton Bros. - (2003 - ) Made by Samick-Bechstein. Heintzman  - (1989 - ) Not the Canadian Original, but the Chinese up-and-comer. Ibach Location (1794 - ) For over 200 years, fine German Pianos. (They also made Pipe Organs until 1906.) Kawai Location (1927 - ) The "other" Japanese Piano. Kemble Location (1930 - ) The best selling British Piano in the world. Knabe Location (2003 - ) Now made by Samick-Bechstein, Knabe is a very old and respected name in American Pianos. Kohler & Campbell Location ( 2003 - ) Now made by Samick-Bechstein. Mason & Hamelin Location (1996 - ) Now owned by Pianodisc, one of the finest pianos currently made in North America. (Which isn't saying much.) Petrof Location (1864 - ) Czech it out! Samick Location(2003 - ) Now, with the help of Bechstein Pianos, Samick is producing possibly the finest Pianos in the Orient. Sauter  (1819 - ) Schimmel  Location (1885 - ) Truly the most advanced Piano in the world. One of the finest makers in the world today. Seiler Location (1849 - ) Is there such a thing as a perfect piano? Seiler says they are trying to find out, at least. Sohmer Location (2003 - ) Now made by Samick-Bechstein, Sohmer is a very old and respected name in American Pianos. Steingraeber & Sohne Location (1852 - ) Possibly the most unusual piano factory in the world! Steinway Location (1853 - ) The "Instrument of the Immortals". Yamaha Location (1887 - ) My father was one of the first Canadian Dealers of Yamaha Pianos. He had to convince those early customers that the Japanese knew what they were doing. Imagine that now! Past Builders This is a partial list, containing only the names of builders whose instruments are still relatively common, or that have historical significance. Acrosonic  - A division of Baldwin Aeolian - (1932 - 1985) Aeolian manufactured pianos under the following piano names: Aeolian, Duo Art, Gabler, Stuyvesant, Acoustigrand, Ellsworth, Haines Bros., Pianola, Ampico, Knabe, Stratford, Brewster, Foster Armstrong, Laffargue, Stroud, Chickering, Marshall - Wendell, Normandie, Vose, A. A. Chase, Mason and Hamlin, Lindeman, Weber, Franklin, Primatone, Washburn and Wheelock. See also Aeolian Organ and Music Company and Aeolian Weber Piano and Pianola Company. One of the earliest Piano Conglomerate Corporations. Aeolian bought many companies which collapsed during the depression, and many of their "Brand Names" still survive today under new ownership. Bell Location - (1864 - 1925) High quality Pianos made in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Bought by Lesage Pianos in 1934. Chickering & Sons Location (1823 -1932) Bought by Aeolian during the depression, later sold to Baldwin. Erard Location (1800 - 1981?) Famous piano and Harp maker. Partnered with Gaveau, and by Schimmel in 1971. Gaveau ( 1847 -1981) See Erard. Gerhard Heintzman Location (1877 -1927) Made by a nephew of THE Heintzman. Bought by THE Heintzman, and used as a second-line until the early 1980's. Before Gerhard Heintzman opened his own company, he worked for Lansdowne, and then A & S Nordheimer. Gourlay, Winter & Leeming (1912 - 1924) Bought by Sherlock-Manning. Disc. in 1968. Haines Bros. (1851 - 1942) Hamilton (1801 - 2000) Made by Baldwin. Hazelton Bros. (1849 - 1957) Bought by Kohler & Campbell in 1957, the Trade name bought by Samick-Bechstein in 2003. Heintzman & Co. Location 1 Location 2 Location 3 Location 4 (1870 - 1985) The Premiere Canadian Piano, and one of the best Upright Piano Manufacturers in the world. Bought by Sklar-Pepplar in 1985, sold to The Music Stand, made for a small period of time by Kimball, then made in limited numbers in Eastern Europe. Still Canadian owned, they are now made in China. Karn (1868 - 1924) Location At one time, one of the Canadian largest builders - also made Pump Organs. Kimball Location 1 Location 2 ( 1865 - ? ) Originally specializing in making Square Pianos, Kimball gradually broadened out to uprights and small grands in the early 20th century. Bought by the Jasper Corp. in 1959, eventually owned by the Habig Corp. who also bought Bosendorfer. Made a large number of mass-produced entry-level pianos culminating in providing 100 pianos for the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. Today Kimball is no longer in the piano business, speciallizing instead on furniture and office equipment. Knabe (1837 - present) Originally located in Baltimore, Knabe was once one of Steinway closest competitors. Bought by Aeolian during the deppresion. Now made by Samick Music Corp. in S. Korea. Kohler & Campbell Location (1896 - present) Made over fifty different brands of pianos at their N.Y. Location which now is in the middle of Central Park. Now made in Indonesia by Samick. Lesage Location (1942 - 1981) One of the last Canadian builders. Lesage bought out two other well-known makes (Bell & Willis) One of the Lesage family (Jean) was premier of Quebec during the 1960's. Mason & Hamelin Location (1865 - present) Made Pianos and Organs in New York. Bought by Aeolian in 1924, most recently owned by Gary and Kirk Burgett, the founders of Pianodisc. Mason & Risch  (1871 - 1985) Large and well known Canadian builder of pianos. Bought out by Aeolian. For the last decade or so of it's existance, M&R's were built in the U.S. and assembled in Scarborough, ON. Nordheimer Location (1840- 1928) A & S Nordheimer started out as a music store, selling other peoples pianos. Eventually, they started building there own, and very good ones at that. Nordheimer Ravine in the city of Toronto is named after them, and marks the path of a stream that used to flow into their estate.  In 1928, Heintzman bought Nordheimer and used the name for its' lesser priced instruments. Sherlock-Manning Location (1875 - 1985) The last of the Canadian Builders, S-M was run for many years after the Second World War by the Heintzman family. In 1981 it was bought by Draper Brothers Reid ltd. Sohmer Location (1872-1971) Another of the many NY builders, the name is now owned by Samick. Steinway Location (1853-present) See my Piano History page. Weber Location (1862-1968) Many pianos were named Weber. The Canadian version, made in Kingston was taken over by Sherlock-Manning in 1938, and the name was used on many of their pianos until 1968. Willis (1871-1960) Built (very well) in Montreal. Bought out by Lesage.