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Steinway and Sons Corporate Papers
SDASM.SC.10137
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Steinway and Sons Corporate Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10137
Physical Description:
0.64 Cubic Feet
15 ½ X 10 ½ X 7” box
Date (inclusive): 1941-1945
Abstract: Steinway and Sons was a piano manufacturer who built wooden gliders during the Second World War.
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
The Steinway & Sons collection is housed in one 15 1⁄2 X 10 1⁄2 X 7” box and contains Xerox copies of company correspondence
and memos dated from 1942-1944. The scope of the collection is focused on the conversion of the piano factory into space available
for production of wing and tail parts for the CG-4A glider. Another topic is the production schedule for the Victory Vertical
upright pianos and concerns for available raw material.
Born February 5, 1797, in Wolfshagen, Germany, Henry Engelhardt Steinweg was known for making the first square piano. At the
age of 15, Henry was orphaned and lived solely on his own without any family. At 18, he was drafted for the army and took
part in the Battle of Waterloo. At 21, he left the service on June 23, 1822 and worked as a carpenter for a cabinetmaker and
later as an apprentice organ builder in Seesen. Henry became intrigued with building organs and enjoyed playing them at the
local church. With his new found passion, he wanted to use his carpenter tools to make musical instruments and started making
pianos. In 1825, he married Juliane ___ and presented her with the first piano he built. In 1839, he exhibited one grand and
two square pianos at the fair in Brunswick and was awarded a gold medal. His reputation as a master piano builder was now
established. With orders pouring in, his sons Theodore, Charles, and Henry joined him in the business. In 1848-49, political
upheaval and revolution paralyzed business throughout Germany and on June 9, 1851, the entire Steinweg family, except for
Theodore, arrived in New York and worked in other piano factories to gain business experience. On March 5, 1853, Steinway
& Sons was launched, and in step with the new career, came a change in the family name from Steinweg to Steinway. Henry E.
Steinway passed away on February 7, 1871 at the age of 74.
In this collection, detailed information is listed about the General Aircraft Corporation during 1943. Information and detailed
paperwork on Frank Walsh during 1943. In this collection we also have Steinways War Order form and banking documents (1942-1944).
Gliding and Soaring Subject Files.
Related Research Institutions: La Guardia and Wagner Archives
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gliders (Aeronautics)
piano
World War, 1939-1945
General Aircraft Corporation
Waco (OH) G-4C Hadrian
Frank Walsh
Steinway & Sons